I'd like a nigga cookie pliz....

so i was taking my driving lesson early this morning and the locutor (DJ) on the Hispanic radio show was discussing the picture of the post (the one on my blog from yesterday). One caller said "black people need to be okay with jokes, it was a joke, wats the problem with a little joke, cant black people take a joke? Black people take everything to heart, they are so sensitive."

....................ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, this might sound crazy but RACISM EXISTS with in the Latino American/Hispanic community. Actually its OD. And we can't admit it boggles my mind! I am aware that I am making a bold statement that is about to open pandora's box but what's blogging without a little controversy?

anywho... if my people (and I say MY PEOPLE becuase my ancestry derives from Africa as well) were dragged out of their land, sold like animals, treated as such, oppressed by the very system that claimed to be seeking freedom and liberty for hundreds of years, then I'd have some type of sensitivity toward any sentiment that reminded me of that history.

Listen, as we have witnessed several times since Obama has become president, racism is still alive and thriving. And do you know why? Because slavery was emancipated in the 1800's, the ill-treament of peopple of color as slaves was an issue that reached its peak during the civil rights movements in the 1960's (which are still being faught silently today because of failure to right the wrongs) and WE ARE STILL dealing with many opressing systems, like the prison system, that continue to contribute to the oppression of black people/ communities of color.

We still live in a society where highschool students attend segregated proms until 2001 (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/turner.prom/index.html). Where our leader is refered to as a monkey and where the the highest numbers of people of color are found in prisons and the lowest in institutions of higher education... wat a coinkiedink!

So dont call it sensative when less than 60 years ago (1954 to be exact) black people in Kansas fought for equal educational opportunities and were able to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson's separate but equal bs law. 1954? YEAH That's 1 year AFTER my dad (who is dark skinned) was born. Meaning there ARE people that lived in that type of America still alive.

It's not sensitive when racism that leads to oppression is something so deeply rooted in the systems of this country that in 2009 instnaces of its well conceled poison constantly seep out. For example, theres a man that actually makes and profits off of cookies named "Drunken Nigger Face Cookie (pic of the post)". NOPE

Its unnaceptable and not funny for these things to continue happening
Its unnaceptable and not funny to accept the identity/image of watermelon eating, chicken loving, lazy, uneducated black people stereotype or look the other way when portrayed that way
Its NOT FUNNY and No we are not being sensitive. We should not look the other way when insulted like this. No, especially if you know your history. NO.

And this can be applied to all communities of color. Like when people are surprised I am "articulate" or when my cousins call me "white" for speaking proper english (internalized oppression at its best). UGHHH

This is an unpolished version of what would take me a life time to articulate properly. I just had to get it off my chest. And dont get it twisted, I've experienced racism from people of color- a lot. Not cool, but thats for another post.

Not sure if that made sense but PLEASE do some self evaluation/reflection. Reflect on racism, how you have faced it, how you have executed it and the pain you may have felt/inflicted in those instances. Think about the history. Think.

For our children.