That One

I sat this afternoon listening as some of the most talented people I've ever worked with somberly confronted the idea -- for the first time in their lives -- that their careers have been somewhat "unnecessarily" taken up by their fight for social justice. These were folks of color who could have been anything they wanted -- authors, artists, politicians -- but, instead, they spent their entire lives fighting for equality and justice in an unjust and unequal world.

What, they wondered, could they have done if they hadn't had to fight day after day for social equality? What did the world miss out on? The conversation ended in a sad and distant silence when one of the most amazing people I've ever known -- an incredibly talented woman of color -- stared off in the distance wondering, "What did the world miss when I was so consumed with having to fight for equality? What if I didn't have to spend my life fighting for these issues? What could I have been?"

I mention this because of McCain's bullshit "that one" comment.



I thought, at the time, it was awkward and weird, but not game-changing...then I watched a bunch of white, college-educated male pundits on TV back up my opinion. It was only then that I considered what this amazingly talented woman said earlier in the day. McCain may not have meant "that one" as a racially dismissive term...but how could Obama and other accomplished people of color see if any other way? How could they take such objectivization as anything other than dismissive and insulting?

I don't know what was in McCain's mind, but the racism inherent in his tone cannot be dismissed. Nor should it...

Back atcha, kid...