“Chains” is a Racist Word? Sorry, I Don’t Speak “Code”
The idea that Joe Biden was making a racist remark when he said if Wall Street were unleashed it would put us all in chains is such a stretch that I wonder why anyone even mentions it on the air.
Why would the word “chains” be especially offensive to African Americans? Or any other ethnic group? Throughout history every race has been in chains at one time or another. And, certainly, today the vast majority of Americans – white, black and every other shade – are in economic chains.
Yes, Joe Biden, Wall Street has tied and hobbled us, and theywill shackle us even more heavily if they get the chance.
In that context, “chains” seems to me to be an entirely appropriate metaphor. And the fact that your audience included African Americans is completely irrelevant. I don’t hear any African Americans complaining; they’re too smart for that chip-on-the-shoulder, knee-jerk kind of preciousness.
It’s getting so that the most innocent words are misconstrued to produce outrage. I got into trouble the other day for observing that someone was acting like a lunatic. Apparently that’s now a banned word – along with a lexicon of other terms that were quite ordinary in my childhood.
I realize that some people deal in euphemisms and “code” words to communicate shameful ideas under the radar.
But to accuse Joe Biden of using code words is a joke.
Joe Biden? Plain ol’ Joe with his foot-in-mouth candor, his Irish bull-in-a-china shop manner, his slap-you-on-the-back-and-buy-you-a-beer persona?
Believe me, Joe doesn’t deal in code. Joe says what’s on his mind, and smiles amiably at you, the Mr. Magoo of politics, everybody’s clumsy but lovable uncle.
Of course, that doesn’t matter to people like John Sununu, Sarah Palin and John McCain, or the rest of the pack of (non-black) jackals baying at the president to replace Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton on the presidential ticket.
You and I know they’re being ridiculous. They know they’re being ridiculous. Everyone knows they’re being ridiculous.
But they’re using this silly charade to hog the airwaves and send “dog-whistle” messages to their “base.”
They’re the ones who’re communicating in “code.”
And the naive media are helping them do it. Don’t they have anything more important to talk about at a time like this? America is facing the most frightening election in modern history, and they find time to examine the hidden meaning of “chains”?
Like Nero, the pundits are fiddling while the flames sweep toward them – and us.
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4 comments
As if they care about African Americans feelings? This is just a stunt to draw attention away from their income tax debacle, the debate about Medicare/SS and the anti women policies of the GOP. Oh look!! they say the Democrats are racist!!! Not us, never us, ummm don’t look behind the curtain, it’s just us “Job Creators” creating jobs in China, India, korea anywhere but the US.
Whether it is overt policies of the Republicans or the covert policies of the Democrats, American are getting chained to debt and a lower standard of living. The history of Wall Street has always been shameful. FYI the reason why that area in NY is called Wall Street is because that is where slaves were sold. They built a wall there because they wanted hide the shame and block the stench of Blacks, who just came off slave ships. Black Africans were sold as commodity on Wall Street then and now mortgages, pig bellies (bacon), wheat and corn are sold on Wall Street. The commodity is different but American livelihoods are still impacted on Wall Street. In 2012 the president (a ½ Black man) is a servant of Wall Street bankers and in 1812 Blacks were sold as servants on Wall Street. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Vote Jill Stein for president so that Republicans and Democrats will understand that your vote won’t be taken for granted nor will you be ignored.
Grace, Democrats are more racist than Republicans. Republicans tell you where they stand. At least Romney respected the Blacks enough to show up at the NAACP event and tell the Black what he will do. Why didn’t Obama show up? 200 Black newspapers and in 4 years not one interview was given to any of them despite all the positive endorsements. How much money did the Democrats spend with Black media compared to Latino media, Gay media, Jew media? The Democrats will send Michelle to a Black mega church. Democrats take Blacks for granted and use them for their votes. They don’t mind if the Blacks vote for them as long as they are in the leadership position or calling the shots behind the scene. Obama does what he is told to do by campaign financiers, lobbyist and multinational corporations.
Janice, if you believe Romney will do what he says he will do then you are more gullible than I thought. He is as two faced as a star-apple leaf and waves in the wind just as much. Voting for Jill what’s her name is a throw-away vote. A little learning is a dangerous thing. You state things so definately and some of what you say is true but you are also misinformed about a lot of things. I wonder what shade of black you are when you are criticising the President calling him half black. America will be in dire straits if those extreme right wing lunatics get the reins of power. America’s only hope is Obama/Biden and that’s the truth! Billy G.
Just don’t respond Bil. Let her vote for Jill Stein. Everything she writes is the same. I didn’t say the dems weren’t racist, I said the republicans were racist and their outrage was faked. She misses the point everytime.
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