The Original Old (White) Boys’ Network
by Guest Contributor Jenn, originally published at Reappropriate
I remember several years ago, when I was still a moderator at a local Asian American forum. I got into a discussion with an Asian American woman from the South, over the appropriate response when being called “Oriental” or some other antiquated (and/or derogatory) name for an Asian American. Being born and raised in Canada, and then pursuing my undergraduate degree in upstate New York, I couldn’t fathom a place(only a few thousand miles away) where old-school perceptions — and antipathy — towards concepts of race and race identity ran so rampant.
Having been in Tucson, Arizona, for three years this August, I’m starting to see where this person was coming from. Beyond being called my fair share of “Oriental”, I’m surrounded by the deeply-ingrained, institutionalized Old (White) Boys’ Network, and it’s really starting to dishearten me. I want to destroy the people responsible for the unfair treatment, the double-standards, and the blatant stereotyping; yet, the insidiousness of institutionalized racism is that no one person is at fault. There’s no single face I can bloody.
Like many people of colour, I’m faced with the iniquity of being an underprivileged minority, the knowledge that these double standards are not fair, or just, or right, and the understanding that there’s no one — no one – I can petition to change it. And so, I’m left increasingly angry and frustrated.
The local campaign I’m volunteering with (which you can read about at EphraimCruz.com) out here in Tucson is part of a seven-way race for two State House seats. Cruz is arguably the only viable candidate of colour running to represent a district that is 52% Latino.
Our coalition is diverse: we’ve had supporters of all races come to volunteer for our campaign. But it’s inescapable that the candidate, and his top two organizers (myself and electroman) are political outsiders and people of colour.
And the obstacles we’ve faced, some days, seem insurmountable.
Coming into the race, our candidate was immediately written-off. First, they said we would never be able to get through the candidacy declaration process. When we established our committee, then they said we would never get enough nominating signatures to get on the ballot. When we collected those signatures in record time, they laughed that we would never be able to get public financing. Even now that we’ve gotten our public financing before the incumbent, they continue to discount our candidacy.
It would be foolish for me to summarily conclude that this immediate doubt of our campaign’s activities and qualifications have to do with race. But, compared to our closest competitors, our campaign has had more volunteers consistently on the ground, we’ve achieved our requirements faster than convention dictates, and we’ve worked equally hard — if not harder — than every other candidate in order to get there. And yet, while the White candidates are instinctively ranked by casual observers as front-runners, the Brown candidates are immediately dismissed as inconsequential. We have to struggle just to be taken seriously.
Newspaper reporters have published flat-out wrong articles attacking my candidate, and the Democratic Party assumes that the character assassination must be real, even when we can point out the libelous nature of the reporting. We can’t say why our campaign is treated with such unbalanced disrespect, but it hasn’t escaped my attention that none of the White candidates have to worry about a reporter putting a biased spin on their coverage; none of the White candidates have had to worry about any negative press at all.
And that’s even when it’s warranted. Over the weekend, our campaign discovered that one of our White opponents — who has received taxpayer dollars in public financing – broke the rules and didn’t report a more than $200 expense on his campaign finance reports (which subjects each contribution and expenditure to rules and limits).
Chump change? I don’t have the luxury to believe that. Not only would folks all over Southern Arizona freak out with delight if our campaign had made a mistake in our campaign finances, but in order to stay competitive in what we’re seeing as an increasingly unbalanced playing field, we’ve had to make our money stretch. I don’t know how other campaigns would spend an extra $200, but for our campaign, $200 represents over 1,200 pieces of campaign literature, and the opportunity to knock on the doors of more than 1,000 additional voters.
That same Democratic opponent trolled the blogosphere — including this blog — to hype his candidacy, including spreading negative statements against other candidates. When he was challenged on this tactic, he sent his wife to adopt various pseudonyms to continue his work of spreading vicious lies about his opponents. For reasons that you and I can only guess at, they targeted most of their attention to my candidate instead of the other front-runners — who are, you guessed it, White.
Yet, why isn’t anyone in the Democratic Party upset about these repeated attacks against a fellow life-long Democrat? Why is the status quo so willing to belittle and discount a candidate of colour trying to do the right thing, when they will happily ignore a White candidate breaking the rules in their own ranks?
