A few days ago, Random House announced that it would not be publishing Paula Deen's next cookbook and would cancel the five-book contract it signed with Ms. Deen last year. The publisher is the latest company which has severed ties with Deen after she admitted to using the word "nigger" thirty years ago, following the likes of Food Network, Target, Walmart, and Smithfield.
This is rather interesting, since Random House was the publisher of Angela Davis' autobiography. Yes, the same radical Angela Davis of Black Panther Party and Communist Party notoriety... the same radical Angela Davis who went to prison for her role in the Marin County Courthouse shooting in 1970 which involved hostage-taking and the killing of a judge. And Random House decides to axe Paula Deen for a word she used years before Angela Davis helped terrorize Marin County?
Looks like I'm done buying books published by Random House. Why? Because I'm a firm believer in racial equality, that's why. Allow me to explain.
There is a hidden face of racism in America, and that face belongs to white folks who feel the need to pander to the African-American population, out of an imagined fear of imagined consequences, such as the fear of being labeled "racists" themselves. If you listen hard enough, you can almost heard the conversation behind closed doors at Random House:
"We better sever our ties with Deen while we can, otherwise the darkies might actually think that WE support the use of racial slurs."
"Good point, boss, but don't you think we need to... you know... actually talk to a few typical Negroes to get their opinion? We might be over-reacting. After all, we haven't even published Ms. Deen's cookbook and already it's a best-seller."
"Hmm. That's not a bad idea. Now, where can I find a typical Negro to talk to? I'd ask around at my country club, but we only allow white members."
"Based on our market research, the typical Negro loves malt liquor. Let's send some interns down to the that liquor store on the corner and wait for a darky to show up. Then we'll ask him how he feels about the Paula Deen incident."
"We don't have time for that. I think I know enough about black folks to know that they'd be offended if we decided to go ahead and publish Deen's cookbook. Why, they might be so offended that they might even take to the streets and riot! We can't take that chance."
Yes, sadly, this is the mindset of many business executives in America. They are so afraid of being labeled racists themselves that they go entirely overboard to pander to the African-American population. Why? Because they feel that if they didn't pander to the black demographic, something bad would happen.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is true racism, and it's the worst kind of racism- the hidden type of racism that only rears its ugly head behind closed boardroom doors. The kind of racism that scans a restaurant before sitting down and says to itself, "Hmm, I see four black people over there. Gotta be careful not to say anything that might offend them." It's the kind of racism that goes to a comedy club and refuses to laugh when a black comedian cracks a joke about other black people. It's the type of racism that goes into a voting booth and pulls the lever for an unqualified black candidate instead of a qualified white candidate. Why? Because they get a feeling of smug satisfaction knowing that they're not racist, for they have taken the "racist litmus test" and passed with flying colors.
Racial equality isn't about pandering or appeasement. It's about punching a black guy's lights out when he tries to grope your woman. Not because he's black, but because he's an asshole. It's about hiring the black job applicant, not because she's black, but because she can do the job. If you're the type of person who feels the need to mind your language or change your actions when in the presence of minorities, then you, my friend, are the worst possible kind of racist- the type of racist who's so damned racist that you don't even realize that you're racist.
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