The Resurgence of Racism

Is Being Anti Woke Overt Racism?

To be "woke" politically in the Black community means that someone is informed, educated and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality, Merriam-Webster Dictionary states.

In the LGBTQ community it is a movement advocating for the equal treatment and elimination of discriminatory policies hurting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, according to Britannica.

Disability Studies emphasizes that disability is not solely a medical condition but a social construct influenced by the environment and societal attitudes. This perspective focuses on removing barriers and promoting inclusivity.

Woke feminism is a movement against the oppressive patriarchy and not against the community of men. Later on, as people from around the world modified and molded this term and its motto in their own convenient ways, it became a worldwide rage against men. But please, do not ignore issues of women's health, the glass ceiling, the right to vote, and abuse.

And what does the civil right act say? The act that Trump is trying to dismantle?

In simple terms, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended discrimination in the US based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It prohibited discrimination in public places, employment, and voting, and also outlawed segregation in schools. This landmark legislation aimed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all Americans, according to the National Archives (.gov).

The Definition

Racism is the belief that one race is superior, or inferior, to another, and that certain social and intellectual traits – such as personality, behavior, intelligence, and morals – are pre-determined based on one’s race or biological characteristics. These biases may be conscious or unconscious.

In the workplace, racism can take on many forms. It can manifest as deliberate, subtle, or even unintentional acts of discrimination because of a person’s race. These acts may take the form of stereotyping, “othering,” or avoidance.

Hiring or promoting someone based on the assumption they are better at math because they are Asian.

Complimenting a US-born Latino on how well she speaks English.

Asking a black person how he got promoted, implying he was selected based on his race – and not his intelligence, experience, or competency.

Assuming someone is not trustworthy because of their race.

Racism should never be tolerated or ignored. You have a responsibility to prevent and speak up against racism and maintain a workplace free from any form of racism, harassment, or discrimination.

The Civil Rights Act has the noblest of intentions. It's an attempt to put the institutions of slavery and Jim Crow behind us. It is there to stop and say, "no wait, bias is wrong." Those who oppose the act would take away the rights from large groups of Americans. Freedoms of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition. Additionally, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to a fair trial are fundamental, and they are codified in the Constitution. The Meritocracy will only award those rights to those they say qualify, white men who think like they do.

Don't believe it?

After the mid air collision between the Army helicopter and airliner in January, president Donald Trump suggested without evidence that the deadly midair collision of two aircraft in Washington was the result of the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to hire a more diverse workforce, according to Reuters.

Trump leveled the accusation at a White House press conference called to update Americans on the Wednesday night crash in which a passenger jet about to land at Reagan National Airport collided with an Army helicopter on a training flight.

The implication is that women, people of color, and people with different cultural heritages are inherently inferior to white men, and anybody in any of those groups are the proximate cause of this tragedy or any other in this country.

Epilog

“As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”
― Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Letters

We hold the future in our hands

Despite the Chaos

This morning I choose to share some hopeful words from David Brooks in an article written for the Atlantic, I Should Have Seen This Coming.

 "I have thought of America as a deeply flawed nation that is nonetheless a force for tremendous good in the world. From Abraham Lincoln to Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan and beyond, Americans fought for freedom and human dignity and against tyranny; we promoted democracy, funded the Marshall Plan, and saved millions of people across Africa from HIV and AIDS. When we caused harm—Vietnam, Iraq—it was because of our overconfidence and naivete, not evil intentions."

Included in the message is a call to action to stand up for a hopeful future that lifts all of us up. There are signs of movement, people are beginning to push back against the authoritarian rule of the Trump administration. 

Cory Booker's speech on the Senate floor. 

The lawyer in Michigan who is taking on cases defending the civil rights of foreign students despite being detained by immigration and customs officials. They wanted access to his cellphone.

The protests last Saturday. 

Sermons on the dignity of humankind. 

Richard Blumenthal's hold on nominations of Trump's appointees should be a starting point.

Brooks Says...

 "In the long term, Trumpism is doomed. Power without prudence and humility invariably fails. Nations, like people, change not when times are good but in response to pain. At a moment when Trumpism seems to be devouring everything, the temptation is to believe that this time is different." 

"But history doesn’t stop moving. Even now, as I travel around the country, I see the forces of repair gathering in neighborhoods and communities. If you’re part of an organization that builds trust across class, you’re fighting Trumpism. If you’re a Democrat jettisoning insular faculty-lounge progressivism in favor of a Whig-like working-class abundance agenda, you’re fighting Trumpism. If you are standing up for a moral code of tolerance and pluralism that can hold America together, you’re fighting Trumpism."

