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Can A Hug End Racism?: Oxymoron by Kil Ja Kim, Kim Says, " There Is A Way in Which White People Will Not Be

The document discusses and analyzes the music video 'I'm Not Racist' by Joyner Lucas. It connects themes in the video such as racism, stereotypes, and discrimination to theories around the black-white divide and structural racism. While the video ends with an embrace between the black and white characters, the document argues that a simple hug cannot end deep-rooted racism that has existed for over 500 years.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views4 pages

Can A Hug End Racism?: Oxymoron by Kil Ja Kim, Kim Says, " There Is A Way in Which White People Will Not Be

The document discusses and analyzes the music video 'I'm Not Racist' by Joyner Lucas. It connects themes in the video such as racism, stereotypes, and discrimination to theories around the black-white divide and structural racism. While the video ends with an embrace between the black and white characters, the document argues that a simple hug cannot end deep-rooted racism that has existed for over 500 years.

Uploaded by

Siva Jai
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sivaprakash Jaiganesh

03/04/2018

Professor Naomi Macalalad Bragin

Blog draft

Can a hug end racism?

The music video, I’m not racist by Joyner Lucas, went viral when it was first released

and the reason being is that it tackled the issues that African Americans face in White America.

The video is very simple, it’s shot in an empty room of a tall building, the focus of the music

video is on two individuals; one black and the other white. They’re both facing each other,

separated by a small, white, round table. They’re in center stage and everything else is in the

backdrop. The video primarily consists of these two individuals sharing their opinions and

rebuttals, although there are various gestures and movements that imitate hip hop culture from

both parties.

I will be connecting this music video to Yancy’s theory of Black versus the Non-Black

divide, Christen Smith’s explanation on Sequela, and structural racism in America. When talking

about Black vs. the Non-Black divide, it’s segregation and discrimination but this time it’s

everyone against black people, not just white. This relates to The White Anti-Racist is an

Oxymoron by Kil Ja Kim, Kim says, “…there is a way in which white people will not be

viewed as inherently criminal or suspect unless they are perceived as doing something that

breaks particular norms” (White Anti-Racists). And she compares this idea to other racial

groups, like Blacks and Native Americans who are almost always considered inherently criminal.

In the music video, Lucas raps, “Aight, look, I see a black man aimin’ his gun but I’d rather

see a black man claimin’ his son” (Genius). This is similar to what Kim is talking about,
because people automatically assume black people are criminals without them doing anything,

like how the white person assumes his counterpart a criminal without even hearing out his story.

I can also speak from first-hand experience seeing a white homeless person steal a bag full of

items from a supermarket and let off the hook, because he didn’t look like a criminal that even

the police didn’t bother incarcerate him. While the same cannot be said about a black person, for

example, if a black person was to walk into a grocery store or any department store he’s

automatically assumed to have some malicious intent. The TV show What Would You Do?

(WWYD?) gives a clear example of how this works. Kil Ja Kim makes the assumption that there

is no such thing as a white anti-racist and going back to the music video, the white person

constantly says “I’m not racist, but…” and continues to make racial stereotypes about black

people. The lyrics, “I’m not racist, my sister’s boyfriend’s black, I’m not racist, my sister-

in-law’s baby cousin Tracy got a brother and his girlfriend’s black.” Supports Kim’s

assumption, as long as he or any white person says he has black friends, it automatically should

mean he is immune from being racist even though he still makes racist stereotypes.

When the black male gives his rebuttal, he says, “It’s hard to elevate when this

country’s ran by whites, judging me by my skin color and my blackness, tryna find a job

but ain’t nobody call me back yet” (Genius). Joyner Lucas presents how structural racism

affects Black Americans, it’s true that black people that apply for jobs are least likely to be called

back in comparison to whites or any other racial groups. This connects to Yancy’s Black vs.

Non-Black divide, how black people are put at the bottom of the ladder and everyone that isn’t

black is more likely to be considered white. A white person or non-black person is more likely to

be hired for the job than a black person, “to be white is not to be black” (Yancy).
One specific part of the music video that stood out to me was the hug at the end, hence

the title “Can a hug end racism?”. Once the black individual finishes his story, the white man

stands up and offers a hug, then they both embrace as a symbol of acknowledgement and

understanding the situation. During this scene the black individual is wearing dark attire, a

wildcat sweater or bomber jacket, while the white individual is wearing a stereotypical, preppy

shirt with rolled up sleeves. This scene really shows the comparison of these two, one looks like

corporate America while the other looks more urban, even the hair in dreadlocks represents free

and wild. When they embrace each other for a hug, both of them are center stage while

everything else is in the backdrop. Back to the point of can a hug end racism, it cannot because

it’s simple solution to a complicated problem that’s been happening for over 500 years. This

shows the importance of the video, can a hug end racism? A hug cannot abolish the slavery, hate,

and segregation Black people faced for over 500 years and continue to face.
Bibliography

“Joyner Lucas – I'm Not Racist.” Genius, 28 Nov. 2017, [Link]/Joyner-lucas-im-not-racist-lyrics.

