Manufacture Content

It’s come to my attention recently that, probably many, people don’t remember the Civil Rights Movement or believe race is not a significant part of their life.

“Indeed like nearly everyone around the world- want safe streets, peaceful communities, healthy families, good jobs, and meaningful opportunities to contribute to society. The notion that ghetto families do not, in fact, want those things, and instead are perfectly content to live in crime-ridden communities, feeling no shame or regret about the fate of their young men is, quite simply, racist” (Alexander, 170).

There is enormous stratification, historical precedent and legal barriers in the United States, but how do we otherwise explain the persistence of colorblindness?

“A Propaganda system will consistently portray people abused in enemy states as worthy victims, whereas those treated with equal or greater severity by its own government or clients will be unworthy. The evidence of worth may be read from the extent and character of attention and indignation… U.S. mass medias practical definitions of worth are political in the extreme and fit well the expectations of a propaganda model. While this differential treatment occurs on a large scale, the media, intellectuals, and the public are able to remain unconscious of the fact and maintain a high moral and self-righteous tone. This is evidence of an extremely effective propaganda system” (Chomsky, 37).

Black history- minorities started in the lowest socio-economic class and for a long time carried the lowest caste as well. The Civil Rights Movement did a spectacular thing- destroyed the explicit racial caste. Now it’s time to acknowledge the complexity of the consequences. A new caste system utilizing our prisons, feeding on our fear, and belittling us all has emerged. Using the socio-economic  circumstances a racial system of control is designed ‘colorblind’. The oppressed are disenfranchised, the courts are mandating the social control, people need solidarity without barriers, now more than ever.  

“If we had actually learned to show love, care, compassion, and concern across racial lines during the Civil Rights Movement- rather than go colorblind- mass incarceration would not exist today” (Alexander, 177).

Bibliography

Chomsky, Noam and Herman, Edward. Manufacturing Consent. New York: Pantheon Books, 1988.