More on race and culture, part 2 (February '07)

I promised to write this blog some time ago, so it's about time that I got on the fabled horse and got this sucker typed. So without further adieu, I give you...

"The Myth of the Racial Conspiracy"

We've all heard it before, from so very many different sources.

"It's a conspiracy, man! The _____ man is trying to keep us down!"

I've heard black people say it about white people, white people say it about black people (when talking about affirmative action, for instance,) latinos say it about other groups in the US, and so on.

The basic premise is as follows:

For reasons unknown, but most certainly sinister, a group--represented in this case by an entire race--has literally conspired to bring down another group with a broad-reaching and concerted effort aimed at the oppression or perhaps even the eradication of another race.

To start with, I think it's important to look at why conspiracy theories in general are a big fat load of hooey.

1. Conspiracy theories fail to account for human fallibility.

A conspiracy theory requires two key efforts from those conspiring.

First, it requires selflessness. Unless you subscribe to the theory that every individual in the conspiracy will personally benefit by perpetuation the conspiracy in each and every circumstance provided by daily life, it stands to reason that some people would violate the conspiracy for personal gain. This is problematic for those espousing a conspiracy theory, because the core of any conspiracy theory is that a group is dedicated to oppressing another group at all costs--personal or otherwise.

Second, a conspiracy theory requires secrecy. It wouldn't be much of a conspiracy if everybody knew about, right? I'd like you all to think about how many government and corporate leaks we hear about in the news on a daily basis. Even the mafia has been brought down time and time again by those who decided to snitch for various reaons. Think about that... The most powerful organized crime syndicate in history can't even keep secrets--to say nothing of the mafia--so how is this centuries-old racial conspiracy managing to keep it all under wraps?

2. Conspiracy theories fail to account for human diversity.

"White people want..."

"Black people are all trying to..."

"Those Chinese are going to..."

If you think you can make broad statements that apply to every member of a certain race, you're an idiot. 'nuff said.

3. Conspiracy theories fail to account for greed.

People in power care very little about race. People in power care very little about religion. People in power care very little about pretty much anything except for the acquisition and preservation of money and power. Thus it has always been and thus shall it ever be. The heads of the major businesses and countries in the world don't have the time or the motivation to work together to keep down one race or another. They are far too busy screwing one another and screwing the rest of us for personal gain. Do you think that the heads of Microsoft and Apple are going to get together and trade secret handshakes so that they can keep down the Hottentots? I think not. To think otherwise is unforgivably naive.

I think it's instructive to observe the people who espouse conspiracy theories and look at what they are really saying when they promote the gospel of racial discord.

When someone says that there is a racial conspiracy, they are really saying the following:

"That other group is different from us, and they are therefore not to be trusted" (ironic, huh?)

"We are so great that if we fail to succeed, it's not our fault. Any failures we have should be attributed to others."

"In fact, we are so damned great that we would surpass that other group if only we had a level playing field. Failure to surpass that group is proof of an unfair disadvantage."

"Do you have problems? Those problems are the fault of that other group! They are systematically* trying to hold us back because we are btter than they are!"

"That ofther group fears us because we are so amazing! They think we are sheep to be led to the slaughter! That is whay you should question them and follow me without question!"

I hate to ruffle feathers, but I'm going to be honest here, Hitler did it, and some folks claiming to be "civil rights leaders" are doing the same damned thing today.

How did Hitler get a whole country behind him in the attempted genocide of literally tens of different groups? He preached conspiracy theories.

How did Stalin come to power and engineer the deaths of 19 million+ of his own people? He preached conspiracy theories.

How can you aggravate racial tensions and promote bigotry while crushing any hopes of personal betterment? Buy into a conspiracy theory.

I may flesh this out later, but this is a good start for a discussion. Get to it.

*anytime you hear people talking about a "systematic" plan or method as part of a theory, feel free to laugh in their face for me. Try and get ten strangers to follow a system. Now try to get a whole race to do it. Good luck.

PS--If there is sufficient interest, I may do a blog on Part 3, Why Rap is the new Minstrel Show (not an original topic, but I might have an original take on it) Let me know.