Up & Coming Weekly

August 06, 2019

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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6 UCW AUGUST 7-13, 2019 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM KARL MERRITT, Columnist. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. OPINION Leonard Pitts Jr. assigns honorary whiteness by KARL MERRITT I doubt that Leonard Pitts, Jr. has ever read anything that I have written, and we certainly have never engaged in conversation. If either of those were the case, I am certain he would contend I fit the description of an "honorary white" as he pres- ents it in his column titled, "Honorary whiteness must be one powerful drug." e column appeared in e Fayetteville Observer ursday, July 25. Pitts, who is black, is an American commentator, jour- nalist and novelist. His column starts by explaining that "hon- orary white" was the status assigned to black performers from the United States who visited South Africa during the apartheid regime. He says e O'Jays, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and Eartha Kitt were among those who received that designation. Pitts explained that receiving this designation allowed them "access to ho- tels and restaurants from which black Africans were barred." At this point, Pitts lays the groundwork for defining people like me as "honorary whites" in America. He writes: "While there is no official "honorary white" status in this country, American politics has evolved a rough analog. As lily-white con- servatism has lurched deeper into a brazen racism and xenophobia reminiscent of the 1950s, black and brown people willing to use their color to give it moral cover have seen themselves eagerly embraced by those whose sins they abet." en Pitts reports the reactions of two sup- porters of President Donald Trump. is was in response to Trump telling "four congress- women of color to 'go back' to their countries." He said: "But ultimately, the joke is always on them. In recent days, we've seen that lesson learned painfully and publicly by two men: a black Donald Trump voter named Kevin Martin and a Donald Trump friend of Puerto Rican heri- tage named Geraldo Rivera. "e former told CNN last week that when Trump told four congresswomen of color to 'go back' to their countries, it 'just came out of left field' and 'hit a lot of us in the gut.' e latter, while loyally insisting Trump has 'been treated unfairly,' conceded to e New York Times that, 'As much as I have denied it and averted my eyes from it, this latest incident made it impossible.' "To which, the only appropriate response is: 'Wow. Just ... wow.'" e writer goes on to rehearse the usual list of Trump comments and actions that his accusers point to as indicators of him being racist. en comes his claim that it is acceptable for blacks to be conservative as the term was once understood. His caveat is: "But this modern iteration doesn't care about small government or muscular diplo- macy. Rather, it is working to normalize racism and enshrine xenophobia, and if you're black or brown and still don't realize that, well, again, wow." e following statements go to the heart of what Leonard Pitts, Jr. thinks about people like me: "One can only conclude that honorary whiteness must be one powerful drug. Side effects include cultural amnesia and (the) inability to process reality. "You are not special, only useful. You'd be wise to learn the difference." What Leonard Pitts, Jr. presents is not unique to him. It is the dominant message to black Ameri- cans who have the unadulterated audacity to break free of "black group thought," pursue facts and, at least, attempt to reach rational conclusions. If that process takes a black American to any other conclusion than that which is rooted in consis- tently seeing racism in every action that calls our people to individual responsibility; promoting the mental state of victimization and being entitled to all kinds of governmental assistance; distrusting white Americans for simply being white; justifying civil and criminal behavior; when beneficial to the black group thought" agenda, totally disregard- ing the rule of law; and the list goes on in similar fashion … we are called "honorary whites," "Uncle Toms" and other demeaning names. e aim is to, through intimidation and sham- ing, drive into silence or compliance with "black group thought," any black who dares to think for him or herself and contrary to the tenets of "black group thought." I confess to thinking, speaking and writing in ways that bring the wrath of the Leonard Pitts Juniors of the world squarely down on me. However, I find reassurance in knowing that, although the group might be small, I am not alone. ere are other black Americans who refuse to be controlled in their thinking who will not bow at the altar of "black group thought." For instance, there is Dr. Ben Carson. Here is a black American who grew up in poverty in a single-parent household headed by his mother, dealt with anger issues early in life, but went on to become a renowned neuro- surgeon, author and capable presidential candi- date. He now serves as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Trump administration. ere is absolutely no reason to think Leonard Pitts Jr. has spent any time in civil con- versation with Trump. Carson clearly has done so on many occasions. Here is Car- son's assessment as reported in an article by Sandy Fitzgerald titled, "Ben Carson: Trump Is Not a Racist and Neither Are His Comments": 'Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson Wednesday rejected claims that President Donald Trump and his comments about four Democratic freshman congresswomen are racist. "'I have an advantage of knowing the president very well,' Carson told Fox News' 'America's Newsroom.' 'He's not a rac- ist and his comments are not racist, but he loves the country very much and, you know, he has a feeling that those who rep- resent the country should love it as well.' "He added that Trump's policies have re- sulted in minorities being lifted out of pov- erty through expanded work opportunities, and said a racist would not be interested in helping minority communities. "Carson also on the program discussed the 'opportunity zones' program, which aims to make it easier for investors to take advantage of tax breaks to help benefit low-income communities." Like Carson, I am watching Trump's actions and assessing him in light of those actions. at is my approach in dealing with people no matter who they are. When examined in light of actions, words that are contrary to the actions become meaning- less. Even though Leonard Pitts, Jr. would assign "honorary whiteness" to Carson, me, and others who are black but support Trump, I will continue reading his commentary. at is because of something my father said to me many years ago. I walked into a room where he was listening to a preacher on the radio. at preacher was not saying anything that made sense to me. Realizing Daddy must have recognized the absence of value in what was coming from that radio, I asked why he was listening. He responded, "No matter how senseless something seems, you can always learn from it." Daddy was right ; conse- quently, I will keep reading Pitts' commentary so that I am constantly, and profoundly, reminded not to join in "black group thought." ank you, Mr. Pitts, Jr. ere are other black Americans who refuse to be controlled in their thinking who will not bow at the altar of "black group thought."

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