This large white sign with the words “It’s ok to be white” was spotted and subsequently removed from the Mass Pike eastbound overpass at Lewis Terrace at 7 a.m. this morning, Friday Nov. 1. Discuss.
How can this be OK?
by Village 14 | Nov 1, 2019 | Newton | 35 comments
Money says it’s a teenage boy being edgy and having no clue to the wider context of how that message can be interpreted by minorities
Nelson,
Then how would he know it was edgy?
It’s straight-up hate speech.
Thanks for taking it down, Sean. Your actions represented the Newton I’m proud of.
This thread has been up for several hours. I was wondering when/if any of our elected officials (or candidates) were going to comment.
Thanks for being the first Councilor Auchincloss. I hope we will hear from more.
I’ve been in touch with the Chair of the Newton Human Rights Commission, of which I am a member. I’m hoping we’ll have a response shortly.
I’m disappointed to see this banner, but not surprised. It is a reminder that just because we live in a liberal suburb, we aren’t immune to incidents of hate or bias.
Whew. Just saw this.. @Jake says it so well. Can’t improve on it. Go Jake.
Thanks, Sean!
@Bryan, let’s be careful to not suggest that hate and bias would be acceptable or the norm in non-liberal areas. I have plenty of conservative friends and colleagues in Newton and around the country who would find that kind of behavior inimical to their community values, too.
Jake said it best. Nothing to add.
Thanks for taking it down, Sean.
Thanks for the reminder, Paul.
I hope more candidates respond too, Greg.
“It’s OK to be white” is not hate speech, nor is it racist. It is a simple statement and I am pretty sure that it’s purpose is to display the hypocrisy of those who claim to be “diversity friendly”. “It’s OK to be black”, “It’s OK to be Asian”, or “It’s OK to be Latino” wouldn’t raise any eyebrows and people would walk by, nod and accept it for what it is – the truth. It is OK to be whoever you are, no matter your race, ethnicity, or background. The negative reaction these posters get are exactly what these people want.
Frank,
I’m going to assume that you are posting in good faith.
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks hate slogans and symbols used by white supremacists, identifies “It’s ok/okay to be white” as a hate slogan. The ADL does a whole lot more, in addition. But, they are experts in the strategies and language of white supremacists. I encourage you to visit the page on this particular slogan.
This slogan is an example of a particular strategy of white supremacists: use language that does not appear to be, on its face, racist and make it a catch phrase. It’s designed to be hurtful to people-of-color (read Claudia’s comment, please) and infuriate people on the left, generally. When there’s a reaction, white supremacists feign offense and call the critics racist.
In that context, and the context is barely below the surface here, this language is really toxic stuff. Using the term is not only racist, it reflects a keen understanding of and sympathy for the white supremacist movement.
Just vile.
This act, like the confederate flag incident at Newton North a few years ago, is patently hateful and is antithetical to the Newton that I know and love. The offensiveness must be appreciated by ALL residents, not just our residents of color. As a result, our response as a community must unequivocally denounce this incident and underscores the need for a coordinated response, something I’ve thought a great deal about as a Human Rights Commissioner and a member of a steering committee to establish a protocol to guide a city-wide response to incidents of hate or bias.
“A protocol to guide a city-wide response to incidents of hate or bias.” What a good idea, @Tamika! While there will always be some need for flexibility in light of particular circumstances, a general plan, where all parties (public and private) coordinate and are knowledgeable and committed to their roles, could be quickly carried out–and thus be more powerful in impact.
It’s extremely unfortunate and clear that the tenor of the country (tone set by Current Resident 45) has led to these types of acts; the perpetrator (s) must (have) (feel) felt something ‘gave’ them permission. Time to stand up to bullies, whether in Newtonville or the White House.
Bryan Barash’s endeavor to tie hate speech to conservatives reminds me of those who have the “Hate Has No Home Here” signs in their front yards.
I’d bet dollars to doughnuts, those residents do hate, one group that is, conservatives.
