February
8, 2001
Uncle Tom
Doesn't Live Here Anymore
by Carl S.
Ey
Prejudice is an irrational attitude of
hostility directed against an individual,
a group, a race or their supposed
characteristics.
It is a "cut and dried" term
that has no color, creed or race inherent
to the word itself. Of course, as an
American, this nation's history has had a
"black eye" with regard to the
treatment of the various races and
cultures, particularly African Americans.
Until Abraham Lincoln brought forward the
concept that freedom should be a right
granted to all Americans, this nation did
a poor job of treating all cultures and
races fairly. To this day, we still see
the after effects of our government's
treatment of Asians, American Indians and
Black Americans. There is tension between
various cultures that only education can
cure.
How long will this go on? Will it ever
be "righted?" As a 30-something
white male, it has become apparent to me
that there is a trend in this nation to
teach our children to look at the worth
of human beings and not their physical
characteristics. This trend is worthwhile
and fortunately there is light at the end
of the tunnel that shows promise for a
better America that is culturally diverse
and void of racial ignorance.
However, I can't help but feel as if
the ignorance will never be extinct. This
past Friday, I drove into Washington D.C.
listening to a local radio station. The
radio personalities indicated that the
confirmation of Sen. John Ashcroft as the
nation's Attorney General was an
unfortunate event. As they continued with
the story, they announced that Supreme
Court Justice - Clarence Thomas - would
conduct Mr. Ashcroft's swearing-in
ceremony. To my horror, one of the radio
personalities called Justice Thomas an
"Uncle Tom."
For those of you that don't understand
the concept of what an "Uncle
Tom" is - good for you. You won't
find out in this column. However, it did
disturb me that a radio personality
broadcasting in the nation's capital
would allow his personal ignorance to
become a part of everyone's life that had
tuned into that particular radio station
on their way to "the daily
grind."
For the record, Clarence Thomas is the
second black justice appointed to the
U.S. Supreme Court. The first was
Thurgood Marshall. Of the 108 justices in
this nation's history, Clarence Thomas is
one of two black men to hold a position
on the country's highest court.
Considering that we have honored only 108
individuals with this dubious
distinction, one would think that
regardless of political perspective, the
proper respect would be given to this man
for his life's endeavor. Instead, a
morning radio personality in the nation's
capital is using a racial slur to
describe a man that has gone against long
odds and assisted this nation in moving
toward allowing all Americans regardless
of race, color or creed to dream, to
believe and to hope. Instead of insulting
Justice Thomas, those in the public's eye
should view him as a sign of hope that
this nation is moving beyond racial
prejudice and discrimination.
Unfortunately, ignorance isn't extinct
but maybe that morning radio show should
be.
© 2001 Carl S. Ey
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