America's Race Matters: Returning the Gifts of Race and Color

By Paul R. Lehman

This book questions the concept of multiple races and discusses the conflicts and confusion resulting from its unclear definition; it discusses the concepts of race today and in the future, making a clear distinction between the words race and ethnicity. References and examples from society, current U.S. Government information, popular fictional and non-fictional works are used in addressing race matters. A vision for America addressing the race problem in a sensible, rational, and realistic fashion is offered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465380449

Book preview

America’s Race Matters

Returning the gifts of race and color

Paul R. Lehman

Spring 2012

Copyright

© 2011 by Paul R. Lehman.

ISBN:      Softcover         978-1-4653-8043-2

                Ebook             978-1-4653-8044-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This work takes an extraordinary look at the subject of race in America and the confusion it continues to create regarding ethnic identity. A realistic solution to the problems of race is offered after enlightening discussions of the various problems encountered by Americans in search of a positive identity.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgment

Introduction

1. Race Matters

2. Race

3. Racism

4. Racist

5. Racial Variations

6. Race and the US Census Bureau

7. Race Defined by Census Bureau and the US Government

8. Race and the Office of Management and Budget

9. Ethnic Identity Challenge

10. Identity Protest Works by African American Writers

11. Identity Protest Works by European American Writers

12. Returning the Gift of Race

13. Returning the Gift of Black

14. Returning the Gift of White

15. The Long View of America

Endnotes

In memory of

My beloved wife, Marion W. Lehman,

Without whose love, encouragement, support, belief,

and strength, this work would not have been possible.

PREFACE

Jay Leno, the host of the late-night television show The Tonight Show, has a feature called jaywalking where he walks to the street with a microphone and stop passersby with questions. Usually, the questions concern general topics familiar to most American citizens. The humor or entertainment aspect of this feature occurs when the answer to a question is not known, but one is offered anyway—is usually the wrong answer. For example, a young woman was once asked what the Gettysburg’s Address was. Her response was 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the location of the White House. The point of this experience is to underscore the fact that information that should be common knowledge to most Americans is not common at all. One case in point involves the subject of race.

Ask any American citizen to identify his or her race, and more times than not, the answer will be black or white, provided he or she is not an obvious member of a distinct ethnic group. Their answer will reflect what they really believe is their identity. Their answers, however, would be incorrect; their race is human. If one were to probe further and ask what their ethnic identity is, a variety of responses more than likely would be offered, including black and white. The primary reasons for these confusing answers is ignorance concerning race and ethnicity. Society makes a greater effort to confuse the citizens about their identity than it does to end the confusion.

The ideas, attitudes, concepts, and feelings about race in America represent a mixed bag of confusion simply because reliable knowledge about race is absent. Rather than simplifying the use of the word race and its association with identity, society adds more confusion to the bag. For example, a recent article from the Associated Press, written by Hope Yen, states that in a twist to notions of race identity, new 2010 census figures show an unexpected reason behind a renewed growth in the US white population: more Hispanics list themselves as white in the once-a-decade government count. The reason for these figures is due to the fact that the Census Bureau offers a choice to certain ethnic American groups to select their identity, so given the choice of being Hispanic or white, many select white where before they did not have white as a choice.

In this book, the subject of race in America will be discussed in a manner that will fill in the gaps of information that are generally lacking to the general public. The discussion will include information that not only informs but also enlightens the readers regarding race in America. Comments will be presented to begin the process of eliminating the problems and confusion surrounding the use and misuse of the word race, its derivates, as well as the words black and white used in conjunction with race identity. In effect, this book discusses America’s race matters.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The dedication of the book pays tribute to my late wife for all her efforts in my behalf toward making this book a reality. Thanks go to my two sons, Christopher and Jeffrey, as well as their spouses and family for their love and support. My thanks also go to my extended family for their love and support as well.

A special debt of gratitude goes to my sister, Dr. Barbara Lehman Stubbs; my brother, James Lehman; and my aunt, Katherine Burkhalter for their constant contributions and encouragement in helping me complete this book. A number of other people whose support kept me focused on my objective were my friends: Norman W. E. Satchell, Dennie Hall, Darrell D. Ogles, and Dr. Donald Helberg. In addition, Dr. Tom F. Shadid was very helpful in helping me maintain a positive perspective on the material.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge Ms. Alice Brown and Mrs. Pat Hoig for their support and technical help with the manuscript.

