These conversations can get very heated, even convoluted beyond belief. Just add one gun nut or two and stir for effect. I'm never surprised by the outcome, because a lot of people are on edge today, and the subject of race is a tender one. Whether we are discussing the recent tenure of President Obama or talk about Cliven Bundy, one side or another cannot stress how racism affects them personally in one or another. When they push the limits, the chickens that one hatches eventually come home to roost.
Some would say--that being "P.C." is no longer necessary, or is even advantageous to their point of view. Which--when based on their 1st Amendment rights, because they have the floor to speak their mind--that when they use tokenism, deflection, or hidden sub-textual phrasing to get their racist views across, they sound like someone who has lived their entire life in a vacuum.
We see it time and time again, usually purposefully placed in abstract angles, nailed to the wall, for us to view and ponder, "What the hell did he just say? It's 2014! Did he just say that?". These people annoy me, but not in the way they think.
One, they are dishonest, about who they are.
Two, they actually have the audacity to think they are hiding behind some hidden code that only they understand.
In their refusal to accept that they are in fact, transparent to most everyone, their childishness pretense continually acted out with such clueless abandon and innocence, is above all-- a waste of human energy. We all see right through them. They are the masters of flipping the script on someone who calls them on their lack of humanity, because when you call them on their intent--which is usually weak and not that well thought through--they backtrack, mumble and fumble--and show their true colors.
Which is racism.
Here's the thing about racism--sometimes when you think you understand just how it works, you are always in for a big surprise. I was just chating with some family, in the Bay Area, where I am originally from, and we discussed my research on the second novel I'd like to write about West Oakland during its heyday. Yes, Oakland, California was once known as the Harlem of the West Coast. It beat out Los Angeles for that moniker, in the days when swing music and jazz were all the rage. That story began and ended with the Pullman Palace Car, the Pullman Company, and the Pullman Porters of Oakland California. Oakland was the end of the line for transcontinental travel by train.
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A Pullman Palace Car allowed you to travel in style--if you were white.
If you were African American--you worked for slave wages in 1865. Even if you were free to make money, no one was willing to hire an African American. Slavery was recently outlawed, and George Pullman capitalized on the needs of others. He hired former domestic slaves, who worked at very low wages, if the ever wanted to work again at all in the Reconstruction Period. Hired on to work an average of four-thousand, eight hundred hour annually. That's four hundred hours a month, averaging a minimum of 13 hours a day, 5 days a week or 9 1/2 hours a day for 7. You got a straight wage of $67.50 per month, and you worked for tips, if you got them. "To Insure Prompt Service"--in case anyone was wondering what the acronym stood for. Put another way, you made about $0.17 and hour, and deal with certain things that the average person would never put up with.
Pullman began his company in 1865, shortly after the Civil War, using black-only service personnel, as cheap-to-almost-slave labor, from former slave labor, because his idea was based on 'excellence in service' to all travelers. It was Pullman's main selling point to America. He felt that former house slaves possessed every quality he needed and desired to please his paying clientele. Miles-Of-Smiles as he'd like to refer to it. Every Pullman Porter and Maid was African American, and lived by the rules of the Pullman Company to keep their jobs. It was American segregation at its finest, and sent a message throughout the nation, that even though slavery had ended, equality was not going to follow it any time soon. Victorian travel, where the average white American who never owned a slave would be treated like a slave master by former slaves as required by Pullman rules and regulations, because that was the Pullman concept of how national travel should be. The luxury of the Pullman Palace adventure from coast to coast, became known far and wide. George Pullman made his fortune institutionalizing and continuing racism, and all those who engaged his services by riding on the Pullman Palace coaches and Dining Cars, made racism comfortable in America by traveling in Pullman comfort and style.
People paid Pullman to extend racism beyond the end of the Civil War for close to 100 years after is was over.
Lost identities in the form of being called "George" or "Boy", "Gal" or "Girl" gave rise to a feelings of racial superiority by some, as well as deeply rooted class and cultural discrimination. It's funny how certain historical concepts remain intact even though their root element has been crushed. I for one heard little about such powerful concepts, growing up in the East Bay, even though this history, which in now being ignored and forgotten (or hidden) seeps out every now and then, when the subject of Oakland and urban blight makes its way into the news. We tend to forget our roots out of embarrassment or denial. We tell ourselves, that to talk about it is 'too much', or 'negative'. We think that things magically appear or disappear, out of nowhere, hardly accepting the humanity of our struggle to better ourselves as sentient beings, while unlocking the cycle of Samsara to free ourselves. We place barriers up, or pull them down, never understanding where they came from in the first place, unless some archeologist digs up an artifact from long ago and tries to piece together the events that took place. Oakland is one of those places America hates to discuss. When it is discussed, it is never from a historical viewpoint, where the total essence of America is concerned.
It wasn't always that way.
