SOURCE: DETROIT FREE PRESS

BY: DAWUD WALID

Comparing black folks such as Jarrett to apes is an old racist trope in America, one that seemed to gain gain renewed popularity among some tea party members and on social media after the election of Obama.  As an African American Muslim, I have a feeling that if Barr’s tweet had left out the racist ape trope and had related Jarrett only to the Muslim Brotherhood her show would still be in production. While overt anti-blackness is less acceptable than it once was, anti-Muslim bigotry receives yawns from much of our populace.

The invocation of the Muslim Brotherhood is often used to taint people with suspicion. This tactic, which became common place within the birther movement, is, in fact, code language. This labeling, in effect, says that Muslims in general should be treated with suspicion. This then translates into the theory that those who are close to or not hostile to Muslims sympathize with perceived enemies of the state.

Historically, America has made progress regarding racial and religious tolerance, yet still has a long way to go. Disparities in infant mortality rates, educational outcomes, the percentages of those who are brutalized and shot by law enforcement, mass incarceration, lending practices by leading banks, work place discrimination and immigration policies all have race-based origins and negative outcomes on communities of color.

The outrage over Barr’s tweet appears to be louder, however, than the righteous indignation that should be shown over state policies that continue to marginalize communities of color. It takes less moral courage to address individual bigots who make offensive tweets or comments than it does to address systemic racism and those who shape public policy rooted in racial bias and xenophobia.

While Roseanne Barr gets her show cancelled, America has a president who sets forth policy to ban Muslim refugees from war torn Syria and Yemen.  He has also called on slowing immigration from “sh*thole” countries in Africa yet welcomed the idea of more immigrants from Norway, meaning whites. Mike Pompeo, recently appointed Secretary of State, has demonstrated his support for conspiratorial views about Muslims that were popular in the birther movement.

Hence the challenge for our country in the Trump era: How do we call out the Roseanne Barrs of America while at the same time changing the systems and policies based in racism and xenophobia that do more harm than just offending people’s feelings?

Hateful public rhetoric that has become more common in recent years should be a wake-up call to us all. Addressing the roots of racism in America and how it harms people, not just focusing on individuals as anomalies, should be top priority if we are to truly heal and further prosper as a nation.

Dawud Walid is executive director the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Michigan.