From my birth in 1945 until the Loving decision of 1967, as a mixed-blood Chinese-American, I was, legally speaking, a bastard in a number of American states. My father's father emigrated to the United States from China in 1868, so both his marriage in 1889 and my parents marriage in 1927 were not recognized by those states which still had legal injunctions against intermarriage (miscegenation).
It was only in 1967 that the United States Supreme Court finally struck down laws prohibiting marriage between "whites" and those of "other races." The Loving v. Virginia decision of 1967 declared Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924 unconstitutional, thus voiding the miscegenation laws of all sixteen states which still prohibited intermarriage.
Does my story even begin to compare to the prejudice Blacks, women, and other oppressed minorities have been subjected to throughout America's history? No way. I wasn't even called "squinty eyes" in grammar school. Nonetheless, my background has fueled a fire within me to crusade for the legal rights and social acceptance of all Americans — Blacks, women, gays, and those who are currently most under attack, Arab-Americans, and Muslim-Americans.
While the fight against prejudice is a constant struggle, great progress has been made on behalf of Blacks and women. Even gay rights appears to be gaining a stronger foothold in middle America, although, in a throwback to the days of miscegenation laws, we are embroiled in yet another battle of the bedroom: the right of every American to choose who they marry.
Currently, the groups most under attack by prejudice are America's 3.5 million Arab-Americans, and one million Americans who are Muslim. Prejudice against these groups, which largely but not completely overlap, has recently taken a step backward to the crisis levels we experienced immediately after 9-11. These groups are victims of a renewed attack which is associated with the right wing backlash against the Barack Obama Presidency.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Doug Hunter
Was there a point to this piece? Or were you just throwing out your lib victim cred. In that case, you poor, poor bastard.
2 - roger nowosielski
The point is, Doug - you are supposed to love your fellow men.
3 - Doug Hunter
Perhaps you would generate more love from your fellow men if you dropped the antagonistic accusations of racism and bigotry at every turn. Again, I just don't understand the point other than to relay the author's victim status and remind us that in his view the world isn't perfect.
This does have a politcal bent to it, hence the placement in the politics section. And muslim Americans are not the ones facing the most open prejudice these days. It's non mulsim, non Jew, non gay, non female, non hispanic, non asian, non native, non black, non pacific islander's. I'll leave it up to the reader to decide who that special group is. It actually dovetails in with paternalistic racism really well though, I suppose the reason this one group is still open to blanket criticism and accusations is that they're strong and mature enough to handle it whereas others are not.
4 - roger nowosielski
I've figured it out, Doug: it's the white male. They're the cause of it all. And nobody stands up for them.
5 - Jordan Richardson
I suppose the reason this one group is still open to blanket criticism and accusations is that they're strong and mature enough to handle it whereas others are not.
Why would someone drop "antagonistic accusations of racism and bigotry" when you say something like that?
6 - Joanne Huspek
Are there any 100% white males left? It could be me, but everyone I know is a mixed bag.
7 - roger nowosielski
Well, Joanne. At least we're cutting to the chase.
8 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Doug, I'm an activist, not a victim, and you're certainly right that I'm proud to be a Liberal.
Discrimination is a matter of numbers - population and dollars. If conservative white males were a minority, their huffy attitudes might get them discriminated against, but they aren't. Majorities have tremendous power, and the responsibility to use that power wisely and kindly.
"Majority rule only works if you're also considering individual rights, because you can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for dinner." - Larry Flynt
9 - roger nowosielski
Well, Jordan - he's got a point, somewhat. The pendulum is swinging in the other direction. Some are even ashamed of their white maleness and can't seem to find a hole large enough where they can crawl into.
10 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Doug, I don't mean to suggest that white men are never viewed unfairly, just that it's not a dominant issue of our society. As an acknowledgment that I recognize unfair treatment on all sides, I quote from a Fox News article, '1-in-4 accusations of rape are false.' Unfair is unfair whenever it occurs, but minorities do bear the brunt of the suffering.
11 - Doug Hunter
"minorities do bear the brunt of the suffering."
From what? The problems of minorities are largely the problems of the poor and have nothing to do with race. Beyond that the government has zero discrimination in favor of the majority. The only time it takes race into account is to penalize white males in contracting, etc.
The only reason these things are even couched in racial terms is because it scares minority voting blocks into their column. Problems are magnified and propagandized to recruit new 'activists' like yourself who can keep the process going.
I do feel lucky that, except in the face of race propaganda, I don't need to look at the world through a racial lense. My hope is that all people can live like that, we can focus on the issues and actions of individuals instead of first seeing if we can drive a wedge in it by race, sex, etc.
12 - Doug Hunter
Oh, and in regard to Joanne, that is the best thing that can happen (racial mixing). If I could throw a switch and make us all a nice olive complexion I'd do it in a heartbeart, unfortunately, the powers that be would simply find another way to divide and conquer us.
13 - roger nowosielski
In my experience, Doug, the race card is played in order to divide and conquer. So I do agree with you that by and large, it's a propaganda. The rich are not particularly distressed by the racial divide. They know what they're after - protecting their position in the world. It's the poor who fall for the trap and use race in order to somehow think themselves "better." So you're right in that the real division concerns wealth.
Any kind of discrimination or idea thereof is just a weapon.
14 - Joanne Huspek
People suffer only if they allow themselves to suffer. Speaking as a Heinz 57 of sorts, I've never suffered, much as some would have wanted me to.
15 - roger nowosielski
Joanne,
Suffering is good for the soul.
16 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Doug, Do a Google search for Attacks On Arab-Americans. You'll get over two MILLION hits. Start reading, and keep reading until you get it.
17 - Ruvy
Jonathan, this Google search game can get interesting, and more than one can play. Try Googling up "attacks on jews by arabs" and see how you get 2.48 MILLION hits. Keep reading until you get it, Jonathan....
18 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Ruvy, By this point, you certainly know that I don't condone violence by anyone on anyone. Whatever atrocities occur in the Middle East don't justify violence by Americans against Americans.
19 - roger nowosielski
What a lovely world we live in.
20 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Joanne, My life, my blog, my books are dedicated to the proposition that each of us can choose happiness or suffering regardless of external circumstances. I'm unclear how you are relating that to people's choice to stereotype others or be compassionate and understanding toward them.
Roger, I'm sorry if you are suffering. As Joanne pointed out and I affirm, happiness IS a choice, and there are techniques to strengthen your ability to make the choice for happiness.
21 - roger nowosielski
Jonathan,
It was just a figure of speech - true nonetheless.
22 - Doug Hunter
I also get 338,000 listings for bigfoot attacks.... so what.
23 - roger nowosielski
It's just a statistic, Doug. I wouldn't worry about it.
24 - Dr. Demento PhD.
I also get 338,000 listings for bigfoot attacks.... so what.
lol
25 - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Doug, you're hopeless. I don't expect to change hard core views. If each of my articles can cause just one person to open their heart and mind even a little, my effort is worthwhile.