The Oreo Factor Part Deux: "I Don't See Color"...Until I See Color
Kamala Harris' candidacy for U.S. President presents some disturbing questions the United States populace is to cowardly to ponder. Indicted for many things, I have yet to be indicted as a coward.
Over a year ago, I wrote an article entitled Washington’s Oreo Factor. Frankly, like much of truth telling, it pissed quite a few people off and far be it from me to get into pissing contests with skunks. However, as my readership knows or should know by now, there are a plethora of journalistic echo chambers for them to enjoy and this is not one of them. LookingNWords is a place for the politically homeless and those intellectually secure enough for self reflection that seek truth… in all things. My critics never argue facts, they argue emotion and I am rather unconcerned about their emotions. Conversely, I lust for fact based debate.
This article is an unplanned addendum, or sequel, to the preceding article. Its purpose will become abundantly clear given the current state of sociopolitical affairs in the United States. As a bit of an introduction to the ensuing content, the next two paragraphs are from Washington’s Oreo Factor. W.O.F.
“Where I come from there is a term called an "Oreo." It is a term, or euphemism, peculiar to Black People in the United States (like so many other things). Its origin is the iconic cookie made by Nabisco (the National Biscuit Company). But this article is neither about cookies nor biscuits. The aforementioned data is simply a point of reference.
An Oreo, for these purposes, is a Black Person in the United States that "acts white" (whatever the hell that means). Thus, Oreo. Black on the outside, white on the inside. In all fairness, I must divulge to you that I have been indicted as an Oreo, but not often because once one gets past my didactic speech pattern and demeanor it will become abundantly clear that an "Oreo" I am not. However, it is quite the fact that in the "black community" certain speech patterns are associated with "acting white." This is a tactical error for the fool that makes that assumption with me for the element of attack is surprise.”
“I Don’t See Color”
I have come to the irrefutable conclusion that Europeans ("white" people) are either cursed, or endowed, with an inability to accept themselves as the majority of the world sees them. Which is why over the centuries, they have developed what I term an “inversion layer.” Essentially, the context in which I have coined and incorporated the euphemism into my personal lexicon (now yours as well) is their penchant towards turning things upside down, especially pertinent to Black People in the United States.
This self-imposed myopia is likely as much a survival mechanism as it is a coping mechanism given the horrific conduct the European has and continues to, as the global minority, exhibit to the majority of the world. They live in a “garden.” The rest of the world is a “jungle” and they are the “gardeners.”
This cycloptic contrivance allows for three things. First, denial of responsibility for their actions and modus operandi. Second, Linguistic Mind Copulation (LMC) and verbal sleight of hand. Thirdly, absolution that nourishes and, thusly, perpetuates a false sense of superiority. They dictate the terms and shifting definitions. This practice allows them to presume an arrogance that is seemingly cognitively impermeable. The Garden
If I have heard the statement from European-Americans “I don’t see color” once, I have heard it a million times. Too arrogant and consumed with a righteous hubris that regularly fornicates with apathy, the vast majority that I have come into contact with appear to lack the cerebral awareness to know when they say they “don’t see color” they are saying they don’t see me. The proverbial Invisible Man. See? Invisible Man
Color Struck: The “Talk”
The term “Color Struck” is an old aphorism used by Black People in the United States that refers to individuals who believe that a lighter complexion and European features represent the epitome of beauty and desirability. Similar to this, Black People in the United States often speak of “good hair” and “bad hair” with “good hair” being the stringy type inherent in most Europeans. Whereas the “bad” hair is the curly hair associated with many of Alkebulanian descent. Verily, the European doped us up good and proper. After all, any idiot can screw someone up if they have 400 years to do it.
Some people, of all persuasions, have heard about “the talk” that we, as Black People in the United States, must have with our children pertinent to how this society treats them: the police-y in particular. However, we have many, many “talks” that remain within our cultural bailiwick. I will now both reveal, and expound, on one of them. If for no other reason than to blow white folks mind’s and expose their collective intellectual dishonesty.
