Monday, February 14, 2011
Tea Party & Race(ism)
Tea Party antics are acting up again. But, they're not really antics – they're simply the way the operate. As budget talks are in full force, the Tea Party calls for massive budget cuts. Imagine that. Running through the litany of arguments against the Tea Party remains too easy, and quite redundant. Yet, from Public Broadcasting to Americorps, the threat of budget cuts undercuts the plethora of public funding that picks up where private (read: the Tea Party's bread-and-butter) funding has dropped out. Tea Party demographics as provided by this NYTimes Poll reveals:
The 18 percent of Americans who identify themselves as Tea Party supporters tend to be Republican, white, male, married and older than 45.Now, this poll remains dated (April 2010), and that's due in large part, in my humble opinion, that most of America has resigned itself to recognizing the fact that the Tea Party is indeed, "Republican, white, male, married, and older than 45." None of these attributes should surprise us. Yet, what does race have to do with it? After all, this is just a political movement, right? We've moved beyond racism, it's not a problem, right? (Seriously, my sarcasm is as thick as Pawlenty's Minnesotan accent).
Race remains the most difficult and arduous discussion to have with all races, not just white people. The conversation remains difficult, in large part, because we still associate "race" only with "prejudice," and leave misuse of power out of the conversation. As my last article revealed ("Black History Month: You're White"), there is the striking and remarkable aspect of white privilege that, if left ignored, leaves little possibility of progress.
The Tea Party reflects the pervasive white privilege that acts throughout society. Sure, smaller government works when that government hasn't institutionally oppressed you. As we move through discussions of public funding and smaller government, we must be willing to ask ourselves, the collective whole, how does this disadvantage people of color? There has long been a lack of accountability for leaders to answer how it is that their "whiteness" allows for them to say the things they say, and argue for their policies.
As I write this, I remain ever aware that I am a white man, the most privileged voice in American society. I dare not speak for the person of color's experience within the American conversation, but I do challenge my white siblings to ask how their privilege affords political action. The Tea Party remains a racist institution, as do all instituions, as do all white institutions as they either knowingly or unknowingly benefit from being white. The injustice occurs when there is the denial that racism affects how politicians can cut spending and support of organizations in the name of "smaller government."
Let's call it what it is: racist. Until those within politics, the right and left, recognize that those at the table are all too often only white, they will never recognize their policies as racist. If the Tea Party wants to "take back America" they must recognize that nobody has ever taken it from them. They have controlled the policies to reflect their needs, their realities, and their institutional construct called race.
The Tea Party & Race are inextricably connected, and if we continue to ignore this fact and ignore the rich possibility of transformative conversation, we will endanger our common humanity. We will make segregation a reality, not through signs and separate restrooms, but through removing funding from organizations that build-up what elitism and white privilege has destroyed: our common humanity.
About the Author
Zac Bailes is an ordained Baptist minister with native Kentucky roots. A second-year student at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, he earned his bachelor's in Philosophy at Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY.
Passionate about social justice, Zac is intimately involved with the Institute for Dismantling Racism, an organization which seeks to create an anti-racist identity and culture that effects individuals and institutions. As a white, straight male, he constantly seeks to engage and question his privilege. It is a journey that is continually traveled on his blog Libs and Cons, and in life.
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Passionate about social justice, Zac is intimately involved with the Institute for Dismantling Racism, an organization which seeks to create an anti-racist identity and culture that effects individuals and institutions. As a white, straight male, he constantly seeks to engage and question his privilege. It is a journey that is continually traveled on his blog Libs and Cons, and in life.
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