Don Imus was suspended from MSNBC and CBS Radio for two weeks after he said that the Rutgers womens basketball team looked like, "nappy-headed hos."

While there is no justification for what Imus said, the media circus surrounding it has really pissed me off. I mean, when "The Insider" and "Extra" start reporting on something, I know that its overblown. (by that I mean the news media, not the issue at hand, which I view as how people react to this)
I like/liked Imus. Admittedly, I haven't watched him much in recent years, but he was good back in the day. And the amount of ass kissing he had to go through to get through this is stupid.

Also, when did Al Sharpton become the representative of all black people?

Anyways, what are you views on the subject?

Here are two videos from Fox News with a panel discussion. I dislike Fox news, and this is probably the most black people it has had on at the same time, but I think the discussion is very interesting. Patrice O'Neal, who is a comedian and was a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (Comedy Central's best show after the Daily Show) make a number of very good points, I think:

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Part One
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Part Two
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I heard about this all over the news. Just about every time I turned it on, I feel he deserves the suspension but the media is making this worse than it seems. Everyone says stupid things every once in a while, anyway next week this will be old news. I don't have many other opinions on the topic, except Al Sharpton, when I heard what he said I said the basically the same thing to myself. "When did this guy get into the picture?" not to mention the fact that I hate Al Sharpton.

I'm happy that they are focusing on something other than Anna Nichole or her baby or her momentos being actioned off at e-Bay for whatever outrageous prices. Seriously, how much can her dang report card be worth??

It was kinda surprising that he'd make such a comment. Not sure of the context for which it was made, but can safely say that any "inflammatory" statements within humourous remarks aren't going to be met well in the current age of political correctness. Remember how we aren't even supposed to use the "N" word, it's just supposed to be erased from all written records and even human memory over time cuz it's not proper to use it.

Let's not use the "H" word either (honky) or "J" word (Jew) or "C" word (Christian) or... hey, let's make up an entirely new language that has no negative references. Then just put NOT in front of it. Wait, that's getting a little too 1984-ish.

Imus is pulled from MSNBC...

To me this is another example, of upholding "equality" through political correctness, while ignoring real issues that affect the lives of african americans. I mean really, what is American Idol? Or the politically correct cast of Grey's Anatomy? Again and again,it is as if we think that if we preserve "diversity" and "tolerance" in our media we can continue to believe we aren't a racist, sexist, or homophobic society. So when someone pulls that curtain off of our eyes, and we see that we are a racist society, we quickly want to punish, judge and eventually persecute and destroy them. So then we can all feel good about ourselves for beating up on the racist. Does it matter that its Don Imus? NO. Does it matter that its the Rutgers Women's Basketball team, who brought their school to their first NCAA championship game? NO. A repulsive comment was made by a white radio shock jock, and now to cleanse our conscious we are going to make him pay. This is not justice, or "tolerance," or understanding, or critical thinking, or really changing the world, or taking a real stand, this is a public media stoning of one person, who said a bad thing. So that we can continue to believe that racism only lives in history books, and award winning movies and tv shows, and we can reminisse about how far we have come and how much better we are than all that. Finally, we can continue to think, that minorities in this country have equal opportunity, when they do not. And that if we only stop referring to minorities with oppressive words and cruel slurs, then we could end predjudice and live freely, when nothing could be further from the truth.

That is an amazing point, I'd put that in my sig if it wasn't so big. Everything you said in that post was right and I blindly forgot about it. Oh boy do I feel ignorant.

He has a way of doing that.

Anyways, I'm calling it:

"Imus-gate."

"Imus-Gate" Cont'd

Well yes, boys and girls, we did it! Do we all feel better now? One racist down? The rest of us to go. What is so funny about this particular "victory" for the politically correct activists to me, is that Imus' show was pulled from MSNBC not because of what he said, but because of the economic interests of the the companies that advertise on his show and the network at large. Its not in these corporations' profiting interests to be associated with Imus because of his "Public Media stoning." Msnbc pulled Imus to save their own profits, not because Racism is wrong. But as we speak, anti-imus folks are cheering! Ding Dong the Don is Gone! because for them, this is conformation that everything is ok, that fairness is real, when it isn't, and that we don't have to look at ourselves because Ding Dong the Don is Gone!