Thrust beyond the agrarian society into multiple urban environments across the nation, through their employment by the Pullman Company, the Pullman Porters of America were the links throughout African American society in America shortly after the Civil War. Communication that linked them from state to state, came in the form of Miles of Smiles[1], with newspapers and music, industries and word of educational opportunities for their children, even with the reality of low wages and institutionalized racism, the Pullman Porters forged ahead and built a valuable and notable history, which is still being studied today. Because it paved the way to much greater things. The building of a future of African American culture within America.
They made the best of a terrible situation.
They had to.
But these things are often forgotten, and very few of us can tell the true stories of history, of a place and time, unless people are interested in hearing about it. I for one, have no problem telling real history, or hearing about it. I still find, there are a number of people who have a problem hearing about the truth how thing were in the past, and how it affects the future as we know it today.
There are so many missing pieces and parts, that involves history, that are never told-never hear mention of, and if you've ever watched AMC-Weiner's' Mad Men, and you think that you've actually witnessed the history[2] of America in the 1960's in all its glory, well then--my stories of how things really were will never delight your fancy. My stories are based in truth-and although they are not told for dramatic purposes, they sometimes shock the senses of those--lest I say--those in particular, who are less than well-read. I choose rare, and sometimes odd stories that really happened to drive home a point. I do this for those who thought the world they lived in was wrapped up in a package--all nice and neat, with so many preconceived ideas about how life was lived in one place or another, and how things went down--in one way or another.
Racism is the subject were talking about--so I'll continue.
When racism affects people, it seldom shows up in a form that they hardly understand-- or could ever conceive that would it would apply to them, affecting the very nature of their being. It shakes their world to the core, beyond their expectations. It's not simple word-racism. It's has institutional foundations. It's evil, it's ruthless, and it's cunning. My world is not your world. It never could be. When I speak about my life, I get called I a 'liar', and I have to laugh because I'm not bragging or lying.
I'm sharing.
I've rarely express my experiences openly, but the moment I do, I get insulted by racist people who live in a very limited world, who still wear blinders and have done very little in their life, or have seen very little. Their life sucks, I guess. It's really not my problem. It shouldn't stop me from sharing mine. Oft times, it does though.
I ran across this piece of family memorabilia, because it reminded me of my grandfather's house and the people that used to drop by his 'spot', so to speak--when I was nothing more than a kid--and didn't think that life that much. How things are created, or why we meet certain people. There was always someone dropping by Sharkey's place. In fact, there was always a party, or an event, or someone I "needed" to meet-n-greet, and to tell you the truth, as a kid--I really only wanted to go outside and play at San Pablo Park. It didn't matter if I was playing baseball in a pick up game or league play--outside was way cooler than listening to old people and old people's music.
Jumpin' At The Woodside-Count Basie
'Jumpin' At The Woodside' was one of my family's favorites--and when uncle Gene started to dance, look out--everyone started to rock the front room, which--if it was Friday--it may not end till Sunday afternoon. As a kid you never get it. You don't get it till you get much older. You don't understand why your grandfather wanted you to shake this person's hand, or say "hi" to that person. Uncle Gene and Uncle Richie were those kinds of people I needed to shake hands with. There were many more. I literally shook hands with hundreds of people. Not paying an awful lot of attention, because these people were 'friends or family'. It was a symbol, back then, of growing up and meeting people who would mean something to you or others in the future. "Look them in the eye, and shake their hand", my grandpa would say. My Dad would laugh at this, and I would inevitably be embarrassed because they laughed, and I hadn't a clue why they laughed.
Uncle Richie and Uncle Gene
Uncle Gene was Eugene Patton, one of my Dad's running buddies. Yes, and if you're wondering why Uncle Gene was important to shake hands with, it's because he was an African American trailblazer in America where racism was ever present. You may only know him for his dance skills. I know a lot more about him.
My Uncle Gene opened doors for African Americans in IATSE.
My Uncle Gene opened doors for African Americans in IATSE.
Gene Gene The Dancing Machine
So, here's my situation in a nutshell. Do I continue to share my life with you? Are you interested? Just a passing question, because life is short and I don't want to waste my time. I have a ton of real stories about real people, and real things. Family history, and history in general. And, you must remember, your biggest crossroad challenge is whether or not you can handle the truth of other people's lives. No one likes to be labeled something they are not, and while I cuss people out on twitter for being your basic ignorant redneck-with no life or life's experience--I must confess, while I'm on my laptop, I'm laughing my ass off, even as I'm being suspended by twitter for tweeting past the limits or insulting the crap out of someone in a heated twitter battle between me and one of the many gun-nut nitwits.
Or...
If you're not interested--in these stories, but like wrapping your mind around history and gaining from it, you'll like this little story, and it might interest you to see how racism really works. Yes, this story still has to do with American racism, and how deeply rooted it is in American culture. So--here it goes. It how Jim Crow in American really works. Some people are already salivating and readying themselves to claim "He's playing the Race Card again".
Here we go.
Are you ready?
Here we go.
Are you ready?