INTRODUCTION

An African American man gets off the train in Dalhart, Texas, on a hot, dry, and dusty day. He walks around town looking for a place to get something to drink. Chances are he never saw the sign at the edge of town—BLACK MAN, DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOU HERE.¹ He was not seen again; some folks said he was killed. Had he known that the message on that sign was strictly enforced, he probably would have remained on the train.

A young African American man was riding on an elevator operated by a young European American female on his way to the restroom. When the elevator stopped suddenly at the top floor, the young man was accidently thrown into the young lady. After the incident, rumor had it that he tried to assault her. He was arrested and jailed. Toward evening, a crowd of European American men gathered at the jail with plans to serve justice on the young man. A small group of African American men gather at the jail also, in an effort to seek fairness for the young man. At some point, someone fired a shot into the air, but it was interpreted as the African Americans showing they meant to protect the young man. What followed was the total destruction of the African American community; homes and business completely destroyed with an estimated three hundred African Americans killed.²

A young African American woman is rushed into the emergency room of a large Eastern city. She is in great pain and needs immediate assistance. The doctor on duty examines her and orders the attending nurse to give the young lady some extra-strength aspirin. When the nurse checks with the doctor about a stronger pain medicine, he waves her off. He later tells the nurse that he thought this woman might have simply wanted the stronger medicine to get high rather than address her pain.³

What these three actual incidents have in common is obvious—African Americans being victimized by European Americans. The also obvious question pertaining to these incidents is why? The answer can be fear, ignorance, arrogance, bigotry, or a combination of any or all of them. One has to wonder as to why would a town, like Dalhart, Texas, post such a sign at the edge of its town. Do they fear that a person with a dark complexion might use that complexion as a cover at night to create havoc on the town? Chances are, that is not the reason since the European Americans represent the majority in the town. The sight of any African American in town would call attention to itself. Why would no one be concerned about the welfare of the young African American once the sun went down? Why would a law-abiding, Christian, democratic community erect such a hate-filled sign? The simply answer might be a combination of bigotry and fear. Fear, not for the African American, but for what he represents.

Likewise, why would a majority community of European Americans wreak havoc, kill, and destroy a small African American community on the basis of a rumor and a randomly fired gun? From actual reports of this incident, the police and fire departments were involved in the calamity as well as the National Guard, some in airplanes. None were attempting to protect or defend the African American community. In addition, some of the city’s upstanding citizens also took part in the activity. One wonders where were the good Christian, freedom, and justice loving people when this was happening.

Finally, why would a European American doctor withhold a more powerful painkilling medicine from an African American patient simply because he thought she might want to abuse the medicine? On the basis of what kind of evidence would a doctor abuse a patient or cause her unnecessary suffering? Did his actions go against his Hippocratic Oath, or did his sense of social justice override it? Maybe it was his arrogance and bigotry that took control of his actions.

When and where did this bigotry and accompanying emotions come into being for European Americans, and why do they manifest themselves in unjust actions against African Americans? Actually, American history holds the answer for us, but much of it has been ignored. Mention the word race to some Americans, and ask what they associate with the word. Chances are, they will answer black and white. The reason for this response is due to the fact that they have been indoctrinated through education and social experiences to make that association. One will find more information supporting that association than rejecting it. America not only created, promoted, and maintained ethnic bigotry from its very inception, but also created a society that was to be based on life, liberty, and justice for all. In essence, America has been undergoing a dual life experience, one that embraced each of these areas.

The indoctrination of prejudice in America has been so effective that the mere mention of the word slave, even if read from the Bible, will generally be associated with African Americans. The reason for this association comes from the fact that most Americans do not know much American history. For example, many Americans do not associate Europeans as slaves alongside the Africans. As a matter of fact, most Americans do not know that the Europeans and Africans who were freed servants were called freedmen. But what does this have to do with race in America today? If we can gain an understanding of history and how the issue of race came to play such