Jim,
I hope that you understand the difference between bias against people on the basis of their race or religion and “bias” against people, like conservatives, who choose their values.
It is illogical and ridiculous for you or any other conservative to complain against bias and prejudice when bias and prejudice have become the core of the conservative movement. You are literally saying tolerate my intolerance.
No. No. No.
I’ll say it: I hate the conservatives that put Trump in place and still continue to support him at this point in time. They have accepted and normalized hate speech and in all likelihood this banner was done by his supporters.
Mary,
Sounds like may be afflicted with TDS*.
I hope you find some relief because this condition will most likely last through 2024 and thereafter may persist with Don Jr.
(*Trump Derangement Syndrome)
As an African-American I’m offended and I agree with Mary, It’s likely the work of a ‘deplorable’ with too much time on his hands and too few little grey cells.
Norman,
Since you elect to identify yourself as an African-American, assumedly as being relevant, and then elect essentially to state that Trump voters/supporters are deplorable and dumb, I hope you won’t mind me asking whether either and/or both of the below pertain to your reasoning:
1. Under the Trump Administration there is achieved the absolute LOWEST Black unemployment — including Black female unemployment and Black youth unemployment — by a vast degree, in American history.
2. Under the Trump Administration there is achieved the most significant criminal justice reform legislation in many years, correcting sentencing laws (passed by Joe Biden) that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community as well as giving many of those offenders the chance to reenter society as productive law-abiding citizens.
The city I love is breaking my heart. I wish I agreed with @Nelson that it is a one off and it is kids- I fear it is the new normal. It is the role of the elected officials in this city to provide leadership, help us heal and provide a pathway forward. It’s time to get to work.
@Brenda, the world and national political environment are full of terrible political discourse and rhetoric, which sets a bad example. But I find little reason to suggest that people in this town (regardless of political leanings) are comfortable with or condone hate speech. Indeed, the unified response to such events is heartening evidence of broader inclusive values, reinforced by elected officials like you.
Newton, most assuredly, has within our community, all of the same elements that make up the rest of this country. Just is different measure. I have a neighbor (one) who had a Trump sign in his front yard in 2016 and my first reaction was to think he must be a horrible person. I would walk past his house and judge. Then I met him and he is a very nice person and had to check myself that I need to be more accepting. I don’t agree with his politics, but that doesn’t’ make him a bad person. He would never but a sign up like that.
I don’t accept that this is the “new normal” in Newton.
@EVERYONEONVILLAGE14, what would it take for your first response to NOT be 1) it’s just something a silly teenager did or 2) we are not the rest of the country or 3) this is clearly just isolated and is not reflective of who we are? As a black person living in a community that purports to be “progressive”, I am astounded by these reactions. It is such a privilege to be able to decide when these kinds of acts matter, and when they don’t. When you react this way, you minimize the action, you minimize the IMPACT of these actions on those of us who are not white, and, because you pretend, (in order, I presume, to make yourselves feel better), to suggest these are all anomalies, you serve to ensure that no change needs to happen. I’m so tired of this. Consider using your privilege to call this hate filled trash what it is. This IS the new normal in the sense that people are comfortable saying this stuff out loud because Trump makes the maintenance of white privilege national policy. It’s always been there. For the sake of your neighbors, please be an ally and stop minimizing this garbage.
Thank you Claudia.
The (added) bad news is it’s even worse than it looks. Village 14 received a number of anonymous comments for this thread that were not published.
Paul,
Three comments on this thread without directly commenting on the content of the sign. Just want to let this soak in. You came back to this thread on three separate occasions and in none of them did you lead with: this is horrible.
In two of the comments of you take commenter to task for their responses. Seriously, you’re policing people’s responses to an ugly racist incident.
In the third, you endorse process.
I cannot imagine a worse response to this incident.
