Despite the best efforts of revisionists, racism remains something that millions of people in the United States and elsewhere deal with daily. Instead of seeking cooperation with others in their efforts to get ahead, racists incorporate dehumanization of those “others” into their day to day lives.
One such individual is Memphis, Tennessee physician Dr. James Turner. When his past patient Lexie Carter came in for an appointment, he took to repeatedly calling her “Aunt Jemima,” to her face, without any apparent immediate regard for even the possibility that Carter did not appreciate being stereotyped in such a manner.
WMC Action News 5 – Memphis, Tennessee
“Aunt Jemima” is a character used in advertising for a breakfast foods brand of the same name owned by Quaker Oats; the smiling figure is now associated with gimmicky, demeaning depictions of African Americans from “minstrel shows” popular during the 19th century in the United States. The character first debuted all the way back in 1889, having been originally modeled after a woman named Anna Short Harrington.
Carter described her take on Turner having used the jab by saying:
‘It was an insult, a racial, ethnic insult, a joke. It’s putting me on a level of someone who is subservient with a smile — kind of step and fetch it. It was very derogatory, very demeaning, especially for someone who prides myself in being none of that.’
Turner sought to apologize for his behavior, but Carter was not impressed and told local media that she intended to file a complaint with the state medical board.
The doctor had no apparent understanding of the fact that the point is not what his intentions were; the point is, rather, that his comments were inherently demeaning and took after centuries of oppression of African Americans.
He said:
‘Ms. Carter is one of our very dear patients and has been for years. She is one of many African American patients and I count it a privilege to be their doctor. Anything I said that tarnishes that image and my respect for her was a misspoken blunder on my part and was not intended to show disrespect for Ms. Carter. I am very sorry for that misunderstanding.’
Again, the point is not that there was a “misunderstanding.” The point is that his comments evoked generations of African Americans being dehumanized and forced into servitude. Turner was wrong in saying what he did, full stop.
Lapses of reasoning along those lines have gripped the national political conversation since Donald Trump took office as U.S. president, but no amount of posturing can do away with the fact that at the core of a number of Trump’s proposals and beliefs is dehumanization of immigrants. No amount of time spent pointing to practical “good intentions” will erase racism.
Racism continues to be a day to day issue in the United States as time goes on, with story after story of individuals facing harassment over their race or ethnic affiliation. Stories include a 92 year old man from Mexico beaten with a brick and told to “go back” to his country.
That case has now developed to the point of the man leaving the hospital to recover at home and his attacker facing attempted murder charges.
As more cases pop up, however, racists continue to find an ally in the president of the United States.
Featured Image via Screenshot from the Video
