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Last Revised: October 1, 1996

GRANMA NUDGE

ON ANGER

by MARY MOORE

It was somewhat busier than a normal day at my shop because there were actually people who were there to buy something as opposed to coming in to talk revolution. I was also dealing with alot of intense non shop matters so had much on my mind when an old friend walked in. I've known this guy for almost two decades and know he is a good person. That's why our conversation left me confused and hurt and quite frankly very pissed off.

About a week before I had been asked by Paul Rockwell, one of the co-founders of ANGRY WHITE GUYS FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, to line up a few sympathetic local white men for a press conference in Sonoma county to be held on Sept. 25. Knowing alot of white men eager to make a stand against bigotry and Prop. 209 I figured that would be a pretty easy assignment, which indeed it was. We ended up with at least 20 men with a minimum of calls. This request was one of the things on the mind of my friend that busy day, but unlike the rest of the men I had contacted, he had trouble with the concept of "anger" and he was ready to tell me all about it.

Now, when I first heard the name of this statewide network of white men making their stand against racism and sexism, I thought the name was catchy and obviously a clever play on the ANGRY WHITE MALE that we hear so much about. I was further impressed after reading their literature that they were more than a catchy name and had given alot of thought to how affirmative action also benefits white men and society in general. The name hadn't been an issue with the other men I had contacted so I was taken by surprise when my friend proceeded to tell me that he had "given up anger and was on a different path". He further explained that anger hadn't worked for him so he simply "wasn't angry anymore". As I listened to my friend pontificate on his decision to "give up anger" what I saw was a single, white male with no children or any other kind of family responsibilities, an owner of his own little piece of paradise (though humble) in W. Sonoma County and tought to myself "Well how nice for you that you have that choice!" I wondered, did he put it up on a shelf somewhere to be taken back down in case it was needed?? I did manage to mumble something to

him about his "decision" sounding like a head trip but it wasn't until after he left and things quieted down that I was able to think clearly about this concept and--well, get really angry!!!

What is the big deal about anger and why are some people (usually white and middle class) so threatened by it? What are the pictures that come up in their heads at the sound of that word? And here's my big question---why are they so blind to their own race, class and gender privilege? My friend is no fat cat and has been a tireless worker over the years for social change, although mostly in the environmental arena which does tend to be isolated from the basic justice struggles. It seems to me that throughout history, no change has happened until oppressed people finally got angry enough to do something about it. That doesn't mean being controlled by anger in an ineffective shotgun approach, but rather owning it and channeling it in a constructive resistance to injustice. It also seems to me that denying what is a very healthy reaction to injustice just messes with your head--sort of like denying your sex drive. I don't know too many people who actually deny that their anger exists but those who are judgmental about it seem to be actually more preoccupied and controlled by the concept than those who simply accept it and use it for constructive change to those situations that make us angry in the first place. I also know that anger doesn't just go away because you decide it should and anger turned inward is one of the main (but not only) causes of depression.

After my friend left the shop that busy day there was another man (Filipino and Hawaiian) that had overheard the entire exchange and couldn't resist commenting. He was soft spoken and certainly not dumping his anger inappropriatly but what he said rang so true to me. H said he felt discouraged because what had just transpired so illustrated how the perceptions between white people and people of color are getting further apart every day. I would add class and gender to that insight, but he was right. My wish for my old friend is that while he is taking "another path" he doesn't stray so far away from reality that he ends up on the other side. Rationalizing away your anger can do that and with all the shit that's coming down right now isolation and denial by good people just helps the oppressors and neutralizes the struggle. I say "Viva" to the ANGRY WHITE GUYS FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION and bless them for being allies when they could so easily sit on their privilege.

SONOMA COUNTY WHITE GUYS TAKE THEIR STAND AGAINST BIGOTRY. NO ON PROP. 209

ANGRY WHITE GUYS FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION is a new group in California, bringing a message of hope and understanding to their white brothers (and others) throughout our divided state. Paul Rockwell, chair, states "We reject the politics of resentment. We are fighting to defeat Prop. 209 because it discriminates against women, twists and perverts the language of civil rights, and betrays the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King. It is time for all of us to reach across the gulf that separates us, to become color caring, not color coded".

STATEMENT FROM RABBI MICHAEL ROBINSON<

I was born as a privileged white male in the segregated South.

I was angry when I realized that most "colored people" lived on a different economic level than most white people and related to the society at large from a position of disadvantage.

I was angry when I realized that "colored people" did not have the same access to public facilities as white people. I acted on this anger. When I was ten years old I began sitting on the back seat of the bus with "colored people". I never returned to the front seat.

I was angry when I began to understand the unequal opportunity for women in our society, the deference given to the ideas and opinions of males, particularly those privileged with honorific titles before their names, such as I now have. I am angry that women do not receive equal pay for equal work even now.

I am angry when I experience the racism that continues to exist in our society. I am angry that the public schools in poor and minority neighborhoods are not as well equipped or maintained as those in white middle class neighborhoods.

Those who need the most services get the least and the inequality is perpetuated.

I am angry that the governor of our state has turned to the initiative process to thwart the equalization of access in our society, to maintain the racism and sexism which continue to interfere with the realization of true democracy in California.

I hope that my anger will not dissipate until justice is done and every man, woman and child has equal access to all the privileges of a democratic society and receives equal respect.

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