I was curious recently about a statement by Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC’s the Ed Show, that Sen. Jim Demint, R-S.C., used racist langauge in his opposition to Obamacare when he said “If we are able to stop Obama on this [health care law], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” There are ample reasons to criticize this statements — not the least of which is the notion that we will destroy health care simply to gain a political advantage. However, is “break him” a racist term?
Schultz also accused Herman of pandering to “white Republicans out there who don’t like black folks.” I am not sure how that tracks either.
However, I was most intrigued by the support given to Schultz for his view that “break him” is racist. Dr. James Peterson, director of Africana studies at Lehigh University, agreed that “break” is a racist verb, “a term that was used to destroy, mentally and physically, slaves.” He insists that the Demint comment is proof of “how dark some of these racial discourses can be in presidential politics.”
I may disagree with Demint about many, if not most, things. However, I do not believe that his comment was racist or that “break him” is a racist term — anymore than denouncing “dark” politics. I do not question Professor Peterson’s account of how slaves were often “broken.” However, the term “break” someone goes back to Roman times if not before. A broken man is a common expression in literature and common language.
I also do not believe that Cain is pandering to white people by running against Obama and advancing many of the same positions as his Republican colleagues. There is no doubt that there is racism in this country and in this election. However, it does not advance the effort to combat racism by manufacturing controversies. We have plenty of real racists and racist comments around.
Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson, however, insists that Cain and others need to address “post-intentional racism” – racism that people don’t intend to have or to act upon. I am not sure how one defines “post-intentional racism” (which sounds like unintentional racism), but I am pretty sure that the verb break is not a racist term. Moreover, I am not sure how much of a burden Cain should have beyond other candidates in fighting “post-intentional” comments.
What do you think?
Source: Washington Examiner
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/17/sheriff_joe_and_herman_cain_find_each_other/
eniobob, those are common (and neutral) usages. When used in the context of applying “break him” to a black man, coming from a guy with a long history of making racially insensitive statements, it takes on a less neutral connotation.
My background comes from growing up in the deep south and being a pretty good observer of the human condition. I know most of the so-called “dog whistle” words and phrases and that is one of them.
Sorry I’m late to the conversation — I was outside breaking a horse.
I know this is totally off topic, but did anyone see this on daily beast this morning? I’d like to know what the readers here think of this.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/18/defense-cuts-force-contractors-to-look-to-sell-spy-tech-to-cops-others.html
“In [my]community I hear this term . . .”
Fixed it for you.
“Herman Cain wants to electrocute Mexicans.”
He said he was joking. Commentators have noted his great sense of humor.
But I don’t get the joke. And I don’t see the humor. People cheered, but I don’t recall anyone laughing, Where was the punch line, the pun? Where is the humor in a demeaning and dehumanizing political remark?
Whenever the defense is “I was just joking,” you weren’t. All you’re doing is trying to avoid responsibility. Both the stupid comment and blaming others for your own shortcomings reveal a sociopathic nature.
Herman Cain — being true to himself while thinking it’s a joke.
OS:
In the community I hear this term a lot lately’but its used as ” I just can’t get a break” or “give me a break” and for the most part its being used to describe someones personal or someones financial situation.And it usually the latter.
Words are but symbols representing concepts. A single word — love — can represent several concepts, the meaning being dependent on context. A word may represent different concepts among various groups of hearers — apparently the situation at hand.
What’s the context? Jim Demint — South Carolina — Republican — “Obamacare” — language of violence –“break”
Is there enough to reasonably infer that Demint would know that use of the word “break” in this situation would have a racist connotation in the black community? Maybe not, but he does now.
He’s been educated — has he been edified?
Context rules. In DeMint’s case, it was racist.
Of course it is…anyone wanting a break is a known racist….
I don’t think the Bullshevik revolution that has taken place is primarily racist, so gimme a break, gimme shelter, and gimme some good, good lovin’, cause all I need is Motherly Love.
Our words go through constant change because of the fundamental underlying propaganda engines that have to change the meaning of words from time to time.
It is the diversion mechanism baby.
Herman Cain wants to electrocute Mexicans.
eniobob, in this case, context is everything. There are many cases where the code word is not racist, such as the examples you give. In the case of a black man who has been a high achiever, it is thinly coded racism. If we use the kindest interpretation possible, it is insensitive at best.
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/pew_study_says_medias_been_hard_on_candidate_obama_20111017/
Let me say this about Herman Cain a few things to ponder:
He says if he were President he would want a VP in the mold of the Senator
Jim Demint or Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
Holds Justice Clarence Thomas as an outstanding Supreme Court Justice.
Likes John Bolton and Henry Kissingers foreign policy philosophy..
His 999 plan come from someone who is not an economist.
And it seems that he has ties to the Koch Brothers.
He’s pandering but I’m not sure what audience,with a nick name of “CORNBREAD” you tell me.
Demint supports flying the confederate flag. He has used racial “code words” in the past.
Answer NO!!
From the Urban Dictionary:
“Break
The 1st shot in a pool match.
‘Break’, because the balls are in a triangular pattern, then you ‘break’ them up.
Whos break is it?
I broke last game, so you can break this time.”
This is what police do when they have two or more suspects and they have everyone in a separate rooms and they try to “break” someone one down and see if their stories match.
There is a nerve that would legitimately be touched when someone reserves the term “it will break him” for our first black President. There is a linguistic history of “breaking” a Negro to make him compliant, often comparing it to taming a wild horse or ‘bucking a bronco’ with the goal of putting the Negro ‘in his place’. Today’s conversation about race is no longer about who overtly hates other races, but getting clarity about words and deeds that perpetuates racial discrimination, bias and superiority over others. Demint should have been asked to clarify what he meant by the term – if not to understand his intent, but at least to enjoy him squirm as a little light of insight goes on.
I grew up in segregated Oklahoma. My grandfather owned a lot of the black housing in the southwestern part of the state. Break is definitely a a racist term.
Poor thinking usually begins with poor language skills and sloppy definitions. I give you Exhibit A.