great analogy about the pick pocket...

kinda of reminds me of the story the Buddha told. When someone fires an arrow into you, you don't try and find out who fired the arrow and what they are all about..you concentrate on getting the arrow out.

Its used to display a completely different point, but it reminded me of it.

Anyways. Good video.

Damn, man.... Hard-Hitting and On-Point, as usual.

I'm through... Jay Smooth is *THE* Hip-Hop Videoblogger! :D

I'll be the Heavy Metal Videoblogger.

Mad Props, as usual.

Jay,

You're not speaking wrong, but it feels like you're speaking idealistically. You're too right about the conversation being spun to "But I'm NOT A RACIST / HOW DARE YOU."

Thing is they're ALWAYS going to come at it from that point of view, because being called a racist has become more taboo than actually being one. People get more upset about the possibility they might have been called racist than the fact that their actions are racist as hell. They'll harp and linger on all their deeds in the past and what clubs they belong to and who their friends are. They'll START any rebuttal to your first words with that. And in the end you end up talking to yourself or talking to the wind, because they've drawn a crowd to chant the "I AM NOT A RACIST" mantra to the point where any on lookers without reading/listening to the whole thing, think that's what it's all about. Then people start picking sides and - boom- it's all over.

I don't think it's that there are people who don't know how to start the conversation and stay on point (in general). I think it's that people know how the conversation's going to go anyway. So they start off wanting to get that point in first - just so they've said it. Or they start off focusing on actions and once that first sentence is gone, they never get another chance to bring it back. There's no known strategy to get the conversation back on track. Either you're lucky and you get a person who's willing to listen, or you're unlucky.

Preach! This is mandatory watching for everyone to understand as you said to have a STRATEGY to approach the am I a racist conversation. As soon as anyone says to me, "I am not a racist," please don't say that even if you are not.

Prove that you are not a racist through your actions. When you declare this statement it proves to some people that you missed the point in teaching tolerance and that is to act in what you preach. Just DO!

Excellent video as always!

Wise wise words

Yo Jay Smooth... you're so ambiguously raced man... are you a black light skin?

Okay...so if I were to pursue the offender within the 'what you said/did was racist' conversation with the same acumen I would a pick pocket, what then? Wouldn't that just lead to the inevitable 'you are racist' conversation? If not that, then wouldn't the conversation's accusatory undertone result in the offender's exoneration on the grounds that 'he was raised (a certain way) to believe...'? Maybe, the conversation would flip in the offender's favor with either (take you favorite pick), "you're taking my words out of context", "you're being racist by always thinking I'm about to say something racist" or "you're being overly sensitive and you just want me to kiss your ass (reference:south park)". I don't know where I'm going with this.

You are right, but either is a tough conversation and since "undercover" racists spend their whole lives trying to be undercover, they have perfected the act of flipping the script in either scenario. I think many WPs (obviously not all) are so very sensitive about this issue that the mere insinuation that you might be thinking about considering the idea that they are racist just leads to a downward spiral of the conversation and the knee-jerk reactions that CSRealist cites at the end of his/her comment.

Well put!!!

Really the only approach to take if you want people to change. All the other approaches assume that they can't.

I could have so used this "how-to" guide last week. Let's just say I hit that point at my job where all the white people thought I was cool enough to bring all their grievences (sp?) against black people to me and demanded that I bless them with eternal knowledge to understand it or change all the behavior of black people. Let's just say this re-affirms my hatred of being the only black person white people know.

Are you talking 'bout something/someone specific?

Jay, that was very astute. Holding people accountable for their words and actions does seem to be the appropriate approach. The difficulty is for those that are holding the culprit to an accountability for said words or actions must maintain constant focus and verbal vigilance in order for it not to become about 'what they are'. So I agree. But I know from experience that you can't allow your anger or emotional feelings that may come out to derail 'what they did' to become 'what they are'. Difficult, but we all need to enhance our control and focus when these issues do arise. Preach on man. Keep doing what you do and saying it out loud. Love the videos.

This was excellent. Thanks for posting this. I'm gonna add this to my tabs.