And the sad truth is that electroman and I, along with our candidate, want to run a clean, issue-based campaign that centers the voters square in the discussion. We truly believe that good representation is about paying attention to the voters and what they need help with in their lives, not about these politics-as-usual tactics. The sad truth is that we’ve had to put up with negative innuendo and outright lies about my candidate for months, all spread by our opponents who can’t reciprocate the same courtesy they extend to themselves — to respect my candidate’s qualifications for the job and demand an equal playing field that would allow us to win or lose on the merits of our argument.
For a long time, I’ve blogged about minority communities needing more and better political representation in politics. Asian Americans represent less than 1% of American politicians, and we need to increase those numbers significantly if we expect to achieve the civil liberties and equality we so duly deserve. In general, I believe that more people of colour should be entering into politics, to help ensure that minority communities can get proper representation.
But, I’m gaining a better grasp of how truly tough that mandate is. The Old (White) Boys’ Network simply won’t let people of colour compete on a balanced playing field. Even among Democrats, who are supposed to be the party for the little guy, you have the Hillary Clinton syndrome — Democrats are supportive of helping advance the causes of minority communities, as long as they’re not the ones who have to put their ambitions at risk to do so. The minute you threaten to actually try to do something to better your community, if you’re taking something ear-marked for someone in the Old (White) Boys’ Network, they seem do everything in their power to weigh the odds against you.
Here, Democrats talk a good game about needing more Latino faces in state government to represent a majority-Hispanic region. But none of that has translated into any institutionalized sort of support — or even faith — in a smart, talented, and principled Latino man like Ephraim Cruz who wants to run to represent his district because it’s the right thing to do.
Racism in America is no longer about chastising the man who calls you a “chink”, a “jap”, a “gook”, a “nigger”, a “spic” or a “wetback”. Racism in America is about combating the non-minority men and women who smile to your face and talk about how they really, really, really want to see better opportunities for people of colour, but who are the first to take you for granted, ignore you, or insult you, when they wouldn’t even dream of treating a White person with your credentials the same way.
On days like today, you have to wonder why you even bother involving yourself in the racism of politics. On days like today, you’re reminded just how much of a leg-up the right skin-tone can give you and how much of a disadvantage you’re at if you’re just not part of the cool clique. On days like today, you’re reminded that no one in the Old (White) Boys’ Network gives a damn about doing the right thing, just about staying in power.
And on days like today, you wonder why you — a well-meaning person of colour — try, when all they want is be entertained by yet another minority who fails.
Jenn is a volunteer for Ephraim Cruz. Clearly, [Reappropriate] is her personal blog, and none of her writings are the least bit reflective of Cruz or his campaign.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Dana wrote:
“Racism in America is no longer about chastising the man who calls you a “chink”, a “jap”, a “gook”, a “nigger”, a “spic” or a “wetback”. Racism in America is about combating the non-minority men and women who smile to your face and talk about how they really, really, really want to see better opportunities for people of colour, but who are the first to take you for granted, ignore you, or insult you, when they wouldn’t even dream of treating a White person with your credentials the same way. ”
This articulated my recent thoughts so well. These are the hurdles that I have been consistently presented with after moving from New York City to Macon, Georgia. There is an old boys network, and with out-and-out racism being something not “publicly” tolerated as in the days of yore, the old boys network operates by consistently undermining the work, the credentials, and the work-ethic of people of color in efforts to discredit them, their work, and their efforts. Thank you for this article.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 8:17 am ¶
Cynthia wrote:
To get involved in these things, you often need to have the right connections. Many non-whites don’t have these connections because they are either new to the country, because of past injustices or because they don’t network with the right people. As for Asians being involved in politics, I think things will change, in time. I have noticed that in Canada, the vast majority of non-whites in politics are South Asian (mostly of Indian descent), and it’s probably because India has had a Parliamentary system for some time. You can’t say that about China. Sure, Japan has been a democracy for some time as well, but unlike India, there hasn’t been massive immigration from there. In addition, language is an issue for many East Asians who came as teens or adults (there are more non-Canadian born East Asians than those born in Canada). As for those born/raised here, many still, for some reason, don’t feel comfortable being in the public eye like that. Maybe because government people in parts of Asia are treated like movie stars and are often in the tabloids (at least in Hong Kong), or maybe public speaking and public service just isn’t tradition (after all, Hong Kong doesn’t have universal suffrage. Ruled by China, then by Britain and now by China once again (sort of, anyway)). Taiwan may have had democracy for some time, but I can’t explain why there aren’t too many Taiwanese Canadian politicians, other than the fact that Chinese Canadians from Hong Kong and mainland China outnumber them.
