Whites and the Next Racial Clash in America

Time ^ | 12/05/03 | JACK E. WHITE

[freedom44]

According to political scientist Carol M. Swain's unsettling new book, "The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration," the U.S. is on the brink of an explosion of white "tribalism" that could trigger unprecedented levels of racial antagonism and an epidemic of violence. The underlying cause: a swelling "white nationalist" movement fueled by simmering resentment of affirmative action programs like those used by the University of Michigan. "The book is a wake-up call to warn people that we're following a dangerous course by pushing identity politics and multi-culturalism," explains the Vanderbilt law school professor. "There's nothing special about the U.S. that says we couldn't have ethnic cleansing and violence here like in Bosnia or Rwanda."

It's shocking to hear such a dire prophesy from a scholar like Swain, who is rapidly establishing herself as one of the leaders of a new, increasingly vocal neoconservative brand of black political analysis that rejects affirmative action and reparations for slavery and holds blacks responsible for their own uplift. Until recently, most left-leaning black theorists derided her as a hopeless optimist. Her previous book, "Black Faces, Black Interests," ruffled many black politicians by dismissing their fear that a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the use of race in the creation of majority black congressional districts would be a disaster. Instead, Swain predicted, the ruling actually would be good for African Americans. As she foresaw, even in the Deep South strong black candidates were capable of winning enough support from whites to prevail in districts where black voters were outnumbered. She also argued that disbursing blacks into mostly-white districts could make it easier for liberal Democrats to compete with conservative Republicans by building multi-racial coalitions. Blacks "need more representation of their liberal views of policy than they need people who look like them" in Congress, Swain contended. Anyone looking at the toothlessness of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Republican-dominated House would find it difficult to disagree.

But, as Swain says, she "turned from a Pollyanna into a Cassandra" as her research into a book criticizing racial preferences made her aware of the spread of what she calls "the new white nationalism," a form of racial extremism more dangerous than the Ku Klux Klan because of its veneer of erudition and mastery of the Internet. Groups such as former Klansman David Duke's National Organization for European American Rights and the National Association of White People eschew the discredited notion of white supremacy. Indeed, they don't claim that whites are superior to anyone else and may even be inferior to Asians.

Instead they push the notion over websites, in publications such as Jared Taylor's "American Renaissance " magazine and through on-campus recruiting drives that all racial groups have unique interests and the god-given right to fulfill their destiny. They see themselves, as Swain has written, as "defenders of the legitimate civil rights of white people against what they allege are a host of racial double standards." In short, that affirmative action has made whites the most discriminated-against group in the country and that it can only get worse as a tide of immigrants transforms the U.S. from a white nation into a rickety Third World republic. The language white nationalists use to promote their insights is stunningly familiar to anyone who has listened to black nationalists like Louis Farrakhan — but that's not surprising, since the white nationalists appropriated it. As Swain observes, "the multicultural left has provided a language that works very well for whites who want to push white-identity politics," says Swain. "They say that if it's good for blacks to celebrate their heritage, it's good for whites to celebrate theirs."

What concerns Swain the most is such groups now seem to be finding an audience among mainstream whites whose gripes about racial preferences and high crime rates among blacks have been tuned out by white liberal politicians. Though she has no proof that the membership of such groups is mushrooming, their influence is being felt widely. Indeed, some of the rhetoric used by white nationalists is indistinguishable from the verbiage used by President Bush in his assault on the "quotas" supposedly used by the University of Michigan. "If we keep going down this road, it's going to increasingly pit racial groups against each other," she warns. "Some white people, who are otherwise good people, who don't hate blacks, are going to be pushed into the arms of these extremists if we don't change course."

Swain thinks there's only one way out of this bind: recognizing that whites have "legitimate" beefs about race that should be openly debated by politicians and scholars. She also believes we should immediately do away with racial preferences in university admissions, hiring and government contracts that not only fuel white resentment but send the message to blacks that they can't meet the same standards as everyone else. Swain's detractors say such steps amount to no more than a cowardly capitulation to racism, but she won't back down because she does not believe that blacks need the crutch provided by race-conscious policies. For Swain, a deeply devout evangelical Christian, such beliefs are not academic. Now 49, she went from being a high school drop-out and single mother in rural Virginia to a Ph.d and a chair at a leading university. "Somehow, we've got to embrace an American national identity that pulls us together instead of dividing us into warring camps," says Swain, "perhaps through a renewed emphasis on the Judeo-Christian idea of a common creator and the brotherhood of man." It's an old-fashioned idea that could prevent Swain's troubling predictions from coming true.