Oh that horrible "A" word! Who wants to be accountable? Or worse, who wants to have the integrity and courage to hold someone accountable for something like racism.
You're on point with the accountable approach - can't squirm out of that one, esp if there is physical evidence to support...but racist do learn very early to master the art of the squirm.
A case in point: A neighbor yelled to a brother driving too fast through our block..."you effing n" in front of our son and his son!! Mind you we had just the day before, complimented him and his wife for being our 'saving grace' on the block! They had been so friendly ! Yikes what an eye opener.

Hubbie had to go have that accountability chat and had him apologize to our son. Of course the conversation went several times to his black friends and how much he is not a racist, but Chris brought it back each time to WHAT HE SAID!!
Yes indeed accountability is what it has to be about. It's the only way to go past the fact of racism to the healing process. Only the truth can work.
Thanks for this video!

Damn Jay, maybe your best yet. Talking about racism is such a touchy subject, you did it in an amazing way. Thanks for hitting us with truth yet again.

Superb.

This is fantastic, and I think it will be great for a discussion in my class. I feel like this is a step in the direction of focusing less on the individual (where we get into the whole identity thing, which is problematic because while people can be agents of racism or even identify as racist, racism itself resides in society) while at the same time holding people accountable, as you said, for the actions and their real effect on real people and real life.

However, it does strike me as though someone might just revert back to the "But I'm not a racist" rhetoric, at least at first. I wonder what George Lakoff would have to say about changing the racism conversation. I'll be thinking of that when I'm reading "The Political Mind". I was really happy, actually, to hear Lakoff address systematic racism on NPR.

Nice one Jay! Yeah you have to approach the discussion of racism carefully. You forgot to mention that when you focus on what they said not who they are you also elmininate the possibility of the "Race Card" rebutal which is a bogus argument to begin with but is often used.

As Batman said, "It is not who I am underneath, but what I do, that defines me." Wise words.

Words are powerful tools that can be used for good or bad. Many people don't take the time to really consider how powerful words can be.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me!"

Remember that from elementary school? Remember how much BS it really is when you think about it?

I GUARANTEE the ALL of us still have some scar from k-12 that we carry around with us because unlike the scratch or cut you got, "word wounds" DO NOT heal as cleanly. Sometimes not at all.

JSmooth - those are wise word tools for MANY situations. People need to THINK.

I believe if people would just take 2 seconds to engage their "brain-mouth filter" before saying ANYTHING the world would be a much better place.

I'm glad someone mentioned your blog on Twitter. It's one I will be watching from now on.

Thank you and rock on.

i'm sorry, but in a racist society where certain people are awarded white privilege, ALL white people are racist. its not about whatever your inner intentions are or if you're being PC or not, this is just the reality. of course its not the fault of any individual white folks, and of course they should try to examine how white supremacism has shaped their beliefs and relationships, and listen to people of color to support the struggle against white privilege, but until that has gone away they're still very much a part of that racism.

i dont like some white boy telling me how i should be having conversations about race, especially since you're convienently talking about it in a way that excuses you from being implicated as a racist.

ava,
he's not arguing that whites are or are not racist, he's instead commenting on a strategic way to confront people when racism becomes apparent in their words or actions.

also, if you followed his work closer, you'd know that he does not identify as a "white boy".

I love this..! So well put and easy to follow--whether you're a scholar or a 'tard.

Yay for Jay Smooth :-)

In my classroom I have conversations with my kids all the time about accountable language and addressing what people say rather than what they are. You just gave me something to show on the first day of school. Holler.

i chased down my wallet today and got it back, it felt good

I saw your face on The Colbert Report last night. How cool was that! You were on the video screen that Nas performed in front of. If I'm the hundredth person to tell you this today, oh well. :)

"Until somebody just blames it all on Hip Hop"
HAHA, so true

Another great post Jay, droppin pearls of knowledge as usual.

I'm really glad to see something like this crop up on the internet; I feel its what the internet was meant for - spitting out knowledge. I've had to have this conversation before with someone, and its really hard - especially since it can really be jarring to hear. A tactic I employ is questioning where they got their information from, attempting to attack the source instead of the person - or to simply point out a flawed interpretation.

