Black in a white world

"Without any question, the most bitter anti-white diatribes that I have ever heard have come from 'passing' Negroes, living as whites, among whites, exposed every day to what white people say among themselves about Negroes -- things a recognized Negro would never hear"\n-- The Autobiography of Malcolm X\nThe following is not meant to be anti-white, nor is it bitter in the sense that I have no hope. Rather, it is a criticism from a black man who walks freely and unnoticed among white people and hears what many say about us in private company.\nIn today's society, the line between the black and white worlds is often invisible, but it is still there. Black people no longer live under the constant threat of lynching and forced deference to all things white -- but any black person can tell you shopping in a mall, eating in a restaurant or getting a police officer to your neighborhood in a time of need can make that line as apparent as the sun in the sky. Generally speaking, I do not have to face these problems.\nMy light skin, soft hair and European features allow me to "pass" if I wish. When anyone looks at me, I am assumed to be white. As the American melting pot has worn down (not worn away), the intra-white hatred of non-Anglican Caucasians, slight variations in hair and skin color are almost ignored. If I desired, I could go the rest of my life pretending to be white. \nBut hiding my race would undermine my identity and betray my people. "Passing" blacks, those who intentionally abandon the black community to live as white people, have been regarded as race-traitors since the days of slavery. Given special treatment by the white "fathers," light-skinned and passing blacks became an undeserving privileged class among black people -- a product of racism outside of the black community which became racism within it. And then, as now, there are still many white people who consider us inferior.\nOf course, no one thinks of himself as a racist, so the "I don't mean it" and "Some of my best friends are black" excuses come spewing out when that blatant racism is rebuffed. Others make excuses for their racist friends and relatives, like "He tells all kinds of jokes, but he's really a good person." \nTo this day, I cannot decide who is worse -- the racists or their sycophantic apologists.\nRacism, contrary to popular opinion, is alive and well within the white community. I have seen it, heard it and felt it my entire life. Just as I addressed the responsibilities of black people in the struggle for equality last week, today I assert that today white people also have responsibilities.\nThe jokes and comments demean black people -- even if a term like "nigger" is not used to reinforce the divide between the races. As long as white people look at black people as entirely different (and subsequently, lesser) entities not worthy of the full respect of human beings, then equality can never be achieved. These remnants of racism must be addressed by individuals -- white individuals -- who stand up and say the racism is not harmless and must be stopped. \n The institutional racism so many pay lip service to cannot change without white America waking up and realizing its role in the continued oppression -- which stems from the continuing degradation -- of black people. \n The collective and tolerated racism still permeating white America's homes, schools, businesses and justice system will not be quelled until white people become aware of their ingrained notions and outward expressions about black people -- be they jokes, stereotypes or an unnatural fear of us. When these are addressed, we will truly be on our way to equality.