BIRDS OF A FEATHER

The premise of the following article is not, in my view, accurate. Bigotry is a large subject so there is much here that is valid but the claim that race relations have soured is not in evidence.

Certainly the national discussion on race has increased but just as certainly that has to have a lot to do with the fact that a bi-racial, often referred to as black, candidate has won the presidential nomination of a major political party for the first time in American history. Considered in a different light, that would seem to validate the idea that our society has undergone a positive transformation relative to race relations.

Evidence that society has made real progress: have you noticed how many bi-racial people and bi-racial couples you see around you in America today? Have you noticed the number of minority race individuals who have achieved the highest of levels in both the public and private sectors?

This article states hate crimes are up. What is behind that claim? A major part of the reason is the ever increasing categorization of what were simply considered crimes in the past to hate crime status today. Make the statistical adjustment and it just might be that there is either no change or an actual decrease in what is considered a hate crime.

Further, identity politics is not being played more now than has been the case for decades. But due to candidate Obama it is being played with a much higher profile and I would contend it is being more frequently rejected now more than ever before. Part of the rejection of candidate Clinton was the ham handed way that campaign played on race. Voters found it unacceptable.

Finally it is unlikely that race relations are souring. What is more likely is that, as racially charged speeches by pastors and others become more publicly known, more well meaning people of all races step forward and reject such extremism. That is a good thing.

In the end however we need to acknowledge that human nature tends to be a "birds of a feather flock together" reality. People tend to spend more time associating with others of their "kind" but, as noted earlier, that has changed dramatically and it continues to change. The great "melting pot" of American history continues to work it's magic. This country is not a racist nation even if some racists live among us.


The New Bigotry -- A Primer
Who hates whom, what still offends and why we can't all just get along. An Esquire look at bigotry in America.

Things have gotten better. Nobody can deny that. But hate crimes are up, race relations are souring, and the Speech of the Year brought identity politics back to the dinner table. Bigotry -- real, perceived, and a mixture of the two -- is thriving in America, and this is what it looks like.

• Why We Hate
• A Recent History of Outrageous Behavior
• Bigotry by the Numbers
• Hate Crimes: From Sea to Shining Sea
• The Black-Brown Divide
• Jews: What Are We, Chopped Liver?
• The State of Getting Along
• Cracking the Racial Code
• Yup, These Racial Slurs Are Still Offensive

Find this article at: http://www.esquire.com/features/bigotry-0608