QUICK QOMMENTS:
WHITES SUPERIORITY COMPLEX:
PRIVATE CLUBS IN KENTUCKY
In my writings about race relations in the US, I wrote many times, probably in a little harshly, and without being PC, about Blacks’ Inferiority Complex (BIC). Without lessening the historical importance of slavery and racial discrimination against Blacks, and understanding Blacks’ current social and emotional “sufferings” because of those past events, I have come to believe that Whites seem more ready to open a new page. In my writings, I have called upon Blacks to try to do the same.
Of course, Obama’s victory to be President of the US was a historic event and should help both sides in their endeavors to realize “Hope” and “Change,” to use two of Obama election campaign slogans.
But, I have also come to believe that as long as Blacks identify themselves as Blacks — which seems to me is a belief that their color is the core of their identity — both “Hope” and “Change” would be difficult to realize. As impossible as it may seem, Blacks need to “liberate” themselves from their color as a core of their identity – or even part of it. They also need to understand that their first “liberation” from Whites’ slavery and discrimination now needs to be followed by their “liberation” from their color as the core of their identity. Also, from their acceptance of Whites’ similar perception. Earlier, I mentioned views by Franz Fanon, a mid-20th Century Caribbean-French-Algerian activist who blamed Whites for “brain-washing” Blacks so Blacks would always look at themselves as Blacks.
On the other side, I believe Whites bear an important responsibility:
First, the end of slavery and racial discrimination was forced upon the Whites, especially those in the Southern states. During the 19th Century, the federal government was obliged to fight a national and gruesome war to end slavery, and, during the 20th Century, it was again obliged to send national troops to end discrimination.
Second, for many Whites, understandably, the end of official discrimination didn’t put an end to personal and subtle racial discriminations. Many years ago, I started to differentiate between “racist” and “racial.” And to believe that “racism” is a strong term, like an ideology, like “Communism” and “Nazism,” implying rejection, and probably hate, of other races. On the other hand, “racial” is the feeling of belonging to a race, without necessarily being prejudiced against other races. Therefore, I understand that Whites, and other racial groups, may feel it is hard – un-natural? – not to have racial feelings. But, they all, meantime, should do their best to avoid causing physical and mental harm to other racial groups.
Third, Whites bear more responsibility to end injustice, racial or otherwise, than other races because they established, and have been leading this Western Civilization. To put it frankly, they are more civilized. By this I mean they have more education, more scientific knowledge, more freedom and more justice in their ruling systems. Therefore, part of this “White Man Burden” is to deal with other races compassionately and benevolently and to try to avoid “Whites Superiority Complex” (WIC).
This leads me to how much I was surprised to learn, in this age of President Obama, that there are still private clubs in the US that discriminate against Blacks. Thanks to Rand Paul, the Conservative Republican candidate for Congress from Kentucky, who surprised many, Republicans and others, when he declared that the federal government should not impose laws on private groups and clubs, implying that they should be able not to reject Black members.
And thanks to “The Washington Post” who sent a correspondent to Kentucky to
Investigate the situation.
In 2004, the state Supreme Court ruled that the remaining segregated clubs should stop their discrimination against Blacks or risk losing tax deductions.
But the idea that the government has no right to interfere with membership practices of private businesses and clubs seemed still flourishing.
Two decades after prominent country clubs in many other states began to accept their first black members, some in Kentucky remained segregated, said Gerald Smith, director of African American studies at the University of Kentucky.
He added: “The things that we are highlighting as though they are newsworthy are no longer news in a whole lot of places. We are still dealing with ‘first’ stuff.”
The Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington, founded in 1924 and known for its pristine 18-hole golf course, clay tennis courts and Southern cuisine, until recently had never had a Black member.
Phil Scott, a trial lawyer and chairman of the club’s board, said: “We all have the right under the Constitution to meet with people and be with people we want to be with … On the other hand, there are equal protections under the law. The question is: Which is going to prevail? … There is no right of membership. It’s a privilege.” (Notice: New members paid a $50,000 initiation fee).
Recently, the club accepted its first black member – a retired NBA player who attended the University of Kentucky and is well known there. Scott said: “Sam’s just like everybody else.”
The Louisville Country Club accepted its first black members in 2006. John McCall, the club’s president and an executive at a local energy company, said he felts strongly that it and others “should have moved faster.”
But, he too was opposed to the idea that the government should have a say in how his club operated. He said: “You will have a more successful value-based society if you can move people to the right conclusions about their own lives than if you force it.”
The good news was that, in 1994, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights filed discrimination complaints against these two clubs, and, after the state Supreme Court decision, “there have been tremendous changes,” according to John Johnson, executive director of the commission. “The truth is that if people were going to do the right thing, there would have never been a need for these laws to be on the books to begin with.”
I blame politicians for not doing “the right thing.” Katon Dawson, South Carolina’s GOP chairman, quit the Forest Lake Club in Columbia when it came out that the 80-year-old country club had no black members. Former Maryland Republican governor Robert Ehrlich held a fundraiser at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore, which had no black members at the time. At first, Ehrlich said the club’s membership was “none of my business.” Later he said the club should diversify.
On the face of this subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination, what should Blacks do?
They seemed divided: some didn’t want to join now they were allowed, and some wanted to, like William Summers, a banker in Louisville and the first Black American to accept membership in McCall’s club. He said he joined because he believed Blacks should be a part of all segments of the city’s social life. He added: “I lived in Louisville all my life, and I had no idea the club existed … There shouldn’t be any place in my home town that isn’t diverse.”
I agree with this. But, obviously, Whites have been reluctantly accepting Blacks, in their bathroom, schools, neighborhoods, families and private clubs. Also, obviously, the government can end discrimination in public places, and in private places that receive government services, for example tax-exempt status.
But, the government cannot end private and subtle discrimination.
Therefore, Blacks better be convinced that total equality is almost impossible, especially in this dominant and strong White ideas, system and culture. Blacks better, like I said earlier, “liberate” themselves from their pre-occupation with the color of their skin.
Or, until “White Supremacy Complex” is lessened, because it is not going to disappear.
Why I call it WSC? Because Whites, and other “supreme” groups, powers and nations throughout history have tended to be add arrogance and condescension to their qualities. I can argue that this is “natural” and “human,” but that doesn’t make it right. Throughout history, religions and philosophers have been calling for mercy, humility and magnanimity.
I believe it is a psychological complex to believe that supremacy entitles a person to arrogance.
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