The one thing that I do not see being discussed in the mainstream media, that says something about the normalization of whiteness, is how the shooters in Colorado and Wisconsin are being framed as mentally ill, rather than being racialized. The use of language in this way very clearly defines these barbaric incidents as NON-racial, so that people can still hold on to favorable ideals and beliefs about people who are white, while individualizing these incidents as an anomaly in order not hold all white people accountable. The fact of the matter is, however, if the shooters had been a person of color, much of their violent acts and hatred would have been attributed to their race.
This process seems so complete to me that even when the argument of nonracialization of the ethnically white is brought up there is a strong backlash against it. People often say that by making such statements it is giving the perpetrator too much attention. This never happens when people of color are politicized and or racialized. In those cases where criminals (whom are people of color) are racialized, that racialization is used as justifications to limit opportunities of people of color, increase their regulation, and absolve any attempts at retaliatory “justice”.
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I’m not sure I follow here – it seems very clear the Wisconsin shooter was racially motivated, and no one is downplaying his ties to white supremacist groups or his history of racism. Newspapers and websites have been plastered with photos of him posing with swastikas, in shirts with white pride slogans, etc.
As for James Holmes, from what I’ve read and seen, he believes he’s The Joker, reportedly has gone from spitting at everyone in prison to at times not comprehending why he’s there, and in the courtroom clip he’s got an affect that can be created as a side effect in some people by certain anti-psychotic medications—I remember that same nod/prop your eyes deal with Geodon, yuk. I don’t think people are framing him as mentally ill without reason. Additionally, from the photos of his victims, they all appear to be white as well–the same race as him.
Your verbal trap about their being “a backlash if this argument is brought up” was cute, even if it didn’t stop me from voicing disagreement, BTW. How about something more productive – can you give some examples of language you’ve seen downplaying the racial motivations of Wade Micheal Page? Or in the case of Holmes, can you explain how you see his actions based in race and not related to any mental illness he may have?