"Over time, changes in values lead to changes in relationships, which lead to changes in civic life, which eventually lead to changes in policy and then in the general trajectory of the nation. It starts slow, but as the Book of Job says, the sparks will fly upward."

Dignity

It isn't my imagination that we used to be able to talk to one another. Cultish tribalism was on the fringes. Lincoln was right when he spoke about a house divided. The issue he was speaking about was slavery. The issue today is about raw power, and brutish acts aimed at denying human dignity to all that might stand in the way of attainment of that power.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other."

Arrogance to Suppression

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. I'm beginning to believe it.

Clarence Darrow

Have you noticed the arrogance of the Trump administration? It seems there is no validity to the opinions of those who actually have the experience and expertise to deal with the situations and kinds of problems we are dealing with today. I think it's because Trump can never be wrong. His fragile mental state can't handle criticism or correction. And if he thinks he's always right, he is delusional.

Unfortunately, if his goal is disruption and chaos, it's working.

I Read the News Today

I get a newsletter from the Bulwark. this is what greeted me this morning. "In the news since Friday: Donald Trump is openly floating the possibility of running for a third term. Elon Musk is distributing corrupt prizes for voting in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections. And we’ve learned one of the Venezuelans the administration imprisoned in El Salvador is a legal migrant who was detained purely because an ICE officer thought his tattoos of the words “Mom” and “Dad” looked like gang signs."

"You can’t take a single weekend off with these clowns. Happy Monday."

Buying the Vote

The Wisconsin AG tried to block the attempt to buy votes in Wisconsin. His bid was turned down by the State Supreme Court. According to the AP, the state Supreme Court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision.

No Due Process

How many gang members were rounded up and deported? That's unclear. ICE admits that many of the deportees did not have criminal records, but explained they might do something bad later on. ABC news reports, "The admission that many of the men lacked criminal records – and were deported on the assumption that they might be terrorists – comes as top Trump administration officials insist that the men were violent criminals, with President Donald Trump labeling them monsters."

The Constitution Is Inconvenient

And what about the third term? Think about this, most of us thought he would never try to forcefully overthrow the results of an election. A lot of people thought he didn't have a chance to get re- elected. Many think he is bound by the rulings of the courts, or that congress would hold onto its constitutional powers. The party in power wants to dismantle the federal courts and Republicans in congress are encouraging the dismantling of the courts, and the Trump administration is ignoring courts rulings with no consequences.

What To Do

Speak Out!

Being silent means we're willing to let this stand. I take encouragement from many sources, and that includes the Bible. If you're wondering, this comes from the part of the Bible that White Christian Nationalist ignore. This is two of the 4,000 passages that deal with dignity and justice. It's a part of the Bible that the slave holders edited out to prevent slaves from reading passages they deemed dangerous. And yeah, that's part of our history too.

Proverbs 31 verse 8 and verse 9

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

DEIA means hope for a better world

White Washing Words

You're scrubbing words because...why? What's the rationale? Are you afraid the truth will finally be told, that you're afraid of the competition? Underlying your motives are deep seated prejudices, against the disabled, people of color, women, gender identity. Your willingness to tear America apart in the hopes of gaining more power.

Rights advocates say measures Trump is trying to dismantle aimed to uplift marginalized groups and addressed the continued effects of historical and generational inequity.

Trump and his allies defend his actions by saying his orders aim to remove what they call discrimination against other Americans, including white people and men. -reuters

Reuters and NPR both report that among the executive orders issued by Trump is banning rules against discrimination in government contracts. This means the Jim Crow laws eliminated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would return.

DEIA does not exclude you. It includes you. Discrimination against any person or group is illegal, not just against white men. Open your eyes. End the bigotry. You can make the world more like God intended. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, while often promoted in secular contexts, can also be seen as aligning with Christian values, emphasizing the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and calling for justice and reconciliation.
-a variety of online sources

Diversity

"There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted." — Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"

Equity

We all need to work together, because there are no jobs on a dead planet; there is no equity without rights to decent work and social protection, no social justice without a shift in governance and ambition, and, ultimately, no peace for the peoples of the world without the guarantees of sustainability.
Sharan Burrow

Inclusion

It's when we care for each other - choosing inclusion and love over division and hatred - that this great country is at its greatest.
Tulsi Gabbard

Accessibility

If you’re more offended by language than systemic ableism, it’s time to rethink your priorities.

Sheri Byrne-Haber

Two warnings about the politics of division, hate, and fascism.

