Rise of the angry White man rears ugly face
Ashahed M. Muhammad/Special to the NNPA from the Final Call
Issue date: 10/4/09 Section: Politics
(NNPA) - When a virtually unknown Republican Congressman, Joe Wilson from South Carolina shouted the words "You lie!" during the President's speech last month, it was the latest example of the uncivil tone and rancorous atmosphere created by many of the President's opponents on the right.
In recent weeks, town hall meetings have descended into shouting matches, right-wing radio and television commentators have become increasingly vituperative in their criticism, and spasmodic outbursts of rage are becoming commonplace.
Calling Rep. Wilson's blunder "an appalling lack of civility in an institution that actually prides itself on civility," Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, president and founder of the Washington D.C.-based Global Policy Solutions, said some Whites may be experiencing anxiety as the political and social landscape of America changes rapidly.
"What is interesting here is that for decades, there was a stereotype of the angry Black male and now we are seeing something that looks like the rise of the angry White male," said Rockeymoore.
"If one were to psychoanalyze this situation it may be that in Barack Obama, you see the president of the United States symbolizing for them an end of an era, and that is an era where they were actually able to limit competition for prestigious positions, posts and opportunities just to other White men."
Anti-racism activist and author Tim Wise agreed, saying the severe economic downturn, a Black president, demographic shifts and a change in pop culture have been "jarring" to the collective White psyche causing widespread anger, fear, insecurity and an identity crisis among those who have enjoyed a privileged existence in America.
"It's sort of like a collective nervous breakdown on the part of large segments of White America," said Wise, who also authored the book, "Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama."
"Looking at double-digit unemployment isn't all that rare for Blacks and Latinos, but for White folks, that has not even been close to the reality since the days of the Depression, so when you have had two or three generations of Whites who have never had that kind of insecurity, that is very jarring, I'm sure for folks who have gotten used to taking for granted a fairly solid opportunity structure."
In recent weeks, town hall meetings have descended into shouting matches, right-wing radio and television commentators have become increasingly vituperative in their criticism, and spasmodic outbursts of rage are becoming commonplace.
Calling Rep. Wilson's blunder "an appalling lack of civility in an institution that actually prides itself on civility," Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, president and founder of the Washington D.C.-based Global Policy Solutions, said some Whites may be experiencing anxiety as the political and social landscape of America changes rapidly.
"What is interesting here is that for decades, there was a stereotype of the angry Black male and now we are seeing something that looks like the rise of the angry White male," said Rockeymoore.
"If one were to psychoanalyze this situation it may be that in Barack Obama, you see the president of the United States symbolizing for them an end of an era, and that is an era where they were actually able to limit competition for prestigious positions, posts and opportunities just to other White men."
Anti-racism activist and author Tim Wise agreed, saying the severe economic downturn, a Black president, demographic shifts and a change in pop culture have been "jarring" to the collective White psyche causing widespread anger, fear, insecurity and an identity crisis among those who have enjoyed a privileged existence in America.
"It's sort of like a collective nervous breakdown on the part of large segments of White America," said Wise, who also authored the book, "Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama."
"Looking at double-digit unemployment isn't all that rare for Blacks and Latinos, but for White folks, that has not even been close to the reality since the days of the Depression, so when you have had two or three generations of Whites who have never had that kind of insecurity, that is very jarring, I'm sure for folks who have gotten used to taking for granted a fairly solid opportunity structure."
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