People always want a scapegoat: no one wants to take the responsibility for a problem, individual or societal, when they could blame it on someone else. Michelle Alexander’s discussion of poor whites being pitted against blacks as a form of social control makes sense given this aspect of human nature and how we, as a society, have a tendency to put others down to make ourselves feel better. In this case, politicians have tossed aside actual problems facing the nation–poverty, a messed up education system, ridiculous levels of hidden discrimination–in favor of a relatively easy appeal to white and, primarily, upper class voters. Never before have I heard it explained it as such, but the idea of the lower class white population being told that there exists a group even lower than them on the social hierarchy would unfortunately support the mindset of some of my older relatives and residents of the working class neighborhood in which I grew up. The people in my hometown knew very well the concept of the “welfare queen” and held prejudiced attitudes toward people on welfare–even if they themselves could, or did, benefit from it. Often I have questioned why two groups with so much in common could come to resent each other so much, but it seems it has served politicians well to cause such indignation: it distracts everyone from the problems the government isn’t fixing.
Additionally, the mention of coded racist language is extremely relevant to today’s political discourse and individual discussion. With the emphasis on being politically correct, people care far more about not sounding racist than they do about not being racist. As much as language may reflect and even help create our reality, simply using the “correct” terminology–and avoiding certain bad words–does not eliminate racism; discriminatory policy covered up by covertly racist language does not counteract the inherent racism. Just as a mean person can be taught to be polite, a racist can be taught to not sound racist. Until the country’s lawmakers begin to enact–and appeal–laws based on the morality of “all men are created equal,” rather than for economic gain or quick voter approval, this new era of Jim Crow will continue to subject millions of Americans to damning circumstances at no fault of their own.