Kim, Kil Ja. White Anti Racists Open Letter By Tamara Nopper,

[Link]/[Link].

“How to Become White.” pp. 27–62. Yancey

Lucas, Joyner, director. I'm Not Racist. Youtube, 28 Nov. 2017, [Link]/watch?v=43gm3CJePn0.

Common questions

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Yancy's concept of the 'Black vs. Non-Black divide' addresses the segregation where Black individuals face discrimination from all other racial groups, not just Whites . In Joyner Lucas's music video, this divide is illustrated through the interactions between the Black and White characters, highlighting automatic negative assumptions of criminality against Black individuals and the structural barriers they face in American society. This divide positions Black individuals at the bottom of societal hierarchies, reinforcing their marginalization and systemic exclusion .

The Black male's response in 'I'm Not Racist' directly challenges the criticism of white allyship by Kil Ja Kim, who questions the authenticity of White individuals claiming non-racism while perpetuating stereotypes . The Black character’s remarks about systemic barriers faced in employment and societal judgment based on race confront the superficiality of White claims to allyship . His rebuttal emphasizes lived experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood by White allies, effectively critiquing the inadequate understanding and engagement many presume to have despite systemic complicity . This interaction serves to highlight the need for deeper, systemic change rather than superficial alliances.

The main argument presented in Joyner Lucas's music video is the depiction of structural racism faced by African Americans in White America. The video illustrates the automatic criminalization of Black people, as highlighted by the white character's assumptions without hearing the Black man's story . Moreover, it portrays how structural racism affects opportunities, such as in employment, where Black people are less likely to be called back for jobs compared to Whites or other racial groups . The video ultimately challenges the viewer to consider the deep-seated biases and systemic barriers that continue to disadvantage Black Americans.

The attire and setting in 'I'm Not Racist' hold symbolic significance in highlighting societal differences and perceptions. The video is set in an empty room, focusing solely on the dialogue between the Black and White characters . Their differing attire—corporate-like for the White individual and urban for the Black—symbolizes societal roles and perceptions, with corporate attire representing mainstream success and integrated acceptance, and urban attire highlighting marginalization and cultural identity . This juxtaposition underscores themes of systemic inequality and cultural division within American society.

The concept of 'White Anti-Racist is an Oxymoron,' as explained by Kil Ja Kim, applies to 'I'm Not Racist' through the White character’s assertion of non-racism despite expressing racial stereotypes . This reflects Kim's argument that Whites often claim an anti-racist stance by citing minority acquaintances while perpetuating racial biases . The White character's contradictions in the video highlight the difficulty of truly overcoming inherent racial assumptions within societal frameworks, thus illustrating the tension between self-perceptions of non-bias and the persisting racial biases that Kim critiques .

Joyner Lucas's 'I'm Not Racist' reflects the theme of employment discrimination against Black Americans through its lyrical content, where the Black character mentions difficulty finding work due to racial biases . This narrative connects to the broader societal issue of structural racism, where Black individuals are less likely to be hired or given opportunities compared to their White counterparts or even other racial groups. The video illustrates how these systemic barriers perpetuate socio-economic disadvantage and reinforce the marginalization observed in Yancy's concept of the Black vs. Non-Black divide .

The music video 'I'm Not Racist' challenges existing racial stereotypes by presenting a direct confrontation between two individuals who personify common prejudices about their respective races . The Black character rebuts the White character's assumptions, elucidating lived experiences of systemic racism and bias, thereby humanizing and complexifying the stereotypical narratives . However, it also temporarily reinforces these stereotypes by initially displaying them uncritically, emphasizing common misconceptions before deconstructing them through dialogue and ultimately suggesting mutual understanding and reconciliation . This duality reveals both the prevalence and the potential dismantling of racial stereotypes in media representations.

First-hand experiences discussed in the analysis of 'I'm Not Racist,' such as witnessing a white homeless person stealing without consequence, juxtaposed against assumptions about Black individuals' criminality, reflect broader systemic issues of racial bias and discrimination in policing . These anecdotes underscore how societal norms and biases disproportionately criminalize Black people, while affording leniency to Whites, revealing the embedded racism within societal and law enforcement structures . This differential treatment exemplifies systemic issues where racial identity determines perception and treatment by law enforcement and society at large.

The ending of the music video 'I'm Not Racist' depicts a hug between the Black and White characters, symbolizing acknowledgement and understanding . This gesture suggests potential reconciliation but emphasizes the complexity of racism by questioning its sufficiency. The hug is depicted as a simple solution contrasted against the longstanding issues of slavery, hate, and segregation, suggesting that while it can symbolize personal understanding, it cannot by itself resolve systemic racism .

Racial stereotyping plays a critical role in the narrative of 'I'm Not Racist,' with the White character expressing stereotypical views about Black people while asserting the claim of not being racist due to having Black acquaintances . This reflects Kil Ja Kim's argument that white anti-racism is an oxymoron, where Whites fail to shed ingrained biases despite professing anti-racist intentions . These stereotypes perpetuate assumptions about Black criminality and socio-economic failures, revealing how whites often rationalize or dismiss racism by citing personal relationships with Black individuals .

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