Thursday
Nov062008
Black Plus White Does Not Equal White
Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 11:05PM
Extremely bizarre people live in Blogistan. Like, say, the ones who insist on arguing about whether this election was "historically significant" in terms of race because... they, say, come on, our President elect is half white.
I hear you. But, no, I did not make that up so I could write a post about it.
It's true, they exist. I've seen their comments. If you click that, I'm referring to the comments, and not the post itself. And please don't barrage that blog with comments because the author is extremely grumpy and will metaphorically kill me. Forget it, the link doesn't work, you'll have to take my word for it, and, besides, it's not worth the potential humiliation that RW might throw my way for linking to him, anyway. Ha ha.
Much can be said about these people. I will say only this: they are obviously not... sepia toned, brown, mocha, light brown or even excessively tan. They obviously have no idea that "half white" didn't mean anything to the narrow minded bigots who reside in the history books of our nation. Or that it still doesn't mean anything to more than a few people living in our nation today.
In short, in this country, if you inherit your looks from the chocolaty goodness side of the gene pool, a racist doesn't care if the other side of the gene pool looks like whitey-mc-white-white-vanilla-land. They don't care now, they didn't historically care.
Still, I understand that some people are just more visual. Never fear, that's why we have pictures like this one.
Barack Obama 2008
Thanks to Rich for posting this on his Facebook account for me to steal. Historical significance aside, did anyone else notice how big Ford's head was?
I mean, it's just enormous compared to the other guys.
Finally, I'd like to steal the words of the very cool hellohahanarf (author of Midnight Cliff) who wrote about something that had nothing to do with this topic at all on Wednesday. I've altered the sentence to suit my own post and purposes:
Ahem, "first one to ask me why the illustrator made him that dark gets slapped."
P.S. My dad actually read my blog yesterday and said, verbatim, "Why are you writing like Sarah Palin speaks?" L. M. A. O.
I hear you. But, no, I did not make that up so I could write a post about it.
It's true, they exist. I've seen their comments. If you click that, I'm referring to the comments, and not the post itself. And please don't barrage that blog with comments because the author is extremely grumpy and will metaphorically kill me. Forget it, the link doesn't work, you'll have to take my word for it, and, besides, it's not worth the potential humiliation that RW might throw my way for linking to him, anyway. Ha ha.
Much can be said about these people. I will say only this: they are obviously not... sepia toned, brown, mocha, light brown or even excessively tan. They obviously have no idea that "half white" didn't mean anything to the narrow minded bigots who reside in the history books of our nation. Or that it still doesn't mean anything to more than a few people living in our nation today.
In short, in this country, if you inherit your looks from the chocolaty goodness side of the gene pool, a racist doesn't care if the other side of the gene pool looks like whitey-mc-white-white-vanilla-land. They don't care now, they didn't historically care.
Fun Fact: If you were born in the antebellum South, and your mom was white, then you got to be white, too. So, yeah, If Obama had been born in the antebellum South... what-ever.
Still, I understand that some people are just more visual. Never fear, that's why we have pictures like this one.
Barack Obama 2008Thanks to Rich for posting this on his Facebook account for me to steal. Historical significance aside, did anyone else notice how big Ford's head was?
I mean, it's just enormous compared to the other guys.
Finally, I'd like to steal the words of the very cool hellohahanarf (author of Midnight Cliff) who wrote about something that had nothing to do with this topic at all on Wednesday. I've altered the sentence to suit my own post and purposes:
Ahem, "first one to ask me why the illustrator made him that dark gets slapped."
P.S. My dad actually read my blog yesterday and said, verbatim, "Why are you writing like Sarah Palin speaks?" L. M. A. O.
Reader Comments (22)
You write like Sarah Palin speaks? I don't see any "ehs" or "ya knows" in there!
That link back to my blog doesn't work... thank God.
@ Avitable : I think he was referring to the contraction like "can't" and "won't" or phrases such as "I get it." He was, after all, educated by early 20th century British folks.
@RW: I don't know why it doesn't work. I posted the correct url. Now, I rewrote the post and just linked to your main page. Happy Internet Stalker Day.
When I see a picture of all the presidents of the US in a row like that, only one thing pops into my head.
I can't believe that Woodrow Wilson was our last Prez with facial hair!!! And he shaved that shit off before the end of his two terms!
I think, because of this, Barack should grow some facial hair. Maybe a porn star stach or nice Van Dyke. Something!
Wilson was clean-shaven for all 8 years. $20!
Like Sarah Palin?! Haha! I don't see it.
I love that picture - every time I see Jimmy Carter, I think peanuts. Still.
@RW and Earl: Yeah. I rule in favor of RW, and not just 'cause I'm his sycophant, but I believe that you, Earl, are thinking of Taft. The most uneventful president in the history of the United States. Wilson has been clean shaven in every photo I've seen of him (and I've seen a lot since my thesis focuses on that era of our history).
That said, I would totally dig facial hair on Barack... and I'm in awe of the cleverness that inspired your comment, as well.
@Sybil: Come on, who (over the age of 25) *doesn't* think about peanuts when they hear "Jimmy Carter"?
Correction: "my thesis is supposed to focus on." Because right now, it's focusing on taking up space in my hard drive and being incomplete.
Those presidents are out of order. Truman was before Eisenhower. I know. I was there for that!
Well. You know, all those men *do* look alike. :P
White men. You meant to say white men. You were going to say white men but you edited yourself. You should just say white men. It's true! we DO all look alike!
Wait a minute...in that row second from the bottom. Look again. Right after Teddy and Taft comes Wilson. And that is a beard he is sportin'. Right? Are you saying that this highly realistic drawing of the US Presidents might not be historically accurate?
I'm shocked! ;)
Damn you RW! Your check is in the mail.
Bastard.
LOL @ RW. I was totally going to say that. I *did* edit myself. And, yeah, that picture is totally off. You're right... Wilson is sporting a beard in the sketch. Bizarre.
I thought you were going to say "old men".
Which one is Ford? (Is it bad that I don't know that? I think it might be.)
I should probably mention that I know next to nothing about presidents or when their terms were. I never showed up to History class much.
You can't do anything for those people who want to live in Whitey whitey land Faiqa except pray. But their world is getting smaller.
@ Britt : actually, I was going to say "you people," but I thought that would be crossing the line. ;)
@Sarah: He's the one with the enormous head. Six to the left from Obama... no, it's not bad, don't worry. As someone who *lived* to go to history class, I'm not offended at all by your lack of interest in presidents. They're a really small part of a very big picture.
@james True. To their defense (not that they deserve it), there are a great deal of people in this world who want to live in chocolaty goodness land, too. I will until then pray for the day where everyone will happily live in Neapolitan, triple fudge, candy sprinkled, strawberry syrup, banana split land. With lots and lots of nuts on top.
I'm pretty sure Ford had an unnaturally large noggin. It affected his balance and was the primary reason he was so clumsy.
@delmer That is one of the most profound explanations I have ever heard about Ford's clumsiness.
Also, he had to give Chevy Chase as much comedy material as possible.
@Ginger And is it agreed that Chevy Chase needed all the help he could get?
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