Many black people (and not a few white liberals) have, unwittingly, been indoctrinated by those who are the real enemies of upwardly mobile black people. Note this anecdote reported by James Taranto:
We were en route to Shea Stadium along with fellow conservative commentator Joel Mowbray, and our driver was a youngish Haitian woman who had her radio tuned to Air America. Mowbray started a political discussion with her, and she told him that she doesn't like Republicans because "they hate black people."
"Does President Bush hate Condi Rice and Colin Powell?" Mowbray asked, to which she replied that Rice and Powell aren't "really black" because they "don't think like black people."
The idea that black people are supposed to think in a certain way is, of course, a racist assumption in itself. But what's most interesting about this exchange is that our driver had in effect redefined race so that it has nothing to do with race.
Oh, how many times have I been involved in similar conversations before, with me as the target! Usually, if this “accusation” is hurled at me by another black person, I’m not above playing dirty, whipping out the “African card.” Turnabout is fair play.
And, yes it is a dirty accusation. Don’t think so? Well, for demonstration purposes, try taking this little quiz: of the following two groups of people, which collectively displays the most demonstrably “black thought processes?” Individually, which ones are most likely to be thought of as “not really black?”
Group One
- Mike Tyson
- Colin Ferguson
- Li'l Kim
- Robert Mugabe
- Mel Reynolds
- R. Kelly
- Eminem (just kidding)
Group Two
- David Robinson
- Manute Bol*
- Walter Williams
- Bill Cosby
- Oprah Winfrey
- Peter Kirsanow
- Larry Elder
No need to post your results. Simply consider why those blacks who have been accused of bad behavior or demonstrate questionable character do not have their “blackness” questioned, but those who are conservative and/or preach the virtues of hard work do.
*Mr. Bol, who is of the beleaguered Dinka tribe of Sudan, has had a run of very bad luck. Read this article.
(Thanks to Booker Rising)
UPDATE: Moxie gets the point.
UPDATE: Here's a little "black thought process" that would have liberals of any stripe quaking in their boots. Heh.