In the universe of the established Black Intelligentsia, we often have discourse that we keep within that firmament as previously mentioned. Even as I enter my sixth decade on this planet I still remain the punk-kid in the crowd just as I have been all of my life. Within this group, an elder and very well known former member of The Black Panther Party gave me the nickname “Schwartzgeist” (a bit of a private joke since we both speak Deutsch).
Zoologically speaking it is estimated that there are less than 250 mature individuals of the melanistic leopards known as Black Panthers left in the wild, with a steep population decline and a high risk of extinction in the near future.
Such exquisite, yet unintended, poetry; perhaps that is the purest kind.
In 2008, in many a melanic academic circles, there were discussions as to whether or not Barack Obama would have become president if he were of a darker hue. There was an overwhelming consensus and I will leave that, at that. Now, European-Americans can poo-poo this reality all they want, but we’ve been Black People in the United States much longer than they have and this is an issue that no other ethnic group in the United States encounters. What other group comes in so many contrasting hues? Thanks to wholesale rape.
This is not about a weekend at the local Blues Festival whilst European-Americans subjectively delude, cleanse and absolve themselves by celebrating “the Blues,” eating chicken, unsteadily moving to the beat of the music and ultimately returning to their gated communities satiated because they feel they have “connected” with “The Black Community.” They’ll “connect” when what happens to our people happens to theirs. Author C. Clarke (my favorite sci-fi author) has nothing to do with our reality and it is hardly vicarious, down here on the ground.
A lot of those conversations got very heated though they remained respectful and deferential. I recall being in one forum with some very heavy brothers and sisters in which I quoted Joe Biden whom stated Barack Obama (his supervisor whose name he could not remember) was the “first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy…I mean, that’s a storybook man.” That completely fucked me up.
And it continues to.
What did Biden mean, by “clean?” By that time Biden had been a U.S. Senator for 36 years, I wasn’t even ten years old when he entered the U.S. Senate. Am I to believe that in all of that time every Black politician that Biden came into contact with was dark, dirty and ugly? Yeah, that shit is a “storybook.” Man.
If Barack Obama was, according to Biden-logic, the “first clean and articulate” darkie he had encountered does that make Kamala the second?
Joe hasn’t met, me yet.
About half a dozen years ago, there was a Chinese laundry (seriously) commercial that I am certain is one of Joe Biden’s favorites. In the commercial, a man of Alkebulanian descent smooches up to a very pale (almost “white”) Chinese woman. She puts a detergent pod in his mouth and throws him in the washing machine. I’ll need to grab my barf-bag now, but suffice it to say he comes out “clean.” I will provide you this intermission from your reading while I complete the regurgitative process, but this is the endless insulting bullshit that is our existence. I’ll see you on the other side of this commercial break.
Subsequent to Mr. Obama’s 2008 nomination for the Democrats, there was much speculation (just as there now exists) about who he would choose as a running mate or “Veep.” Many, many people suggested or prognosticated that it would be Hillary Clinton and I ridiculed them because such an assertion was, indeed, ridiculous on several levels. I told them “Obama is not going to choose a damned thing. His running mate will be chosen for him and you can bet your sweet ass, it will be a white boy. Because if his Black ass ever even thinks about being Black for real and gets out of line, they are going to make damned certain there is an overseer there to keep him in his place.”
I will refrain from gloating because, as I always say, if you knew where you were, you would know where you are at.
This same dynamic is present with the Harris nomination. Harris will not “choose” a woman. She will not “select” Hakeem Jeffries or any other Black Person in the United States. Her “running mate” will be a European-American male for the exact same reasons Obama’s was, as I have deftly articulated. Maybe she should select Joe Biden and the Oreo cookie can stay intact in its Original Gangster form. The O.G.
Oh, gee.
This Oreo factor is a strange thing in Washington, D.C. as it seems that there is a lot of it associated with the Obama-Biden political lineage in particular, but not exclusively. In the Obama-Biden administration there was Valerie Jarrett who had the same beige complexion of Barack Obama. Though Valerie was married to a Alkebulanian brother named William, William looked like a white boy.
Then there was/is Susan Rice. Susan is the same beige as Valerie and was married to a white boy. My grandfather called these people “high yeller” (emphasis on the word “high”). Now comes Kamala Harris; the same beige and married to a white boy. A European Jewish white boy, in fact. Then there was Condi Rice from the Bush administration, Colin Powell, and Minority Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries is also of beige complexion.