By the way, I think the first non-white Prime Minister of Canada would be South Asian. It’ll probably be a guy, though.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 8:53 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
Here in Britain, “Oriental” is not considered a degoratory term. “Asian” actually refers to South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bengali, Sri Lankan), whereas East Asians aren’t really called Asian, so the term “Oriental” is used, but I often say “East Asian” (I guess most people do).
Funny how it’s opposite in America: Asian refers to East Asians, whereas Indians and Pakistanis are not considered Asian.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 9:00 am ¶
Celeste wrote:
“Hilary Clinton syndrome”—I love it. Everyone’s all about more opportunities for the marginalized but not when that actually might mean that you have to give up something you feel entitled to. Having to actually compete with a POC for something isn’t supposed to part of the deal.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 9:07 am ¶
donna darko wrote:
Meki! I remember her!
Parts of the South were more racist, sexist, homophobic and violent (kids got guns for their 16th birthdays) than any place I’ve lived.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 9:12 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
this 2008 campaign has really brought out the ugly truth of racism and double standards of the media, race, and gender.
It is so amazing that in 2008 (hell, it’s almost the 2010s, we have less than 2 years to enter a new decade), we still live in an Old White Men’s Club world.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 9:35 am ¶
F wrote:
It’s weird, I was going to point out that too – in the UK, Oriental is an accepted term, while Asian always means South East Asian. When I first got there, I was disturbed that one of the most sensitive places – SOAS – was still called the School of Oriental and African Studies, until I realised this strange state of affairs.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 10:09 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
F:
yeah. Another Opposite thing is that in the UK, “paki” is a very racist word for South Asians, but “Oriental” is not racist,
in USA, though, “paki” is NOT considered to be a racist term, but “Oriental” IS.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 10:44 am ¶
Estheroette wrote:
@Dana
I know how you feel. I am from Macon, Georgia although I have lived in Maryland for 11 years now. Whenever I go back home I feel like I’m in a time warp back to the 60s. I tend to just stick to my family and friends.
Call me a bleeding heart or whatever but I am often sickened by the double standard in the US over issues like these. As a black girl maybe that label wouldn’t apply to me though! I wonder most often if to get anyone to really listen to what PoCs have to say is to raise all kinds of hell until they finally decide to do something to make us happier.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 11:02 am ¶
Dan wrote:
As a member of the White Man’s Club from birth (we aren’t given the choice to join or not) I’m doing everything I can to disrupt the organization from the inside.
I’m having a little trouble finding the meeting places though. Maybe it’s because I was never taught the secret handshake. With some of my white friends, I’ve tried slapping thighs, tugging earlobes, syncopated winks, and in a fit of frustration even assaulted a now ex-friend with a series of fish-hooks. This really worries me because as my African American wife has pointed out, she’s SURE I have money laying around somewhere or money I’m entitled to but I can’t seem to locate any of it. Perhaps if I can find these damn white club meeting places I can get some of that cash.
At any rate, since it’s impossible to leave this club and I’m stuck in it for the rest of my life, all I can do is try to disrupt it’s progress and hope for the day that our group becomes a minority in this country and the senior members of the group die off and take their small minded mentalities with them. Maybe then this country can make some progress in the race department.
On a side note, I did find out that some other members were responsible for several infamous murders, including JFK and Dr. King. Oh yeah, and Hitler? He got his ideas about the Jews by studying slavery in America. I’m still trying to find some incriminating evidence on the framing of Mumia that, if I find it, will manage to ’slip’ into the hands of a NY Times journalist.
I’ll keep looking. Keep fighting the good fight.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 11:25 am ¶
Eva wrote:
“you’re reminded that no one in the Old (White) Boys’ Network gives a damn about doing the right thing, just about staying in power.”
Wow, is this the truth or what? In 1992 a friend of mine was a delegate when the Democratic convention came to NYC. She put me on the guest list for every party she was going to; so we went. Then I discovered it was true, these old fogies want to stay in power and will kill anyone who gets in their way. These guys truly live the good life and they’re not going down without a fight.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 12:47 pm ¶
jvansteppes wrote:
The ‘old white boys network’ reference reminds me of Lawrence Otis Graham, whose story I heard on This American Life a couple of years ago. He’s a black lawyer who went undercover in a white-only country club because it was the only way for him to get in and observe; even he was shocked at how the white guests had mouths dirtier than Richard Nixon’s.