You know personally, I'm disgusted over what he said. But at the end of the day, people say shit! they do, we don't mean to, but we do. And when we do, I think if we take responsibility and apologize for our actions, we ought to be forgiven, and at the least granted another chance, I mean that is one principle I thought I could be proud of in culture. That people do get a second chance. I thought that when Imus was suspended, that this was a reciprocal consequence for him, it was just in a sense. That by giving him a chance to reform his show, maybe we were making some kind of progress, in a higher sense. But MSNBC caved to the loud mouthed few, rather than backing up their stance. I can't blame them for going with their economic interests, because that's how corporations work. But on the other hand, I feel like, geez people grow some BALLS. In the end, this should never have gotten to the degree is reached. In everyday activity, it should really have been dealt with between Imus and the RWBT, not the media, and not the public.

Perhaps, Imus' continuous apologies were just too much, the more you bring it up, the worse you end up making it for yourself. I think Howard Stern put it perfectly in reference to this whole thing: "When you say something out of line, you apologize and if they want more than that, you should just say 'FUCK YOU!'"

"nappy-headed ho's"

That's it?

I'm disappointed.

Well CBS just dropped him too.


Also I may be missing something here but how was what he said racist.

Perhaps nappy headed was a racial slur towards African Americans and ho's being racist towards women? :unsure:

I think this is also an important point which is finally getting some punch behind it. Where did this slur originate? Well it certainly originated in hip-hop culture, which should be far more scrutinized for its racism, sexism and homophobia far more than Imus. But of course it isn't. Why? Because the same self-deceiving motivations that have destroyed Imus, protect and shield hip-hop culture, pronouncing it "the beat of streets" "the music of the people" or out right referring to it as art etc. rather than holding it to the so called politically correct "high standards". Although I think its worth noting that 60% of people who buy hip-hop and rap music are Caucasian. Its insane to think that because a 66 year old white male radio shock jock says it, that somehow its become okay, or that suddenly now it will be said all the time. Then again, I thinks "Nappy-headed Hoes" has been said more times in this last week then in the last 10 years.

In any case, I think that this country, this culture, this society, we the people, need to take a cold hard look in mirror. I mean who are we?! to judge others. I mean what happened to "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone?" in this so called "Christian" society. All I see is hypocrisy...more blatantly then ever before. Then again, on the local news, a middle aged woman put it best, when she said "Its always been like this." Indeed it seems the the media-firestorms of the 21st century are really just the latest form of public lynching, or the newest form of crucifixion.

The above post reminded me of an article I read yesterday on the "All Hip Hop" website.

Link

Mr. Powell is striking on some key issues. I would be in almost complete agreement with him, if it weren't for his insistence that Don Imus be fired. If this chain of events were really about Racism or sexism. Sure, on the surface it is, it has to be at least for the RWBT, but this is about mediums of communications, and what is and is not ok to have on broadcast on them. If we are to take a real stand against prejudice, then it ought to be across the board. Imus' comment is a symptom of a much larger problem, and I think that many people think that by firing Imus the problem will go away. Surely in 2 weeks, all of this will be history, because what reason do we have to believe that things will change.

What is all this really?

This is a momentary media story to stop talking about Iraq, the 2008 presidential election, pres bush etc. Its just something to talk about. Today, on several news networks discussions are being had over "what is ok to say?" About people's gender, race, class, sexuality, and religion. WHAT IS OK TO SAY?! Anything ought to be "ok" to say, we do have free speech! I see that words have power, I don't deny that. (Who would?) may be there should be limits based on some kind of civility, if we have any left. So i'm going to call for the firing of Al sharpton, and jesse jackson, the entire rap industry, and Isiah Washington. Because they have affected me! They have hurt my self-image! Where is my justice? Where is Justice for all?!

Happy Feet had the phrase "nappy-headed boy". Those racist bastards.

This is just erroneous.

You cannot blame Hip Hop for what Don Imus said, simply because that would mean that such sexist and racist remarks did not exist before the mid to late 1970s, which is when Hip Hop is now known to have come into existence.

In fact, I have never heard a rapper refer to "nappy-headed hoes".

I agree that some rappers from the mainstream aspect of rap music use words that are degrading of women, but at the same time, for every one rapper who uses the word "bitch" or "ho" in their music I can name ten who do not.

To blame rappers is not only wrong, but it overlooks the fact that Western culture has allowed for such mistreatment and degrading of women, especially those who are black.