[dwd1]

Most Americans realize that we are the result of the best and worst from all the world... We have the greed, we have the problems, but we also have a history that shows, when push comes to shove, we do the right thing as a country... No matter how much time it takes... We are a society that tries to do better... Please remember that 85 years ago, women could not vote, 45 years ago, I could not vote without an escort from the 101st.... We are getting better as a society... We experience growing pains, but we are growing... What I think we are seeing a that we had gone a little too far to the left and we are coming back to the center....

If we go too far to the right (and I think it has happened in the past) events and the electorate will work together and come back to the center again...

We are doing fine...

[Joe Hadenuf]

As I stated earlier, I was referring to the largest riot in American history. There is only one, and Detroit and Watts wasn't it.

[cyborg]

good post

I hope everyone takes a deep breath and realizes what you say is true

[Godebert]

I agree that the writer has exaggerated in that paragraph. I do think that there is a "simmering resentment" regarding quotas for blacks though. I think quotas are the only thing that keeps my "moderate" brother-in-law from voting democrat.

[Doc On The Bay]

BUT, of Course!!

Our French "Brothers" are WELL AWARE of this "Obscure Factiod!!"

The Number of "Exclamation Points" in ANY statement is a Measure of the "Seriousness" of ANY Given Post!!

The "Level of Concern" of ANY "FR POSTER" regarding the "Number of Exclamation Points" in Another "Poster's Rant" is a "Measure of" The SIZE of the "Complainant's Anal Orifice!!"

When an "FR Poster" is "concerned with" the "English Usage" of another FR "Poster;" the ENTIRE POINT of the "Rant" is UTTERLY LOST on the "Complainant!"

IN SHORT;--if you Don't Like my use of the English Language, SO BE IT!!

The Basic Fact remains; Despite our "Flaws," "W" is Taking Us "Back to the Moon!!" WHAT FUN!!!

Doc

[mo]

the bigger dynamic you're seeing is the Euro-UN influence. The rest of the world hates it that their most able oppressed can find their way to the place of freedom-out from under the hand of oppression. only by creating social stratification can you institute subjugation. Europe has and is still grounded in a hereditary aristocracy. the Euro-minded here have been busily trying to create a stratified society with blessings of the UN for 50 years.

[dwd1]

Hope for the best, expect the worst.... That I can live with....

I think what I did not like about the article was the emphasis on the worst case scenarios....

I think about General Donnelly who commanded USAFE from 84 to 87 (died in 94, God Rest his soul).... I remember how he always had "Accentuate the Positive" played at just about every event he attended....

[cyborg]

Was it this one????

Who doesn't like a good mystery? I used to love the Encyclopedia Brown detective series when I was ten years old. I avidly watched "Murder, She Wrote" every week. As Nick and I headed for Tulsa, Oklahoma, our assignment was to unravel the mysteries of an event that's probably not in any of your textbooks. Solving this mystery was a more awesome challenge than I could ever imagine: to try and find out what exactly happened on May 31, 1921 that resulted in the worst bloodshed of Americans killing Americans since the Civil War, and the largest racial killings in American history. Did we mention that records are sketchy, no one was ever arrested, the bodies have disappeared, and that for almost eighty years, most Tulsa residents had no idea of what took place that tragic day?

[Joe Hadenuf]

And by the way, notice that the rule of law prevailed and order was restored in all circumstances... Otherwise, would we be here to have this conversation?

The rule of law prevailed for who? The sixty people murdered or killed? The hundreds of seriously injured? The thousands of businesses that were leveled and the following economic downturn that lasted years?

Besides, I was referring to this posters statement below.

We have courts, we have police, we have enough people with a stake in the community to put their lives on the line to preserve the peace....