The schools would fail through their silence, the Church through its forgiveness, and the home through the denial and silence of the parents. The new generation has to hear what the older generation refuses to tell it.
(Quoted in the introduction to The Sunflower)

“Rule #1: Believe the autocrat. He means what he says. Whenever you find yourself thinking, or hear others claiming, that he is exaggerating, that is our innate tendency to reach for a rationalization. This will happen often: Humans seem to have evolved to practice denial when confronted publicly with the unacceptable.”—Masha Gessen (New York Times Review of Books, Nov 26, 2016)

That's just rude!

 Rude behavior seems to be on the rise. A survey by Pew sems to confirm the perception. But then, I am part of the cohort that perceives certain acts as rude.

It's Only Words

 

You cannot end racism and gender bias by banning certain words. You'll make it worse. Of course, that may be the +intention. Banning words is denial. It is holding your hands up to your ears and singing, la-la-la-la. 

When bias, bigotry, prejudice, racism, and all the other isms and phobias are directed against people it's a sin. Think about it, Sunday school 101, The Golden Rule. We are to treat everyone with love and respect, no exceptions to the rule.

        A racist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial inequity between racial groups. An antiracist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial equity between racial groups. By policy, I mean written and unwritten laws, rules, procedures, processes, regulations, and guidelines that govern people. There is no such thing as a nonracist or race-neutral policy. Every policy in every institution in every community in every nation is producing or sustaining either racial inequity or equity between racial groups.

(Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist)

The good news, bias, bigotry, prejudice and racism are learned behaviors. I went to a site called Psych Central to reinforce my assumption that behaviors can be changed. What was it that Red Green said in the Man's Prayer? "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess."
People can change when they're self-aware, receive support, and become intentional about behaving differently. But, change takes time and it may be challenging in some cases. For example, if you live with a mental health condition that involves lifelong symptoms that may impact your attitude, habits, and behaviors. Self awareness means facing and acknowledging the problem instead of denial.

Eliminating The Right To Vote

The SAVE Act

The plan is to keep the poor, people of color, and women from voting.

Millions are about to be disenfranchised from voting. According to the Brennen Center this includes 20 million people who are currently voting legally. Among those being stripped of their rights are married women.

"If it became law, the SAVE Act would require Americans to provide a birth certificate, passport, or other citizenship document to register or re-register to vote. A Brennan Center study previously showed that more than 21 million American citizens do not have easy access to these documents. An extension of our previous analysis shows that most of them are Americans who are actively engaged voters. What’s more, the SAVE Act would impact millions more voters who do have access to citizenship documents but register using popular methods, such as online and mail registration, that would be undermined by the bill."
What Are the Implications?

According to the League of Women Voters,

• "This legislation would drastically change the way all citizens register to vote.

• Every time a person registers to vote or updates their registration (from a move, marriage, etc), they would need to show a passport or birth certificate in person.

However:

• 146 million American citizens do not have a valid passport (for context, 153 million Americans voted in the 2024 presidential election).

• In seven states, less than one-third of citizens have a valid passport.

• Lower income Americans would be dramatically affected: only 1 in 5 Americans with income below $50,000 have a valid passport.

• 83% of women change their last name when they marry: 69 million American women may not have a birth certificate with their legal name on it and would not be able to use their birth certificate to prove citizenship. The SAVE Act does not included proof of name change or marriage certificate as acceptable proof of identity.

• The SAVE Act would make it impossible for a voter to mail in a registration application. And it would eliminate the League's ability to conduct voter registration drives."

The bill is currently being fast tracked by Republicans in Congress. Republicans would have us believe that millions of undocumented immigrants voted in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. They say fraud is rampant. The system is rigged against them. If the system is rigged, why did Trump win again in 2024. Why do Republicans control the House and the Senate.

A study about voting fraud in swing states in 2020 found almost no fraud. According to NPR, after the 2020 election, The Associated Press contacted local election officials in six swing states. In their analysis, they found 475 potential voter fraud cases — which amounts to an extraordinarily small percentage of the more than 25 million ballots that were cast in those six states.

States have systems to prevent someone from voting illegally

Why is there so little voter fraud? The report from NPR says it is because of guardrails put up by the states.

Lastly, states have a series of mechanisms to help weed out people who are ineligible to vote before they could cast a ballot.

States, by law, are required to routinely remove ineligible or deceased voters from their rolls. And there are tools like the Electronic Registration Information Center, also known as ERIC, that help states share voter data.

The SAVE act is overreach based on faulty  (When I say faulty, I'm understating the motivation) reasoning in an effort to keep people who might not vote Republican from the polls.

You can do something now. you may phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Leave a message with your representative. Don't wait for anybody else. Let them know what you're thinking.