The problem is that Hip Hop music, which in the beginning was a way for the oppressed to speak out through a means that could be heard, is not controlled by those who are of the Hip Hop culture.

As Nas said:

No one who knows rap, protects rap and loves it has the power to help. We don't have direct control at radio or video channels. Those people who are in charge have always destroyed music... The whole industry needs to be destroyed. Shut down. Labels and everything. It needs to start from the ground up!

Take for example BET.

They refused to play the video to Little Brother's single "Lovin' It" from their "The Minstrel Show" album, because it was "too intelligent".

They had done the same with De La Soul's "Shopping Bags" video.

Rarely if ever will you hear on the radio nor see on the TV the likes of Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jean Grae, Jurassic 5, Lupe Fiasco or KRS-One. Instead you will see and hear the likes of 50 Cent, who rap about material things and degrade women and homosexuals.

In fact, Fox News (On the Cavuto Show) recently brought on M-1 from Dead Prez in order to rip into him about rappers who use words such as "ho". They quickly realised that just because he is black and a rapper, it did not mean he was stupid, and soon enough they cut him off.

This whole crusade against Hip Hop is another way of criticising Black America so that White America is deflected of all blame for the kind of things that Don Imus have been saying for a long time.

In a vein similar to Intifada's post...

Thehuman, just to respond to some of your posts, the main problem I have is that you are using this word "we" so easily. Who do you mean by "we"? Whites and people of color included? Because if anything, the blame lies with those who have the most power and privilege, ie. in this case white men. You say we need to take a "cold hard look in the mirror," but that seems a bit disingenous when you confuse people's situations and lump it as "we're all to blame." Not exactly: the blame rests disproportionately with those who control the media, those who have power in our society and for whom this society is normalized...which in this case means white men.

I think my friend really did a good job pointing out how screwed up it is that this Imus case has now been used to lash out against hip hop. Who's trying to shift the blame? Look, even if we were to look at hip hop and rap, the first thing we must recognize is that there is no mainstream rap without a mainstream market. And that market tends to be composed of white kids who have money (who else can go out and by so many CDs)? It's ultimately white consumers in the suburbs who fuel this desire for "gangster lifestyle" while other forms of hip hop- such as artists that Intifada has mentioned- are sidelined. I can't remember, but if I find it I'll post a good Zmag article about this. It's ridiculous to try and blame white racism on black hip hop and rap, something that actually grew in RESPONSE to white racism.

I wouldn't deny that there are rappers who are homophobic, transphobic, sexist and so on. But to ignore the conditions from which this music is produced is to miss the whole point...and then to proceed to homogenize ALL rap music as advocating these forms of oppression is even more dangerous. It quickly distracts us from who's actually got the power and who's maintained these structures of domination in our society, a society formed from the start by a group of patriarchal, racist white men (your "Founding Fathers").

Who is shifting the blame?

The media?

Everyone is to blame. Yes power is disproportional, and this makes the situation complex. But there are black people who hate other races, and this effects people on day to day level. I didn't want to get into a racism debate, but I guess its impossible not to. Those who criticize my posts have some good points. But I think you have disproportionately assigned value to points i made, that were not central to what I was saying.

When I was criticizing hip-hop and gangsta' lifestyle, I meant that it would be unlikely for a old white guy to have made that up all on his own. Nappy-headed hoes isn't something one would hear any old white guy say. And maybe Imus does have racist motivations. But I think everyone does, just in subtle forms. Racism is maintained by all the racial groups, not just those in power; because people have stratified our culture based on race. We have accepted this stratification. Which is unjust and many of us are committed to changing it. The racism of those in power is just more extreme because they are in power, they can use that power to enforce their racial prejudices. It is just as racist to assume that white people are the only prejudiced racial group, when it is something which permeates all racial groups in the united states. And it wrong to assume that because social institutions may have some racist motivations that this creates social racism in the civil society, why not the other way around?

My main point is that, whether or not Imus is punished it won't do anything to improve the conditions of race in america, but by channeling our guilt and anger onto Imus it allows for real "deflection" of the social issues, which no one, powerful or not, wants to look at.

A moment to discuss "Race" as a construct.

