The True Function of Racism Is Distraction
On social media this morning, I ran across this evergreen quote from Toni Morrison about the true function of racism:
It’s important, therefore, to know who the real enemy is, and to know the function, the very serious function of racism, which is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and so you spend 20 years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says that you have no art so you dredge that up. Somebody says that you have no kingdoms and so you dredge that up. None of that is necessary. There will always be one more thing.
Morrison said this during a speech titled The Humanist View at Portland State University on May 30, 1975. The text above, which is slightly different than you’ll see on social media or Goodreads, is taken directly from the transcript. You can also listen to Morrison’s full remarks on Soundcloud:
The snippet quoted above starts at about 35:45. (via @greg.org)
Discussion 1 comment
A little context:
Morrison is of course correct as far as it goes--it's the old, eternal divide and conquer. But it also works in the way LBJ (for just one) noted: the worst off white needs someone to feel superior to. (IIRC, Johnson said it in the context of getting the 1964 civil right act passed.)
It's complicated as well as disgusting and shameful. Correction: it's that but much, much worse.
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