How often is prejudice mistaken for racism or racist intentions?

by | Sep 14, 2013 | Blog | 0 comments

This isn’t just semantics, there is a difference between prejudice and racism, however, both activities may land you square in the cross hair of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Recently, Homeland Security employee, Ayo Kimathi found himself on paid administrative leave according to various media outlets, because of his reported racist activity.  The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that monitors hate groups, reported on Kimathi’s connection with the website.

Photo Credit: raciallycharged.org by Kat Roberson

Photo Credit: raciallycharged.org by Kat Roberson

The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded in 1971 by two civil rights attorney known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups, according to their website. The have a long history of targeting white nationalist, anti-gay zealots, black separatist amongst others and feature several  groups on their website under the tab, “Intelligence Files.”

The SPLC also publishes a quarterly  magazine that provides updates to law enforcement agencies and the media but is not funded by any government entity.  In fact according to their website, they operate with over a quarter million dollar endowment and donations.

So what did the SPLC see from this website that prompted them to expose Kimathi’s connection and ultimately land him on paid administrative leave?  Several news media outlets reported prejudice and violent quotes from the website with the implication Kimathi uttered the words himself, however before publication of this article that information has not been confirmed.

A surface review of the website uncovered metaphorical talk of warfare and anti-gay rhetoric.  At first glance the dark design and inflammatory text gives the impression of an extremist agenda, however it is quickly quailed by benign invitations to speaking engagements and consumerist adverts  to purchase their products.  If this sounds familiar it is because mainstream news media outlets and online print organizations use this tactic all the time.

I’m going to stop here as I would not want this article described as in defense of War on the Horizon (WOH), the website at the center of this article, instead I want to turn our attentions to the First Amendment, watch dog organizations that need watching and once again how mainstream media portrays and ultimately shapes our opinions.

First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and press.  Right away, SPLC will defend their position to report (WOH) based on their perception that this group posed a threat to peace or advocated violence.  It does not help that Kimathi works for a government entity whose very existence is to protect US citizens from terrorist threats foreign and domestic however if indeed according to SPLC website their purpose is to hold such groups accountable in a court of law for murders and other such violent acts then where does (WOH) fit into this.

It would seem that SPLC would remain transparent and expose any public threat to the citizens in which it so vehemently espouses to protect or is there a media interest in shutting down any group that reaches a certain level in intercepting their audience.  This is a clear case for the watch dog needs watching in order to protect our First Amendment rights.

The liberties that mainstream media takes is astounding. It is the equivalent to having the authority to put any label on any can of food and getting people to then call that food whatever the media wishes.  Racism in its true form is a group or individual belief that one race is superior or has the right to rule other races. There has been in American history only one race that has perpetuated that ideology.   As a byproduct of racism prejudice is formed.  Individuals on personal guilt trips would like you to believe that so called black separatist agenda is to rule another race, simply bypassing the fact we have not fully recovered from decades of racism, genocide and other atrocities and crimes against blacks.  This is just another way the media helps to perpetuate an agenda meant to slow the black recovery process by somehow getting us to admit we are racist.

Personally I don’t want to rule anyone. I want economic independence and the opportunity to reach that goal without government and corporate obstruction.  I want the ability to educate my children without biased standards that are supposed to tell me whether my child is intelligent and what they are and are not capable of doing.  That would constitute a start but ruling another race is not something that interest me it would serve no purpose in the black community.  Don’t let the media take away our ability to fight because flight is not an option.

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