Here’s what privileged white men like you and I need to do when there is racist behavior: call it out. That simple. And, call out people who try to deny it or hide it. Don’t waste time discouraging people from exaggerating and generalizing. Hint: that’s not what’s troubling about this incident.
Sean,
According to recent Gallup polling, 36% of Americans identify them selves as conservative; 34% identify themselves as moderate; and 25% identify themselves as liberal.
In the 2016 POTUS election, 63 million Americans voted for President Trump (that number is likely significantly to increase in 2020).
Are you labeling all of these individuals as bias and/or prejudice (presumably by your context) against Blacks?
Are you suggesting, without knowing me personally, that I am both intolerant of and prejudice against Blacks? (If so this is a more than insulting, unfounded, and utterly false charge against V14 policy — and I would ask the v14 moderators to look into this.)
BTW, how would you identify a black conservative? (by their race or by their conservatism)
As I said above, the real bias is by people who would hold views against conservatives such as yours.
(Moreover, you prove my point about the “Hate Has No Home Here” signs.)
Am I missing? Did anyone say this is OK???
Perhaps Claire’s neighbor didn’t clearly see what Trump represented in 2016. Anyone who supports Trump today supports fascism, plain and simple. Fascism should not be tolerated. We shouldn’t attempt to normalize it. Ever.
@Sean, your comments about my comments are getting tiresome, not because of disagreement on underlying issues, but because of your insistence on suggesting what I _should_ be saying. (That, I guess, is consistent with your tendency to do the same with regard to matters of how people should live their lives.) But here, you even mischaracterize my remarks. I’ll elaborate for the sake of clarity, just this once. In one, I respond positively to Tamika’s suggestion about a protocol for such events, a great idea that I hadn’t heard of before. In another, I express empathy for @Brenda’s concern about the community and praise her personal leadership. In another, I express concern about @Bryan’s reliance on the liberal nature of Newton with regard to this incident, as it suggests in my mind the thought that less liberal communities might not view such events as equally distasteful.
You then characterize me as a privileged white man, which certainly has elements of truth, but overlooks the types of discrimination, prejudice, animosity, and threats my family and I have experienced over the decades. I don’t appreciate a lecture from you as to how I should respond in any given situation.
Adam,
Seems to me that Fascism is on the Democrat/Media/Administrative State side, with their over 3-year attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 POTUS election through a coup d’etat.
Now, Adam, I know you will object to this characterization, so you need not jump up and down in a reply comment. Just wait, say not more than 60 days from now, and all this will become evident. Indictments are coming shortly — could be Clapper, Brennan, Comey, McCabe and others — starting with the fake dossier resulting in the FISA warrants. (Hillary Clinton and Obama will likely be involved, albeit I don’t think they will be indicted.)
If I’m wrong down the road, feel free to comment then. (And don’t be misled by news sources such as CNN, MSNBC and NPR, which will endeavor to cover this up and/or mischaracterize.)
Thanks.
Can we leave the national politics at the door folks? There are plenty of forums and blogs and reddits and facebooks and instagrams for that?
I’m glad the sign came down. I would have taken it down as well. But I don’t feel the need to get in a community argument about Trump. There are plenty of spaces for that. Find one of them. Please.
Please!
Jim,
You are forthright and crystal clear about your antipathy of Muslims. You chide those that are anti-semitic, and extol individuals that hate Muslims. I will ask you one more time: please explain how you can justify this despicable stance. You are the embodiment of a large segment of the American population that loves to lump Muslims as one. Furthermore, it is unsettling that the blog monitors provide you with a platform to spit your spite of the Muslim world. Your view of Muslims is McCarthy like. When one looks at how America functions, there is always a witch hunt. Keep in mind that Western Civilizations has been cutting and pasting parts of the Middle East (heavily populated Muslim regions) for 100+ years.
Jason,
I think you’re on the wrong thread.
Fig,
I’m merely responding to others repeatedly associating the Mass Pike sign with Trump and conservatives.
This thread is closed. There is a new thread above that specifically explores the historic origin of this sign.