Racism

Yesterday I watched an episode of Penn Jillette's show Penn Says on Crackle. The episode was in response to a viewer comment from Cifier. I have to say it was phenomenal to hear both of them. First I listed to Penn's episode, then I located the Cifier response. Both were excellent. Like Penn I always thought there was something wrong with the term "African American." I much prefer using the term "black" when I need to, but I am always nervous that I will be attacked for using the term "black." Now, I actually think I should explain why I have to use the term "black," and that does not really make any sense. As I understand it the term "black" is equatable to the term "blond." I never use "black" in a derogatory tone, and I really do not see how the term by itself is derogatory. I use the term "black" only to describe and identify a person. For example, if I am with a friend in a large crowd and I see someone in the crowd doing something hilarious, not embarrassing or humiliating hilarious, just entertaining hilarious. However, as I am pointing to the hilarious man for my friend to watch and laugh with me my friend cannot find him. If the man is black I will then say something like, "The black guy, over there." The same exact thing would occur is the situation were identical except for the fact that the black man was a blond woman. In that case I would say, "The blond girl, over there." I really do not see how "black" is a racist term. Penn briefly addresses this point, Cifier really does not, but the point they do address, especially Cifier, is how the term "African American" is racist.
Briefly, I will explain what racism is. At its very core racism is collective judgment. Collective judgment can take many forms. One great example of a collective judgment is, "Blonds are stupid." In reality, it is not that blonds are stupid, this collective judgment is stupid. It is irrational to judge every individual in the same way based solely on a physical feature. What makes it even more irrational is that the physical feature used to judge has no affect on intelligence. So the ignorance of collective judgment is two fold. Furthermore, it is vicious because it is devoid of reason. What is even worse than collective judgment is acting on that collective judgment. As an extreme, if a blond kills someone it would be completely irrational and completely vicious to then kill all blonds because they are all stupid so they are predisposed to killing. Not only is this now a collective judgment it is a collective punishment. Individuals are different, that is why they are called individuals and not something else like units or cogs. Therefore, and individual's physical similarity to a guilty individual is not reason to punish him. This violates the individual's natural rights. To me, this just seems so simple, but it escapes so many people.
Racism, is the collective judgment I described except it is not based on hair color but skin color. Just replace the previous statements of blonds with blacks and you have yourself several racist statements. Now, if racism is collective judgment, then saying African American is certainly racist. Cifier explains it perfectly. I highly recommend listening to his comment, but I will briefly summarize what he said. Cifier is black, but he states that he has never been to Africa. He states that he has lived in America his whole life, he celebrates American holidays, he has an American culture based on these holidays, he loves America, he has no love for Africa, he does not speak any African languages, he does not know of any African tribes, he does not celebrate any African holidays, and he does not practice any African cultures. So a black man with complete connection to America and absolutely no connection to Africa is then labeled as an African America. He argues this is racism because he is labeled as African simply because he is black. Cifier is absolutely correct. The term "African American" is racist. It is a collective judgment based on skin color. Solely because of an uncontrollable physical feature, skin color in this case, it is collectively judged that all black people have a connection to Africa. Cifier has clearly shown this to be false. Cifier then goes on to explain how insulting the term "African American" is. Cifier states that for his whole life he has been American; however, no one will let him be America. Cifier just wants to be American, but no one will acknowledge that. People say he is African American. He is African first, American second. This, as Cifier sees it, and I would completely agree, is insulting.
Penn's response to Cifier's comments is also perfect. Penn does not correct anything Cifier said, or disagree with anything he said; Penn cannot, what Cifier said was true. Penn only goes a step further by saying that racism goes both ways, meaning collective judgment goes both ways. Penn states that no one should hate himself based on his ancestry, and no one should be proud because of his ancestry. Penn is correct, it does not make sense, it is completely irrational. Negative collective judgment based on ancestry would be hating all individuals of African descent. That is irrational because present individuals are not connected to individuals of past generations. Sure blood lines, genes, may be related, but the actions and motives of past individuals do not control present individuals. Therefore, if someone's grandfather was a Nazi, that is no reason to hate his grandson. The grandfather's actions and motives do not control the grandson. Positive collective judgment based on ancestry is exactly the same. If someone's grandfather was a Nazi hunter that is no reason to praise his grandson. One may hate the Nazi grandfather and like the Nazi hunting grandfather, but one may not like or dislike their grandsons based on their actions and motives. Negative and Positive collective judgment even not based on ancestry is just as irrational, and therefore vicious. A black man who grew up in America should not have pride in being black because of the Haitian Revolution or slave rebellions. It does not make sense, the past individuals do not control or speak for the present individuals.