No one chooses their race. We are just born into one. This is true of everyone. When we are born, a culture, society and history has already been established by our ancestors for us. And somehow we get co-opted into these racial constructs, including our own. It is unjust for everyone, but no one seems to know how to stop it. Some want to use to art to deconstruct our reality. Some call for political correctness in the media. Some call for a redistribution of the social goods. But the point is, to assign everyone a racial identity over which they have no control is form of oppression that goes to the core of our existence. Everyone assigns each other a racial identity, and what is immoral about it, is that it reduces our human dignity and value to a color. And it is even worse when a society is set-up based on color, and politically and economically stratified by race, it drives prejudice into many deep channels. It is interesting how quickly I have been identified with the White men of Power, when I am not. This is what I mean. That's racism, and each of participates in its continuation is a social value.

The firing of Imus does nothing to change that.

This is part of what I think you're having trouble understanding: blacks in the US and UK don't hold institutional power. There may be one or two black people who are CEOs or who are high up in a government in the West, but the simple fact remains that blacks and other people of color are considered "minorities" and treated as such. Disregarding the "tyranny of numbers," it's a simple fact that power is most often directed against blacks and other people of color, whether in the form of prisons or corporate propaganda. I've heard very similar arguments millions of times with other people: "Oh, a black woman called me a cracker," "Oh a black man called me a white boy." Look, you're not the one being threatened with prison (1 in 3 chance for black men), you're not the one being threatened with bad schools as a result of historical redlining and segregation, you're not the one being threatened by white supremacists who, let me assure you, still exist and don't mind wearing the hood now and then. When blacks run the US and are putting whites in prisons or tearing their families apart through government welfare offices- and when there's been a history of such oppression- then we can talk. And also, for that last part, let me briefly mention that race and class are very much tied together, inseparable I would say, in the US and UK.

Racism implies a set of power relations. Allow to me explain: for someone to be racist, they must be apart of a dominant/dominating group and therefore have institutional power to back up their threats and claims. Otherwise they are prejudiced. Racism, in my definition and many people's definitions (particularly that of the critical race theorists, you might want to look them up) can only be racism if it is supported by institutional power and a systemic mindset, which in this case is white supremacy and male patriarchy.

Certain rappers (black rappers I'm assuming you're discussing) may have used such a phrase (similar to Intifada I haven't heard it), but first of all they're black so it's somewhat different if they say it. Nevertheless, I think it's wrong to use the phrase, especially since it's misogynistic, but it's not exactly your place to criticize them in particular for using it. Also because of the fact that say, their music is consumed by what are mostly white suburban audiences. This then gets into a larger debate about who controls the music industry and who's actually grooming these rappers' images to sell to bored white kids, but again that's another debate.

Imus also may not have come up with that specific phrase, but the fact that he used it and that the words came so easily from his mouth is indicative of larger problems that shouldn't be missed. Those problem are of course racism and patriarchy, and Imus as a white man is inflicting special damage when he feeds into those structures with his (what are to him) flippant words. Only he could have the privilege of not having to care about the effects of his language, while a black woman who is constantly degraded because of her race and her gender must be especially aware.

I think Intifada sums it up best:

Although I wouldn't call it western culture, that seems too monolithic a conception. Maybe, white Western power structures.

That's great if you think that Imus is not the only one to blame, but just having read your rhetoric concerning "we're all to blame" and "anyone can be a racist" I'm suspicious of what you're trying to get at. Irregardless, Imus can't be let off the hook just because there are other people who are more worthy of scorn. I certainly agree that we can't miss the big picture, but as we can see by this debate going on right now, this is leading to a much bigger topic: that of institutional power, and a white supremacist power structure that exists to this day. These "case examples" if you will can be illustrative of larger dominant power structures. It's important not just to boot Imus off and be done with it, but to examine the structure more closely. Otherwise, we'll also be accepting a vicious brand of corporate multiculturalism that also assumes an "equal playing field" and a society that has simply left behind race relations of old.

You ARE a white man of power. Even if you are poor, even if you are queer, even if you are whatever. That one part of your identity overdetermines alot and is apart of you whether you want it to be or not. I'm sorry, but you're not living in the wonderful bourgeois liberal world where everyone gets to be an "individual," although you do have a certain measure of privilege to be able to ignore it until someone like me brings it up. Simply by existing your body is being used by a white supremacist structure to enforce its dominance over people of color. Just to emphasize this point, you haven't even had to think of this I bet unless people like me bring it up. For you, society is already normalized, society is "white." It's the "minorities" and people of color who are forced to stand out and to constantly think about their position. So really, you aren't on a daily basis identified with a particular group, while I am. Ever been in a social sciences class and everyone stare at you when the subject of race is brought up? Think about that.

