Why Are African-American Organizations So Influential in the US?

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 12 October 2017
by Qiu Zhibo (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Yuzhi Yang. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
After the recent Las Vegas shooting, many American media outlets reported it as the most serious shooting incident in American history, but others have disagreed, claiming that this view seems to show white supremacy. Back in 1873 and 1917, there were massacres of black Americans incited by whites, with victims in the hundreds. The “Black Lives Matter” organization believes that this is another indication that white mainstream society does not value black American lives.

This is just one example. If you watch American politics, it is not hard to see the strong mobilization by African-American organizations. African-American groups are often vocal, often organize large-scale protests and are experienced in protecting their interests.

While America has often been called a cultural melting pot, it has never lacked racial conflict. After Trump became president, the problem became worse. While all minority groups are unfairly treated, when confronted with racial crises, African-American organizations are better at coming forward and fighting for their rights. What has created the high-level of mobilization and proactiveness among African-American organizations?

First, there is a long history of African-Americans fighting for equal rights in America. From the abolition of slavery to various civil rights actions, African-American organizations have never been absent from the equal rights movement in the U.S., and sometimes have played a leadership role in the revolution.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream” speech is at the core of the confidence of many African-American organizations’ participation in and guiding of political movements. A tradition of protests, marches, speeches and being vocal has made African-American organizations highly value equal rights, and has maintained their awareness of racist behavior. Of course, right-wing groups are critical of such actions, believing these African-American organizations have used political correctness to enjoy excessively beneficial policies, such as the preferential admittance of African-American students to colleges and universities.  

Whenever I talk about political movements by African-American organizations with my American friends, they talk about their guilt from the “original sin” of slavery. These friends of mine tend to support left-wing parties, and are more sympathetic toward the civil rights movement. In their view, white American society committed “original sin” toward African-Americans, and the prosperity and wealth whites enjoy is built upon the slavery system.

My left-wing American friends identify with the lack of rights throughout American history; they believe African-Americans should enjoy more preferential treatment to make up for the mistakes white Americans have previously made. The sympathy and support from these whites have earned more support for African-American organizations; this is also why we could often see white participants in political movements protecting the rights of African-Americans.

In addition, famous African-Americans from Hollywood or professional sports, such as movie stars, singers and athletes, also exert enormous influence via social media. Any small-scale action by African-American organizations, even individual actions, are quickly disseminated by these celebrities’ social media accounts and help accelerate the power and promotion of these African-American organizations in the internet age.

The author is a former American-based employee of a Chinese organization.



在最近的拉斯维加斯枪击事件后,美国媒体纷纷报道这是美国历史上最严重的枪击事件。但有一部分媒体对此表示了异议。它们认为,这种说法存在白人至上的种族主义倾向。因为在1873年和1917年美国都发生过白人引起的、针对黑人的大规模屠杀,死亡人数上百。“黑人的命同样重要”团体认为,这又一次表明白人主流社会没有把黑人的生命看得同样重要。

  这只是一个例子。如果关注美国政治,不难发现美国非裔团体的政治动员力极强。非裔团体经常积极发声,组织大规模抗议行动,捍卫自己的权益。

  虽然美国一直被称为文化的大熔炉,但是内部的种族问题从未平息。特朗普上台后,这些问题变得更为严重。虽然各种少数族裔多少都受到了不公平待遇,但与其他少数族裔不一样,美国非裔团体每每在关键时刻挺身而出,为自己大声疾呼。是什么造就了美国非裔团体高度的政治动员力和行动力呢?

  首先,美国黑人的“平等权利运动”由来已久,从最早废除奴隶制度到各种公民权益运动,非裔团体从来没有缺席过,有时还在美国的平权运动中起到主导作用。

马丁·路德·金“我有一个梦想”的演讲是很多美国非裔团体参与政治运动、主导政治运动走向的信心来源。这种抗议、游行、游说、发声的传统使得非裔团体对权利公平高度重视,并对种族歧视行为相当敏感。当然,右翼团体对此也有诟病,它们认为,非裔团体利用“政治正确”,享受了过多的政策优待。比如美国高等院校招生倾向于非裔学生。

其次,在与一些美国朋友谈起非裔团体的政治运动时,他们都会谈及一种对于“原罪”的愧疚。这些朋友往往支持左翼党派,对黑人平权运动更有同情心。在他们看来,美国白人社会对非裔团体具有“原罪”。白人社会的繁荣和富裕一定程度上是建立在奴隶制度之上的。

他们认同由于历史上的权利缺失,非裔团体本应在当今的美国社会中享有更多优待,以弥补白人之前的过错。这一部分白人的同情和支持,也使得非裔团体的政治运动得到更多支持。在保护黑人利益的运动中,我们经常能看到一些白人的身影。
  
此外,从好莱坞到职业体育界,黑人影星、歌星、运动员等非裔名流在社交媒体上具有巨大的号召力。非裔团体小规模的运动、乃至个人的行为,经过他们在社交媒体的放大,都会迅速传播开来,在网络时代大大加快了非裔团体的政治动员力度和传播广度。(作者是前驻美机构工作人员)

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