Suppose you had a chance to see Count Basie, performing "ONE NIGHT ONLY" in Oakland at Sweet's Ballroom, and oh my god! You can't believe it. The Count will be in town. Here's your opportunity to hear him live and dance to his music--cut a rug-- as they say. The "joint will be jumpin"--but there's only one problem. Racism might rear its ugly head and you might not get to see him perform up close, because you choose to participate in the status quo of the day.
Jim Crow.
Yes, you are not man enough to stand up to racism, so they send you to--excuse the phrase--to "Nigger Heaven"[2], up in the balcony--where you can't dance--but only listen to the screaming music of Count Basie, and you have to watch everyone else have fun, and you paid the same money to get in the door as everyone else!
Jim Crow.
Yes, you are not man enough to stand up to racism, so they send you to--excuse the phrase--to "Nigger Heaven"[2], up in the balcony--where you can't dance--but only listen to the screaming music of Count Basie, and you have to watch everyone else have fun, and you paid the same money to get in the door as everyone else!
To think...
You paid good money for those tickets too!
The Afro American, Oct. 21, 1939 Count Basie-Sweet's Ballroom
Some shit is real.
It's how you deal with it that makes the difference.
************
I dig deep for language and its use in American History. It is not my intention to offend people, but to educate them to the realities of the society in which they live. Please bear with the use of such language, for I did not invent this word, but used it in its historical sense and true meaning. When we toss away what really happened during these periods in history, like the period of Jim Crow, we toss away a lot more history that we care to acknowledge. I personally, cannot and will not let that happen, over a word that I did not invent. African American history is worth more than one single, fucked up word, which didn't even come from African Americans in the first place.
[1] Miles of Smiles: It was a job requirement of a Pullman Porter to 'smile'. (This was a Pullman Company rule for African Americans to maintain their employment, and set the tone for most of America's racism against African American males and females who did not. If you've ever wondered where the concept of 'having to smile,..if you're black--so white people don't feel threatened' came from, it's a carry over from slavery, which the Pullman Company reinforced by employing only African Americans, and requiring them to smile 100% of the time, 100 years beyond slavery. This racist institutional standard, set by an American corporation, set the tone for mainstream hiring of the African American.
[2] AMC-Weiner's' Mad Men: witnessed the history: Mad Men Highlight Invisible Black People and Stain of Racism. The Daily Beast, March 27, 2012. (I've always found this show intriguing, based on the fact that the 1960's were my formidable years, growing up in the Bay Area. I do believe, nationally, that African American culture had reach a pinnacle during this period, yet Mr. Weiner deemed it necessary not to include a period in American history which will live on, not hatter how many season Mad Men runs. He's mini-series is a wonderful example of revisionism when it come to history in general, which is perhaps why it's become so popular. The real story of the 1960's is above his ability to recapture, therefore eliminating him from the running as person who's TV show should be taken seriously. Much more went on than he had the ability to be honest about.)
I dig deep for language and its use in American History. It is not my intention to offend people, but to educate them to the realities of the society in which they live. Please bear with the use of such language, for I did not invent this word, but used it in its historical sense and true meaning. When we toss away what really happened during these periods in history, like the period of Jim Crow, we toss away a lot more history that we care to acknowledge. I personally, cannot and will not let that happen, over a word that I did not invent. African American history is worth more than one single, fucked up word, which didn't even come from African Americans in the first place.
[1] Miles of Smiles: It was a job requirement of a Pullman Porter to 'smile'. (This was a Pullman Company rule for African Americans to maintain their employment, and set the tone for most of America's racism against African American males and females who did not. If you've ever wondered where the concept of 'having to smile,..if you're black--so white people don't feel threatened' came from, it's a carry over from slavery, which the Pullman Company reinforced by employing only African Americans, and requiring them to smile 100% of the time, 100 years beyond slavery. This racist institutional standard, set by an American corporation, set the tone for mainstream hiring of the African American.
[2] AMC-Weiner's' Mad Men: witnessed the history: Mad Men Highlight Invisible Black People and Stain of Racism. The Daily Beast, March 27, 2012. (I've always found this show intriguing, based on the fact that the 1960's were my formidable years, growing up in the Bay Area. I do believe, nationally, that African American culture had reach a pinnacle during this period, yet Mr. Weiner deemed it necessary not to include a period in American history which will live on, not hatter how many season Mad Men runs. He's mini-series is a wonderful example of revisionism when it come to history in general, which is perhaps why it's become so popular. The real story of the 1960's is above his ability to recapture, therefore eliminating him from the running as person who's TV show should be taken seriously. Much more went on than he had the ability to be honest about.)
[3] Urban Dictionary: Nigger Heaven: definition 2. "The Upper deck at a stadium, arena or theater. It comes from the Jim Crow era when black people were forced to sit in the balcony of a movie house. (This was the actual historical term used for segregating African Americans from whites during the period of Jim Crow, which lasted from 1865 to 1968, and slightly beyond. It was one of the segregating economical forces of the institution known as Jim Crow; used by the media, when media was in its heyday, and was used to keep the distance between whites and blacks beyond slavery. You may have difficulty finding the definition in today's world, as so much has been hidden from view, when discussing race, culture, and language use within American culture throughout history)
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