We now have something called race relations, and unless you want to align yourself with an oppressor, I suggest deconstructing your own whiteness (ie. How do definitions of whiteness change over time? How is white liberal ideology connected to white supremacism?) while also understanding the fact that for people of color, we are already marked and have had this group identity forced onto us. Those group identities can also possibly be used to upturn these categories of racial domination and create a world of difference without hierarchy. Until, however, that world has been formed out of the old, I suggest being more careful on the power relations upon which you can so easily tread.

And just a PS, some people DO want to discuss this issue and wider race relations. The problem is all the guilty liberals and generally unaware whites who are so quick to wash the blame from their hands and refuse a genuine dialogue about their own power and privilege. I'm not even going to mention the dyed-in-the-wool unapologetic racists (ie. People who listen to Rush Limbaugh).

In case you want to do more reading on this subject, I recommend first checking out Understanding Words that Wound by Delgado and Stefancic. There's a remarkable amount of literature on this subject and critical race theory would probably better help inform your perspective from a legal-oriented standpoint. Anything by Joy James, Stuart Hall, Angela Davis and bell hooks is also excellent.

Typically, have always respected your point of view and appreciated how you can see through many veils that were put up for the general public's misconception. Your example of Limbaugh listeners are way off the mark though. Sure, many will be die hard traditionalists with very conservative religious beliefs.... many from the Bible Belt. That doesn't make me a dyed-in-the-wool anything.

Limbaugh wasn't the same guy when he first started gaining notice. He'd developed a certain tack on what he thought he was. Not sure that is much different from the rapper musicians that were told what to be in order to gain more fame (and make more dough). Not sure you could ascertain much about anyone that listened to Pat Robertson nor Paul Harvey. Their views don't translate over to their listeners. And you have to remember that respecting an individual has a lot to do with actually considering their remarks or stance.

Can't remember the name of a black preacher that was discussed on N.P.R., but he basically said that the clergy shouldn't get involved within politics. That it is clear the idea of getting a Rev. Jesse Jackson to stand up beside an office-seeker or to lend their support is in aims of getting the majority of the black vote. Everything seems to be based upon race when it should be the actual issues involved, not what colour or gender people think ought to be in office.

I'm prejudiced. I don't like women or silly old men playing Texas Hold'em against me. They get a flush draw, straight draw or hold an Ace in their hand... they think they've got a better chance than anyone. Their luck is certainly a lot better than mind. I'm even more prejudiced against drunks. And even worse in regards to obnoxiously loud, belligerent bafoons that are intoxicated to which they think justifies their actions. Their being Republicans doesn't help either. But the issues to me boil down to respect. If they ignore you when you try to run the game or don't care if they delay the action for everyone involved, that only tells me they are more self-centered than most. THAT is what I see, not what colour or how educated they are, or even their community standing or public office held.

When working for a company in the past, minorities were paid close to what I was earning. Yet when things broke, they called me in to fix them while the comparable paid females (of any colour) sat their twiddling their thumbs. I'll be the first to tell you that when I broke something, it took someone of a higher pay-grade to fix my fuckups. And more than once they wanted to fire me just because they thought I was some stupid hick or redneck because of facial hair, southern accent, mannerisms or speaking patterns. I can walk the walk and talk the talk of Corporate America. But that's not me.

I was just going through the Human Development Indices for countries of the world. The Northern Hemisphere is beating the southern one in all respects. NATO treaty members are near the top while African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries are at the bottom. People wonder why there is terrorism. It's not what race they are, what social class they belong to or what religion they follow. They are unhappy people using whatever they have to justify striking out against others (sometimes of their own nationality, race, belief system, etc.). Commerce has a lot to do with the countries that had improved. Exporting arms had a lot to do with it. Tourism had a lot to do with it. And the countries that had the least to offer were the ones often ignored the most. Sudan has a fairly decent HDI, at least it is comparable to South Africa and Egypt. That doesn't stop the political unrest or genocide that is occuring. I can't make a generalization as to exactly why it is happening.

Saddam Hussein was in a minority part of the Islamic religion when he gained power. Yet he didn't mind killing anyone for any reason. Sure, he used various reasons to justify his actions with his various ministers. He tried to sway Islamic opinion in his favour when nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait did business with the United States while he was "blacklisted" for crimes against humanity. I'm sorry, using that term isn't racial. It conveys a meaning that has nothing to do with his background. I've been blacklisted by a company I used to work for and which makes finding employment difficult. They have those lists on the Internet for known spammers and crackers.