I remember when a Sri Lankan friend of mine ran for the NDP [liberal leftist party in Canada] and he was chided for wearing a hat that was ‘too ethnic’. Thanks NDP. But then again these were the same people who didn’t want to let women with veils lead their antiwar marches for fear of appearing ‘too radically muslim’ for the MSM.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 1:41 pm ¶
Cynthia wrote:
jvansteppes,
I bet the Sri Lankan NDP candidate would have been chided for NOT being ethnic enough if he didn’t wear the hat. D@mned if you do, d@mned if you don’t.
To make this reply legit:
You aren’t truly a “traditional Old Boy” unless you’re white, male AND from a certain background. This includes schools as well as other organizations. Remember, many old-line independent schools, particularly those in Commonwealth countries, call their alumni, Old Boys (and yes, some girls’ schools call alumnae Old Girls….nothing wrong with that, IMHO) . there are non-traditional Old Boys (and Old Girls), of course, but that’s a topic for another day.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 2:16 pm ¶
Cynthia wrote:
^^^
left out religion – to be a “traditional Old Boy,” you must be old line Protestant. No evangelicals.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 2:16 pm ¶
macon d wrote:
Dan, would you mind paraphrasing, in a snark-free way, what the hell you’re talking about? I’m a white guy too, but I can’t quite suss out why you wrote what you wrote . . .
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 2:36 pm ¶
Jennifer wrote:
“Being born and raised in Canada, and then pursuing my undergraduate degree in upstate New York, I couldn’t fathom a place(only a few thousand miles away) where old-school perceptions — and antipathy — towards concepts of race and race identity ran so rampant.”
As a Native person indigenous to Northern Ontario (also where my rez is located), I’d say that it’s a lot closer to you than the South. My experience in anti-racism and anarchist-of-colour organizations in Canada led me to believe that Native Canadians live trapped beneath a glass ceiling (much) further below that which other minorities in Canada are subjected to.
I was educated at an Ivy League university in engineering and subjected to the constant outright hatred and/or subsurface racism you attribute to the American South during my short tenure as an engineer in my own home in Northern Ontario. Some of it was all so familiar to POCs in the States: from not being handed change into my hand by a white storekeeper to being followed around in a store to being ignored in banks or subject to ridiculous interrogations by tellers to being asked by power companies on my construction sites “how did an [reserve name] Indian get all the way down to [ivy league school]?” The list goes on.
I am always the first to tell my liberal white (and sometimes POC) friends in the States was that the biggest exported lie that Canada consistently gets away with is that racism exists to a lessor extent there. I’ve argued that Canada has a more pschizoid relationship to race since it never had the historical dialogue that slavery and the Civil Rights Movement forced on to the table — and so it sits even more deeply buried.
So, I guess I’m saying that spending some time on a Canadian Reserve up north would open up the critiques and most importantly, perspective.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 3:36 pm ¶
Elly Soar wrote:
Interesting article, but could be much improved by eliminating the lines about Canada and NY being free of “old-school perceptions” like the use of the term Orientals. This is one of those myths that really drive a wedge between north and south in the US – when well-meaning people talk about how much better it is “here” than “there” . I know several people here in Canada who feel the term Orientals is just fine, and were quite offended when I told them that it’s more correct to use the word “Asians” – they’ve even insisted that “we” should not dictate to “them” what “they” should be called, as if Asians like being called Orientals! There are vast regions in Canada and the US where white people are underexposed to people of colour and therefore these beliefs go unchallenged.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 5:52 pm ¶
Hokayshenao wrote:
I have often wondered if there is a need for extended knowledge about countries that get little recognition in the U.S. such as: Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippine Islands.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 7:33 pm ¶
jed wrote:
Lots of fodder here for discussion, but I’m still stuck at the news that Oriental is considered derogatory. When was that memo released?
I think this points out the biggest obstacle facing anti-racist activism (and quite often, activism in general). Such messages just do not get propagated, even to your allies.
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 5:21 pm ¶
Torontonian wrote:
I missed this news. Do you have a link?
As I understand it, the term “paki” is considered racist in Canada.
Posted 08 Aug 2008 at 8:03 am ¶
donna darko wrote:
About your post, it is indeed sad.
Posted 09 Aug 2008 at 4:58 pm ¶