Everyone who worked in the courts couldn't get out of the city fast enough. Even the police fled some areas....For days, there was no law, no peace, no police....

My point is, this was *all* over the treatment of a common career criminal. You can imagine what would happen if some *big* event occurred.

[Joe Hadenuf]

To bring you up to speed, the 92, LA riots were the largest in American history. I have not a clue what your last post was all about. LOL!

[dwd1]

I read your post again... You are talking about LA in 92... I was there too.... That was more about the "haves" vs the "have nots".... The people who were doing the looting did not even know very much about Rodney King... And you have to admit the verdict was unjust.... The reaction was stupid and excessive... I remember going out Alondra and seeing people hanging out and then when they heard a window smash, they commenced looting...

I also remember running out of gas around Figueroa and Manchester and I am not ashamed to tell you that I was scared because I was dressed in a suit and tie and understood that I was not in danger for any reason other than the fact that I was more fortunate than some in that area... I also remember calling people from my base over at El Segundo and Aviation to come get me... Two admin guys (not the toughest guys in the world) came to get me... I do think the 357 Jensen had gave him confidence!

The point I am trying to make is that I saw the best and the worst in people during that time.... That will never change.... But I am a person of faith and tend to believe that "Yeah, though I walk through the valley..." and not because I am the baddest SOB in the valley but because he is with me...

[Publius6961]

Sorry for waking you up.
Do take your meds, though, and have that caps button checked out.

Best regards.

[cyborg]

Greenwood which is quite old... I didn't think you were that old... oh well

LA Riots were awful and I can't believe they were over a coke head who has since scuffled with police AGAIN. Either way, I think people look at that and are embarassed. No one has rioted since. I have a few personal LA Riot horror stories and that's just life.

[dwd1]

Define big... Kobe Bryant being killed in Colorado... Michael Jackson being kidnapped and killed.... A conservative senator being reaching out to and being killed by minorities.... We have handled wars, terrorism, Japanese Internment, impeachment, civil war, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement... What is it you think we can not handle....

And BTW, I agree that the protection of the citizens in LA in 92 was lousy... I was in the Guard in 94 when we had that earthquake up in Northridge and I remember we took only 25 hours to deploy...

We learn from our mistakes and things get better... I am saddened that so many had to lose their lives for the lesson...

And regarding Rodney King; he would be well advised to get himself a woman who is oversexed and knows karate and disappear....

[rdb3]

If you want to study up on race riots in the U.S., do some research on the Wilmington, North Carolina riot of 1898, the Tulsa, Oklahoma riot of 1921, and the Rosewood, Florida riot of 1923.

I believe that 34 people died during the L.A. riot of '92. But 300 people died in the Tulsa riot of 1921.

[dwd1]

I will say that I am glad that I moved to Orange County back in 91...

And I am saddened to that the law is not there to protect innocent citizens, Matthew Shepard, the victims of the DC sniper(s), the people who were on those planes on 9/11 and those soldiers who are in Iraq....

And I do not think there is a death painful enough for Muhammad or the terrorist or the rioters who killed to endure.... But that's not my job.... I just program databases and make sure that I and my family are not the ones doing the harm...

[BSunday]

What exactly did you find objectionable?

Article: inflammatory. Woman: Ugly

[dwd1]

Thank you... I am aware that one, the Brownsville Raid (Teddy Roosevelt's only act of injustice I can recall), the Rosewood Riot (They made a movie)... I think it could be fairly stated that there has been enough pain and enough shame to go around....

And notice, here we are a better people discussing rather than shooting... To me, that's progress....

[Doc On The Bay]

"SIGH!"

ESAD, "Brother FReeper!!"

Somehow, the "Subject of" this Post has gotten LOST in You're "Fixation on" "Process!"

"Need I Remind You,"---that FR Deals with the "WHAT" of any given Subject,--NOT the "How we State It!!"

But Then; If I have to "Lecture You" about FR Ethics,--You are Already Lost!

Doc

[cyborg]

thanks... if black people ever were going to riot it would have been back then. I think some people forget that white people could run amok and get away with what they did in those riots. Today black people can riot BUT they'll be criminal prosecuted if caught. Perspective is a good thing and I wish people would stop whining already.