Now, in full disclosure, my youngest child is a Black Woman in the United States that is of mixed ancestry and her complexion is a shade lighter than the orangish brown freckled complexion of her father (she has the freckles, too…in “spades”). Her egg-donor (can’t call her a mother as I raised the child alone her entire life from birth) is European-American. I don’t much speak on my children in my work and I will exit the subject in that regard. I would advise any commentary to be respectful of same.
I don’t care who, or what, someone loves, sleeps with or is married to. Two men, two and a half men, two women, a man and a sheep in Montana, polygamists or a dog and a cat. My purpose for presenting this disturbing matter is what my initial inquisition involves: if Barack Obama was the same man, same education, same voice, same lineage but looked like B.B. King (for you blues festival attendees) would he have been president? Would he have been “clean” enough? What if he were that and overweight? If Kamala Harris looked like the first Black Woman in the United States to ever run for president (Shirley Chisholm), and one of my idols, would she still be the nominee?
Since I was a small child I have possessed a prescience that, frankly, frightens me (and not many things do). Just as I knew Trump would be elected in 2016. Just as I knew there would be a high profile assassination attempt this year (and there may be others). Just as I knew, over a half a year ago, Biden would not see another term I know that Kamala Harris’ “October Surprise” will be no surprise.
Somehow, however meaningless and insubstantial it is in a practical sense, the U.S. is going to “announce” a cease-fire in Gaza and hail it as some grand accomplishment. That “breakthrough” will be attributed to Harris. Problem is, Harris is a changeling and though she grandstanded publicly by not attending B.B. Nut-And-Yahoo’s address to congress, she met with him privately a day after. 40,000 dead Palestinians later, the bombs are still falling and each and every U.S taxpayer is an accomplice to murder and genocide. Make no mistake.
Ergo, all of this animation about “the first woman of color president’ is less significant than the fact that Harris would be the first Zionist of Color to become president. Hell, Europeans can’t even figure out what to call her. She is not “African-American” (neither am I). This giddiness on the part of Democrats that Black People in the United States are so politically unsophisticated and, frankly, stupid that Kamala’s non-pale face is going to guarantee the so-called “Black Vote” is a tactical error; especially with that white boy on her arm. Because if they think her “color” is so significant that it will bring votes, then that same logic would have to imply that her spouse is problematic.
Earlier, I mentioned Shirley Chisholm. Ms. Chisholm was an intellectual juggernaut and hero of mine. She once said: “We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves.” And there you have it.
In the final analysis, the United States will end up with both the government and president that it deserves. Whatever that may be, it will be a result of what it demanded and tolerated. Or, did not.
You write facts with great emotion. It is the confrontation of the emotions in the reader with the facts you present that is what makes you words such a powerful must for everyone to read.
Rohn, I’ve been meaning to comment, but it turns out that an 85- and 82-year-old on a long driving vacation consumes a lot of time that workdays don’t. It’s bothered me because your last four or five posts have been extremely painful and angering truth.
The post on slavery was the most disturbing. How on earth can anyone put something like that behind them and “just let it go” or “I didn’t own slaves?” What disgusting statements.
And the advertisement by Jefferson to sell his slaves after his death was disturbing, even though I already knew his background. How can that not move so many people? I don’t know the answer, but something from my youth came to me. It was something I said, perhaps too often, “own your shit.” I believe it to be a critical lesson, one that is seriously lacking in our country. We want others to “just let it go,” but are unwilling to own our shit and its way past the time to do that.
We sometimes work like hell fixing things that shouldn’t need fixing. The “Voting Rights Act” was critically important, and it took many people doing a hell of a lot of hard work to give people rights they should have already had.
I’m always glad for my good luck in finding your Substack and I tell many others about it, but I’m fairly certain that your level of truth is often too much for some, but that’s their loss.
I can’t imagine how you maintain your cynical optimism. Perhaps I’m just cynical, but I see little positive change in my lifetime even if I’m fortunate enough to see a hundred.
Bill