Black Man Walking
By ART NIXON
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 3:00 pm
One day after emerging from the subway at Vermont and Sunset, instead of hopping onto the shuttle bus I decided to walk up the hill to Los Feliz Boulevard. I eventually settled into a floating, meditative zone in which I was able to observe the world in what I felt was an honest way. I noticed a young woman who, at first glance, appeared very trendy with her crimson hair and black leather ensemble. She looked up from the bus bench, saw me and, in one smooth effort, quickly drew her two colorful, expensive-looking shopping bags closer to her as I passed by. As an afterthought, I did something I rarely do — I looked back at her and caught her glaring after me. That’s when it became clear: This 20-something woman actually knew that I would no sooner snatch her bags than I would apologize to her for the fact that I was wearing a suit and tie and not pushing a shopping cart filled with all my worldly belongings. But I got what she was doing.
It’s this: In today’s P.C. world, even the most intractable haters wouldn’t dream of calling me a nigger aloud (except, maybe, the indomitable Mr. Richards, who apparently does dream, and in color to boot). These days, the more sophisticated way to get the N word across loud and clear is to simply act it out. That’s what this woman’s intense stare was about while she gathered her bags close to her. It wasn’t fear at all. It was more like, “There, I still get to let you know what I think of you.” Now, another question presented itself. If the folks in this neighborhood weren’t frightened that I was going to rob them, molest them, say something weird or even make eye contact with them, then what was really taking place?
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I think Nixon's comments on
I think Nixon's comments on the existence of racism hidden beneath the trappings of cosmopolitanism are quite apt. Michael Richard's character, Kramer, was a perfect example of this seemingly tolerant cosmopolitinism. Buried beneath the exterior, however, the feelings are the same.     Â
Yup, brah Nixon describes
Yup, brah Nixon describes what is probably a routine repeated thousands of times a day across America: black men going out of their way to be non-threatening and inoffensive.
I'm 6 feet 5 inches tall, and have observed white folks crossing the streets to avoid me since I was a teenager. It doesn't matter how I am dressed. I could be wearing an Armani and they'll still look at me as if I have a bone in my nose, a necklace of human ears strung around my neck, and a machete instead of a valise in my hand. The most frequent and flagrant examples occur at the end of the day. There is always someone who would rather climb the parking garage stairs to their car than ride on the elevator alone with me. It happens so regularly I rarely think about it any more.
Thoughtful article. It's
Thoughtful article. It's interesting that in a world where seemingly actions hold more weight than words, white people who pull this stuff (racist action vs. racist words) somehow think their racism is veiled, and thus acceptable in public.
This topic and the Paula Zhan post are related in a way. It seems to me that when it comes to racism in the US, whites have an unwritten rule where subtlety and context can be ignored when their f'd up ideology and actions are called into question. Thus, in 2006 a fool can still get away with the smarmy WET question.
Of course, the opposite is true for the offenses of non-whites. Violently so. Simply reaching for a coat pocket can get one killed since white policemen are sensitive to subtleties I can't even fathom. When it comes to actions of blacks in particular, the actions of the mass of blacks over history can be called upon to interpret our actions.
Babylon makes the rules.