Playing the Race Card

Conversations about race automatically bring shudders, eye rolling and cries of "Oh Lord, here we go again" from idealists who believe a colorblind society is entirely feasible and desirable for America. As a black woman living in California, I don't envision the century when colorblind society is possible in America. Race and representation are still prominent, significant issues no matter how much we want to move past them. As soon as we achieve a society devoid of categories and subsequent recognition of difference, we let memories of historical movements and ancestral struggle fade from the national consciousness. Even when I'm ready to move beyond rhetorical discussions about racism, I'm reminded of how ignorant, insensitive and disconnected from historical memory other people are.

ASUC Senator Devin Andre's comment of the "underrepresented bitch" implicates the larger societal disrespect for acknowledging history. While some can easily laugh off his cynical mockery of political correctness, the rest of us are left shaking our heads in frustration, disgust and a familiar anger. It's just another racial slur disguised as what U.S. Senator Trent Lott called "a poor choice of words" to add to the list. A scolding forefinger waved condescendingly in his face does nothing to absolve the severity of his insensitive statement or make him feel politically responsible to represent all students on campus.

After repeatedly seeing politicians abuse their power, it at first seems easier to allow flippant comments like Andre's to slide. We think it's funny now to criticize being politically correct in the presence of difference. Deep down, although we may change the political language and terminology we use to refer to other peoples' "difference," we maintain the same uneducated understanding and recognition of that difference in our hearts.

Andre shouldn't be surprised that all the underrepresented minorities are now assailing his stupidity. We've learned from Lott's inadvertent racist comment supporting segregation even though Andre apparently hasn't. For underrepresented minorities, it's important to pick and choose our battles, and not let the system detract from our important goals of fair political representation and true equality. Yet if we continue to let such insensitive flippancies-unapologetic statements of "I was just kidding"-slide from our elected leaders, we accept these leaders' irreverence for political consciousness.

On an individual level we have to change the way we think about each other and the way we perceive our individual responsibility within the system. Changing the system starts with a collective understanding of what the system is and how it's self-operated and perpetuated.

Achieving this collective understanding only comes through collective education. It's our responsibility to hold political leaders accountable for their words. We have to educate ourselves about what they're doing with their power, how they're affecting and shaping the system.

At the same time, we have to represent ourselves and work within the system to change the things we don't like. It's easy to get frustrated and withdraw from the system altogether, sling obscenities, sulk in disgust and turn to destruction. However, underrepresented minorities can't keep complaining about a system they're indifferent about or unwilling to participate in. While change starts at the individual level, it has to transcend to more powerful representation in the system to matter. We must change the system from the inside out, become the elected officials in power legislating the laws and produce the media coverage of our communities.

As the only black writer for the Daily Cal this semester, I accepted the responsibility of representing the black voice and educating readers about controversial racial issues. I played the race card for those unaware of the way institutionalized racism and white privilege work. If mainstream media sources remain predominantly white, they can continue to deny their obligation to address the concerns of underrepresented minorities.

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