I agree with you though, its easier to attack the stated facts that the person themselves, because then its not a personal attack or anything - its digging for something further.

Why can't you run for president? You make so much sense. Well...I guess that's why you can't run for president because you make too much sense. (No offense to Obama lol)

Awesome. Your videos are so fantastic, I had to send this one on - to my partner but also to a friend who I thought would appreciate your style. But upon further consideration I will be interested to hear what she has to say... I remember her saying once that shouldn't I consider that perhaps intelligence, as an average, is distributed on different scales with different races much as muscle mass and other genetic inheritances? I was shocked and still don't really know what to make of that.

I'm a New Zealander, white as colour-wise, brought up in a white trash suburb going to a school made up of poor whities, poor islanders and lots of Somalian immigrants. I'm 1/4 Maori, my grandmother was extremely dark-skinned and was called nigger at school. My Maori boyfriend at primary school (yup, I was 9 lol) got beaten up by white supremacist teenagers on the way to school. I don't look, sound or exactly relate as being Maori but it's part of me so I don't know where that figures in my friend's train of thought - she commented that as I was intelligent why would I be too close-minded to consider it? Fucking weird. She's a generous and kind person who cares about discrimination of all kinds so I just don't know what to make of that insight into her thought processes.

I could have so used this "how-to" guide last week. Let's just say I hit that point at my job where all the white people thought I was cool enough to bring all their grievences (sp?) against black people to me and demanded that I bless them with eternal knowledge to understand it or change all the behavior of black people. Let's just say this re-affirms my hatred of being the only black person white people know.

Posted by: Stealthgator at July 21, 2008 6:33 PM

Oh, my god, I can't believe people do that. It strikes me that the institutionalised racism in NZ is quite different to in America (assuming you're American). We've got plenty of backwards attitudes, but I just can't imagine many NZers being that thick - and rude. Jesus

@ Ava

You are right.

You are sorry.

SO TRUE! Love the way you distinguished between "what you said/did" and "what you are". Very helpful to know and use.

Mark :-)

first, you made some great points about the 'what you did vs who you are' styles of debate. however, I think you failed to realize the underlying racism that exists within the argument that you are making. what i mean is this: your only example of what types of words/jokes might be construed as racist involved watermelon, hip hop music and going back to africa. while these types of anti-black stereotypes to exist, racism can also be perpetrated against all people groups. putting a scowl on your face and speaking in a pseudo-proper high and mighty english accent is an obvious white stereotype and using words like judo flip to describe the public relations spin doctoring that occurs in the political/entertainment community could be offensive to many asians. I, for one, am tired of seeing the race debate carried out in such a way as to imply that the only racism that exists is whitey hatin' on black people. racism is everywhere and it goes in every direction...Jesse Jackson has made some of the most shockingly racist remarks during his lifetime--and he's always accusing white people...and some black people (barack) of being racist!! it makes me sick.

Great post, great logic, great analogy (using the wallet thief example).

AO
http://www.PardonMyFresh.com

OMG I just had the wrong kind of conversation you described with my BF about what he was saying about arabs, will have to try again with the good convo! This is perfect, thank you!

The problem with what is presented is that we can have a whole nation of "nice-speaking" people who are rabidly racist in their thoughts. The only way to eliminate racism is to get to the level of beliefs, because it is peoples' racist beliefs that lead to racist actions. Actions are easy to change, beliefs are hard. The other issue is that we can change people to no longer be racist, but the institutionalized racial privilege in this country will support the perpetuation of institutionalized racism. I can be as non-racist as possible in my words and actions, but still live in and passively accept intstitutionaled inequity. So, until society as a whole changes, how can racism be eliminated?

he isn't saying this is a cure all for racism, but rather a way to deal with it in a civil way. Racism is deep seeded in the psyche but what is wrong with a step I'm the right direction, even if there may or may not has been racist comments said in the clip (even as examples)? The point is your not going to cure the problem of race with one video. Maybe the problem started with categorizing our fellow man in classes of race so long ago. I'm going to finish up before this turns into a pointless rant.

