Race baiting
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Race baiting is the use of racially derisive language, actions or other forms of communication, to anger, intimidate or incite a person or groups of people, or to make those persons behave in ways that are inimical, and often harmful to their personal or group interests. Race-baiting is also be accomplished by implying that there is an underlying race-based motive in the actions of others towards the group baited, where none in fact exists. The term "race" in this context can be construed very broadly to include the social constructs which define race or racial difference, as well as ethnic, religious, gender and economic differences.
Thus the use of any language or actions perceived to be for the purpose of exploiting weaknesses in persons who can be identified as members of certain groups, or to reinforce a group's perceived victimhood, can be contained within the concept of "race baiting." Many people who practice race baiting often believe in racism, or have an interest in making the group believe that racism is what motivates the actions of others.
[edit] Examples of Race Baiting
Racial Intimidation as a Means of Coercing Government Funds
In March 2009 Oakland activist Marcel Diallo allegedly registered a gmail account in the name of Oakland artist's advocate Max Allstadt. The account was used to impersonate Allstadt and send emails full of racist and homophobic invective to community members, journalists and public officials. Diallo was outed as the most likely perpetrator of this attack by Robert Gammon of the East Bay Express in November, 2009. In an incident prior to the distribution of the email, Allstadt, who is white and a member of a grant-giving government sponsored board, had voted against funding a project led by Diallo, who is black. At the meeting where the vote took place, Diallo allegedly threatened to make Allstadt "uncomfortable walking around West Oakland" because Allstadt had "voted against The People". This use of racially based intimidation to solicit government funding is one of many archetypes of race-baiting seen in American cities. [1] [2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Robert Gammon. "You Don't Know Jack". East Bay Express. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/you-dont-know-jack/Content?oid=1428761.
- ^ Jonathan Bair. "West Oakland, Internet Fraud, and Developers: a Lower Bottom Scandal". SFGate.com / San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?&entry_id=51942.
