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I’m passionate about several “social justice” issues, and, to be dead honest, a lot of the reason why is that I’m black and know a bit about what it’s like to be marginalized, which has shown me some of the importance of fighting against marginalization of other groups. (I know that there’s a good chance that, if you’re white and living in the United States, you totally think that marginalization of white people is a bigger deal. If so, you’re wrong — see video below.)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQdMgtncpoE[/youtube]
Racism is serious. Some people seem to think that a concentration on social justice issues like racism seem to be a selfish distraction from atheism, proper. In response — yeah, if that’s the case, I’m a selfish asshole who wants to make bloody sure that he and others who look like him are not treated unfairly in culture in medical care, employment, social environments, law enforcement, the education system, the justice system, and literally every single goddamn part of US society.
Or maybe I’m not a selfish asshole for wanting that. Maybe those who deny these things are problems and play-act at reasonable atheists need to go take a page out of their own book and do some goddamn honest research.
Did that sound bitter? Sorry, not sorry.
I’ve found a need to address this issue because, without naming specific names, I have had several run ins with people who are members of the atheist movement who, in some way or another, don’t really think racism is a serious problem or think that those fighting for civil rights are making a bunch of a fuss about nothing. Off the top of my head (again, for various reasons, I don’t want to name names here) I can think of four atheists who are pretty influential in the “atheist community” that I’ve had strong disagreements with — individuals who are brilliant when it comes to discussing whether or not God exists, but seem to have a jaw-dropping, insistent ignorant arrogance when it comes to how racism works.
Now, I understand (and you probably should, too) that when you’re in a privileged position, you want to keep it. You don’t notice when it’s there, as much, just as you may not really think about the fact that you have a constant million dollars if your bank account is consistently stocked with that money. But the moment things become just a tad more equal — just like the moment the bank account suddenly has $950,000 because $50,000 went to help the guy only making $20,000 a year — you notice. And if you depend on that privilege to live your life the way you’re used to living it (or that $50,000 to make your mortgage while maintaining your current lifestyle) you can get pissed when the amount of it decreases, even when there are vast disparities. When you’re in a privileged position, you want to protect privilege. When you’re not privileged, it’s much easier for you to see oppression in your own situation and in others’ situations as well.
Which is why it is no surprise to me that the four prominent atheists I’ve tussled with on race issues have happened to be white males — and thus embody the definition of the most privileged group in America.
Now, in spite of all the studies I hyperlinked, I know from experience that there are a ton of people (it’s truly unnerving how often they happen to be white American males — seriously) who will say this is much ado about nothing and I should shut up and recognize that racism against white people is a bigger problem.
Look, you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. You can hate the fact that I’m telling you this. You can assume I’m just another ranting, raving SJW (although I don’t like the term, people are likely to ascribe it to me). Fine. Pile on the abuse, think of me what you like, rant and rave. But you know what?
I’m still right.
And it’s an upsetting thing to be right about. I mean, I’m pretty passionate about this — which makes sense, when in every single goddamn arena in which prejudice can exist systematically against me, it exists. And not just against me, but against others I care about — like my mom and dad and sisters and friends. This is not just a cute little argument that I have on the Internet. I only got 75 years on this planet and I count every precious second as more valuable than words can express, and I’ll be damned if I spend it accepting the fact that myself and others I care about are second class citizens — no, fuck that shit.
And I daresay that if you were in the same position, you’d probably say the same. exact. thing. Not everyone; there are still about 12 percent of black people who will say racism isn’t really a thing, according to the latest pew poll. And it’s tempting to say that, because when you do, a lot of white people LOVE you for it (when I hinted that I was upset with a well-known SJW in a prior blog post in a different location, that post quickly became one of my most popular due to people thinking they finally found a black person on “their” side — the fringe benefits are so enormous I’m surprised more black people don’t sell out and cater to the “no such thing as racism” line). But a full 88% percent will look at you and like at you in awe if you say it’s not a thing, because we live it every goddamn day.
So I try to speak up for other marginalized groups, too. Not because I’m trying to be a politically correct SJW, but because I know what it’s like, a little bit, to fail to be seen as the equal human being you are, because you’re marginalized, and to have so few recognize that marginalization. I know it’s hard as hell. So I try to help. And it sure isn’t a mere attempt to be politically correct in order to be popular when it comes to race. Hell, if I wanted to be popular I’d go insist that racism is totally not a thing. But I’m interested in being right and making a better life for the most sidelined and marginalized in my culture, first and foremost.
What that means is that I don’t give a goddamn shit about whether or not my speaking up in defense of marginalized groups “divides the atheist community.” A lot of atheists insist that I shouldn’t talk about it, because it’s not part of atheism proper, and it divides atheism. Almost every time I get into an argument about racism or other instances of marginalization, someone is bound to say, “Man, we’re all atheists. Just roll with it; stop breaking it up.”
I like that you’re an atheist; I do. But I’m about a hell of a lot more than atheism, and if you can’t handle that, I have no interest in trying to maintain the role you have crafted for me in your atheist community. None.
Really. Atheism is important to me. But it doesn’t hold a candle to my concern over whether myself or those I care about will be discriminated against, and that’s the truth.
So I’ll talk about it. And I don’t see myself as part of a movement to “divide” atheism because I’m speaking my mind and defending people I care about. If we have to go off and make a separate group of people atheists where we actually take these interests seriously, that’s a commentary on other atheists, not us. Because when we talk about marginalization in the United States, we’re not just being emotional or just trying to protect our egos. Whatever else we are, we’re usually actually right, and racist or sexist views that disagree with us are actually wrong.
Then there’s the, “But I had a hard life because of XYZ, so why are you making a big deal about social justice when I’m not.” Because I actually take my life seriously and the lives of other people seriously, that’s why. I don’t care so much about the idea of atheism that I don’t have enough room to concentrate on other people who are being treated unjustly to be treated justly. In fact, if I were forced to choose between concentrating on atheism and concentrating on social justice, I’d choose social justice in a heartbeat.
And if you’re one of those who say, “Yeah, it’s important, but keep it separate from atheism” — I ask you — why the heck should we? Because nobody I’ve heard voice that sentiment has said anything like that about biology, cosmology, or separation of church and state. This is yet another issue that is based in logic and reasoning. Why the others, and not this? That was rhetorical.
And on top of this — when I get in a tussle over race, 9/10 it is the OTHER PERSON who opens the conversation with a publicly expressed racist view. They aren’t being divisive when they voice a view that perpetuates racism, but somehow I’m being divisive when I correct the inaccurate perception?
And you look at religious people as having seriously messed up logic? If you’re going to walk by sight, not by faith, put your thinking caps on, people.
Goddamn.