Where you at Jay? Did you peep the news thats not on FOX?--NBC went in on them!!

great video...
To address the question raised by white man above:

To me to have less or no racist actions and yet still have racist thoughts is better than to have racist actions _and_ thoughts. But I'm a middle aged white fellow, so I may be all wrong on this.

How ironic, I was just having this talk with someone about a mutual "friend??" This post just gave me some insight on what I need to do. Thanks for this post.

You made it on alternet.org
Excellent job.

Keep doing your thing.

Found your website on alternet. You sir, are an inspiration to us all. Subscribed.

Great post. You change or influence people's behaviors, so put the focus there. This is classroom discipline 101 for teachers. Focus on the behaviors or the kid shuts down completely.

And just think about the law, too. People are allowed to think whatever they want. They can be the most noxious, virulent racists in the privacy of their own homes... but when they speak and act they are to be held accountable. You can't control what someone thinks... but you can seek to control behaviors. That's what the law does, and it's why your post is so on point.

Really good video. Unfortunately, I need to use some of these tactics to confront someone about something crazy that they said over the past weekend. Keep up the fantastic work.

Coming over, belatedly, from Angry Black Woman-- this is wonderful. Thanks for recording it!

hey man - i agree with this, but it's hard. people get really defensive and don't want to acknowledge the ways in which we all have racist assumptions culturally instilled in us through childhood, the media, institutions, etc. so, talking with a so-called liberal would probably be the hardest, as many liberals are just conservatives in disguise and don't understand things like institutional racism.

on the other hand, this past weekend i was in chicago for a ballgame and some douchebag was making overtly racist statements right behind me in a crowded L line. i had no idea what to do. i turned around and gave an annoyed look to his wife or whoever she was, but i'm small, so i couldn't turn around and intimidate him like i wish i could. not that that would be the best course of action. i should have had a pamphlet or something.

Very enlightening, thank you. I came across your blog while doing some research on racism.

YO! I like the way you think man. All facts and very logical.

Wow, that video was brilliant.

Good points, but for me I am also interested in why people say what they do because it's just so baffling to me, and I like to understand things. I wonder what motivates someone to think like that.

I included this video in my post on the subject.
http://laconicreply.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/what-do-you-do-about-obvious-racism/

I was wonder if a person have told something on someone and is different then what that they have put in there diary. Can that be used as evidence in a case by law.

HAHA! "Treat them like they stole your wallet" ... fantastic!

Excellent videos. I like this one in particular and "Less Talk, More Plumbing". Insightful. Thoughtful. You might want to consider a teaching career if you've got the time and energy.

You're stuff makes me want to rethink hip-hop (or at least not dismiss it out of hand). Can you recommend a good "Hip-hop for Dummies" resource?

Jay, I was surprised to have an opportunity to use this last weekend. Usually, I would just say nothing and think dark thoughts. Hard to hold family accountable, but I did get to create an uncomfortable situation without making anyone feel like I thought they were dispiccable. That's a first for me.

Wasn't sure if I should post this to the "open call for ideas" thread instead, but this seems more related: how do you get people to take your experience of racism "seriously"? I have friends/colleagues that dismiss my experiences in comparison to their own and have it devolve into the "oppression olympics"-- who's been more victimized by the system, which can be infuriating, because pain is pain, man. Yours may be greater, but that doesn't invalidate mine. It's not a matter of gaining sympathy or validation, really, but understanding?

God, hope that makes sense.

Sadly so many people just stay brainwashed about the way they see themselves or others.... if I was told I was stupid all my life it doesnt mean that I am stupid. If all my life I was told I am superior than others that doesnt make it true. You are on the right trak!! I luv this stuff. REALLY GOOD!

Excellent. Just excellent. OK?

I'm using my real name because I'm going to say something I truly mean.

Dude! You are one sexy man. And articulate, smart, talented, and witty. Bookmarked ya. Going to put ya on my blog, going to pass your little place around so others can take a peek. Open some minds and freak some out that thought they'd never hear anything hinting at hip-hop coming from me.

The economics vids are spot on. Been hanging out at The Agonist for a good long time, some good writing on economics there if you're so inclined or interested. Exactly about Paul Krugman.