BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Blackface at Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency
November 7th, 2007
First we have the epidemic of college kids doing Blackface and repeatedly being stupid enough to post their pics and vids on myspace and facebook, with the Jena 6 mockery being the most recent one; then we’ve had the epidemic of nooses, leading to CNN special The Noose, An American Nightmare, which I personally experienced in Alexandria Louisiana in September; then you have the celebrity run of spewing racial slurs starting with Michael Richards on through Dog the racist Bounty Hunter.
Now the U.S. Government is getting into the act. Not to be out done, George Bush direct appointee and head of the Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency, Julie Myers, posed with a subordinate in blackface, a dreadlock wig and prison garb; then gave him an award for most original costume.
First of all, this broad looks scary – like the Ice Princess. How fitting being that she runs an agency nick named Ice.
Now let’s analyze this
First, let’s start with the easiest thing. Blackface is original? Let’s put aside the racial elements for a minute. Just on a pure intellectual level I’m offended by the stupidity of calling something that’s more than 200 years old, original. Especially in light of racial mockery being a fairly routine thing. Maybe the award was meant to say that it is most like how they see people of color.
Now to the point of racial mockery: The person in charge of the second largest law enforcement agency in the country; and in charge of applying discretion in enforcement of many browned skin people seeking residence here, not only harbors such racial animus that she thought this was funny; but she’s so brazen in her racial disdain that she was comfortable posing for pictures in public with this guy and rewarded him for doing it. This is not subconscious racial bias, this is out in the open flagrant, and conscious disdain.
Further, the fact that the guy, and it is reported that there were other “inappropriate costumes”, felt so comfortable that he could go to a work function, for his employer, the United States Government, in Blackface; tells you VOLUMES about the culture at ICE, and what type of racial animosity they operate and apply the law with.
This is why it is so important to analyze the motivations of a Reed Walters in Jena, and not to accept at face value what such people say is “evidence” against black defendants, and not to buy there stories whole. Julie Myers and the guy in Blackface at this party are the type of people charging and prosecuting us out there; and this is why we can’t trust them!
July Myers is the niece of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers, married to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s former Chief of Staff, and was back door appointed by Bush without being confirmed by Congress. So clearly she’s connected; like everybody else in the Bush administration of incompetence.
Some commentary on her under qualification that predates this debacle.
www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/001243.html
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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I saw this yesterday and was appalled. Racism has once again become common place in America. This is utterly disgusting and a great threat to our national security, all American’s security.
Uggghhhh!
Thank you for all that you do.
The racism we are seeing has always been there but prior to George Bush it was something white folks downplayed. It is a good thing for people like my young adult children to see the true side of white America. We had been lulled asleep by thinking things had gotten better when in fact, the arena where we need equality the most, business and economic development, is as dismal as ever.
If we develope a strong black business community and ensure our people are employed and own homes and educate our children, I would let sick white folk enjoy their racist humor, because we would have hope our leaving the underclass for good.
Professor, you are white America’s worst nightmare, an educated young black man, living a postive life. Keep hope alive
Danielle,
It’s particularly a threat to our national security seeing as the ones who are suppose to be protecting our national security are the ones involve.
These people have, and will continue to, set us back years and years. Not that we were not in pretty bad shape to begin with, but they do it by substantiating the opinions of many out there that racism is not only acceptable it is inevitable and can be used as fodder for all types on ridiculously degrading activities.
JD: “If we develope a strong black business community and ensure our people are employed and own homes and educate our children, I would let sick white folk enjoy their racist humor, because we would have hope our leaving the underclass for good.”
I so agree. This was part of the point of the post The Ills of Integration. I’d love to hear your comments on that, it’s about 4 post down from this one, or just check the side bar; but for some inexplicable reason, sometimes the Recent Post list doesn’t show.
Also, as an experienced business man; do you do any type of black business mentoring? Have you ever consider putting together a program, power point, writting an essay guide. I think you could give good voice to that; combining general business with the particular social concerns and aspects of black folk.
Yobachi, where are the pics? Where’s the link to the pics? In this case a picture is worth a thousand words.
Simply disgusting but not surprising.
Unfortunately not surprising at all!
MrsGrapevine, that’s the other part of the story that I will discuss in my follow up. They deleted the pictures from the offical photographers camera to cover it up.
My understanding is that there are some others, but apparently no media has gotten their hands on them. I think the bosses have gotten to the folks that took independent pictures.
You can’t wait to hear the explination of why they deleted them, as opposed to the obvious reason.
Cooper, I’m pretty much of the opinion that it is inevitable; the only thing I can see is a greater minimization of it; and hopefully rooting out its systematic effect.
But I’m not very convinced that can happen in this country. It seems to be too tainted and too embedded in the fabric of the coutry.