Trumping the Race Card: A National Agenda, Moving Beyond Race and Racism

By Rodney S. Patterson

In Trumping the Race Card–A National Agenda: Moving Beyond Race and Racism, author and diversity consultant Rodney Patterson provides a thought-provoking examination of race and racism in the United States, which invites us to consider several questions, including:

- Are racism and prejudice the same or are they supporting ideologies

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Learner’s Group
• Release date: Aug 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781947939448

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Trumping the Race Card invites you to consider some challenging questions regarding the idiom by examining a few provocative questions. The focus in Trumping the Race Card is on addressing the idea of trumping the proverbial race card by first examining the origin of race and the impact race has upon society. Even when we attempt to get past our preoccupation with race, something occurs that catapults us back into the time warp of yesteryear, when race mattered more than any other aspect of a person’s identity. Perhaps in our efforts to return to the origin of the word race, we can identify a remedy for what separates us. If there is any real chance of us trumping the race card, deconstructing the enormous race-based skyscrapers we have constructed in nearly every system and institution operating within society must occur.

Our greatest opportunity for success lies within our willingness to confront the issues of race and racism head on. Rather than treating the conversation as off limits, taboo or too difficult to discuss, the need for fresh, authentic information-based dialogue will allow us to face our fears and work towards solutions. One of our major challenges has been our inability to agree upon common language that seeks to inform rather than blame and shame. This often causes a segment of the population to wallow in guilt for the sins of their ancestors.

A significant goal of this work has been to examine the issues of race and racism by removing the emotional baggage associated with the terms while focusing upon the parts we all contribute to; perpetuation and resolution. We seek to identify the origins of both terms, the manifestation that results when they are in play and the impact they have upon our everyday lives.

W.E.B. DuBois once suggested that the greatest problem of the 21st century would be overcoming the impact of race and racism. Now is the best time to attempt to do so. We are the generation left with the daunting task so that future generations are not plagued by, or left with, the same problems our ancestors faced. What we do will determine the place race occupies in the lives of our descendants.

PROLOGUE

More than a dozen years ago when my wife suggested the title, Trumping the Race Card for my book, I could not have anticipated that Apprentice star, Donald Trump would become a candidate for president. I am being brutally honest when I admit that my initial thoughts about the coincidence of having trump in the title of my book were about the attention it would get. More specifically, I dreamt of the attention turning into increased book sales! In my wildest of dreams, I could not have fathomed Donald Trump actually being elected President of the United States. Ironically, it wasn’t long after that my thoughts turned to, Do I want that association? Inevitably, all of my conflicting ideas were overshadowed by the reality that the man who was once candidate Trump, was now #45. Throughout, I’ve come to accept that no matter what my personal thoughts may be, there is no questioning the fact that President Trump has provided ample antidotal fuel, to keep the flames around issues like race, racism, sexism, xenophobia and a plethora of other socially relevant topics, aglow.

Mr. Trump’s transition to the presidency emboldened my belief that Trumping the Race Card is a timely and much needed resource. Already, the Trump era has created memorable benchmark statements that will not soon be forgotten. Candidate Trump’s promise to build a wall that would be paid for by the Mexican government will forever be associated with his political debut. Other such comments highlighted by writers include the June 7, 2016 article written by Michael D’Antonio. In the article, D’Antonio wrote of Mr. Trump labeling Mexican’s as rapists, his efforts to ban Muslims from entering the United States, and Donald Trump referring to a black man in the audience at one of his rallies as, my African American. In a September 22, 2016 article, published by The Atlantic, writer Adam Serwer quoted Candidate Trump when he made derogatory statements that depicted black communities as scary, bleak places and places that were, worse than wars zones in countries that we’re fighting. What was described as the Trump effect was real enough that a November 13, 2016 Time Magazine article attributed the spike in race-related incidents to rhetoric born out of the presidential campaign. While it might be argued whether or not Mr. Trump’s statements were straight up racist, it is fair to say, at the very least, some of his comments could be characterized as racially insensitive.

Arguably, one of the most controversial comments from President Trump happened during a trip to endorse Sen. Luther Strange in his bid for re-election. It was September 22, 2017 in Huntsville, Alabama when the President gave his opinion about a growing protest, which began as an individual and silent protest by Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers. Concerning the take a knee protest, President Trump commented, Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired! President Trump denied that his comments had anything to do with race, and true to form the public was split and vocal about whether or not they believed him. While some believed him, others saw an overtly racist sentiment that placed black football players and team owners on the same field with slaves, sharecroppers and plantation owners. The barrage of opinions from sportscasters, news reporters, NFL players and fans added to the conflict that seemed to force individuals to choose between patriotism or racism, ignoring the fact that some segments of our society had successfully embraced both for centuries. And then there was the President ‘s most controversial tweeting rant about the four Democratic congresswomen, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, suggesting they go back to their own countries. Ultimately, it is impassioned dialogue and conflicting opinions such as these that make Trumping the Race Card