Reid It and Think

My big brother Markeeva Morgan posted this on FB. Good stuff...

A quick out of context comparison of racial comments made by then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would likely conclude that perhaps Senator Lott's comments were "worse" based on the history of the subject of his comment and the factual treatment of his comments could still lead to a “bad place”. However, a careful analysis of Senator Reid's comments (especially after watching the Lott debacle intently from the sidelines and stating that Senator Lott had “no choice” but to resign) reveals a subtle, yet poisonous reality of our nation today. Let’s review the major phrases of his comment:



Light-skinned – This statement implies the presupposition of a “White” standard and implies increased acceptability for, say President of the United States, as one approaches that standard, with skin color being the most immediate indicator of approach. This is both stupid and dangerous. While President Obama’s complexion, indeed, is not the darkest among us, what does that have to do with his professional capabilities?



Negro – In my opinion, the use of this term in 2008 could potentially symbolize a lack of intellectual, emotional, and social progression by the speaker. Of course, there are occasions when the context would change my opinion. Not this one though…



Negro Dialect – Exactly what dialect is he referencing? Ebonics? Yes, Ebonics (a combination of the words “Ebony” and “Phonics” also referred to as African American Vernacular English among other titles) has some roots in ungrammatical English, but that is but one of many roots. Ebonics is an amalgamation of many languages whose genesis, many argues, is early attempts by African slaves to learn American English in the South. Before we dismiss the legitimacy of the development of this dialect or language, note two facts:




Standard American English has a development path very similar to Ebonics. In this land of immigrants, the “King’s English” has been combined with the languages of Native Americans and so-called Latin languages. What has resulted is a systematic and rule-governed language thought to be ungrammatical by our friends across the pond to our east.


Speaking of systematic and rule-governed languages… Twelve years ago (3 January 1997), the Linguistic Society of America resolved that Ebonics “is systematic and rule-governed like all natural speech varieties. In fact, all human linguistic systems--spoken, signed, and written -- are fundamentally regular. The systematic and expressive nature of the grammar and pronunciation patterns of the [Ebonics] has been established by numerous scientific studies over the past thirty years. Characterizations of Ebonics as ‘slang’, ‘mutant’, ‘lazy’, ‘defective’, ‘ungrammatical’, or ‘broken English’ are incorrect and demeaning.” See LSA Resolution.


Unfortunately, I do not believe Republicans are the appropriate champions to hold Senator Reid accountable for his statements for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that this issue should not be politicized. Republican championship would lead to that very result. The Democrats should champion this issue themselves, they should vehemently fight against its politicization, and the leader of the Democratic Party and our nation should be the focal for this discussion.

I understand President Obama’s reluctance. He has proclaimed himself to be post-racial. I share that view. However, the leader of our nation should realize that the nation is not post-racial. His minimization of this issue is causing more immeasurable and undetectable harm than any of us would like to admit.

I am not attempting to attack Senator Reid personally but rather analyze the undercurrent that enables germination of such a thought and then facilitates its transmission from one’s brain out of one’s mouth. As I stated earlier, Senator Reid’s comments were factual; President Obama’s complexion is certainly not the darkest among us, and he does not appear to publicly employ Ebonics in his many press moments and speeches. The factual basis of the words isn’t in question. However, making any correlation between those two observable facts and his qualification as President of the United States suggests that the nurturing environment behind them certainly should be. If Senator Reid, in fact, “practices like he plays”, I’m not sure I like this game…