Maybe I try to make or keep things too simple. We could all make up reasons to explain why someone does something. Don Imus probably tried to stir up a fuss based upon those flippant words. They were aimed at gaining a reaction. That's how Howard Stern got famous... getting hit with fines from the FCC left and right. Having some skeletons in the closet is what is getting folks noticed. Look at Barry Bonds. My prejudices against his likely drug use is more aimed at ruining the spirit of the game. And while I can only suspect him of it, I am almost positively convinced that Mark McGuire had used them. I even suspect Albert Pujols of using them, based upon pictures/video from this season and last. He looks like he shrunk. Scott Rolen could have been using them, due to the injuries that plagued him last season. I don't know about the last Tour D'France winner, but I'd be the first to hang him out to dry for using illegal substances. Pete Rose should have been punished for betting on baseball.

I like to see colour barrriers broken. I like to see women in political office. While I'm not sure how I'd feel about women in professional NFL football, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them in soccer, basketball or even NASCAR. I'd be tickled pink if they were in NASCAR.

But it's the mentality that people have to play the race card, just because. I'd seen video of white cops beating on a black man walking down the sidewalk and minding his own business. That is so infuriating. A best friend, college buddy is now a Texas Highway Patrol. His nephew was treated harshly... possible because of his race. His sister was called a zebra in high school, which also sickened me to no end. But I can't change how people behave... whether a domineering white society or a disrepected black minority base. Honestly, blacks and hispanics war between themselves when it comes to gangs. That is the anger and rage of youth, unlessoned in life on what is appropriate. They call Arabs names because they are foreigners and yet kill citizens within their own country. Those are just excuses to strike out. Young men have all kinds of cruelties. My son doesn't get along well with his friends sometimes because they call him names and bully him. His mouth is just as bad. In the U.K., the hatred of other soccer teams is as deep-seated as some racial hatreds.

It's about bullying. It's about the "haves" versus "have nots". I can't fully blame or credit anyone for what I do or do not have going for me. Can't blame genetics, can't blame the parents, the school system, the capitalistic society or the U.S. federal or state governments. Do we deserve what we get or how we are treated? Not always. Yet we are sure to obscure the issues with whatever we can use to our benefit. Discrimination, reverse-discrimination, civil rights and hate crimes... the list goes on and on... can't say the "N" word, like there aren't worse words that need to be banned from the American English language. I'm a language purist at heart, a philologist that isn't appropriately armed with the right grammar or vernacular.

Don Imus probably got what he deserved. And there are probably some white supremacist groups out there cheering him on for his "heroic bravado" for speaking his mind while some may be convinced that his attempt at non-politically correct humour was very intentional in creating a stir and evoking a huge response. He's an idiot who didn't consider his words enough. I've been an idiot before. Have said lots of things that I regretted. That's just part of it, making mistakes. Hope we can learn from others' mistakes and maybe even our own.

You know I really hate that definition of racism. It's something I've only heard in the past 5 years, but it still gals me a bit. Though I think that's because I tend to define racism as hatred not just discrimination. I feel hatred that intense and ugly shouldn't be called anything other than what it is. A black man who hates Latinos and rants about they're lazy and stealing jobs is just as racist as a white man who makes the same rant about black men. One could argue that the black man has more power there in that scenario given the current perception of Latinos however... it makes me uncomfortable calling hatred and discrimination based on race anything other than what it is, racism.

That being said America is definitely a racist country. You can't argue that it isn't. Not when as Blizzard pointed out the people who make the decisions in this country are white, male and wealthy. Having lived in two different major urban areas and for my current job requiring a working knowledge of 3 others I can say that segregation still exists today. When banks in Chicago red line their lending practices and refuse to open branches in black neighborhoods, and the people who make those decisions are white... that's racism. When Baltimore city public schools don't have enough money to buy textbooks for their students and the student population in those schools is 70% black, that's racism. Now I would argue that some of the decisions that lead to keeping minorities "in their place" aren't inherently malicious they are made out of ignorance of the plight and realities of people who are materially poor and disadvantaged. Color blindness won't solve the problem. People in power need to find out what the reality is like and see how their decisions actually affect things before cycles of poverty are going to be broken.