Under the Sun; Speech by Johnnetta Cole on Racism, Sexism, and the Rise of New Right

Are now. In Iraq. OK. The production of WFC art in Amherst. Good afternoon welcome to under the sun. I'm David Guillen. The issue of discrimination in this country has been with us since the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Racism was a major factor in America's Civil War as the country struggled to deal with the slavery of Africans. Almost a

hundred Twenty years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed racism has kept African-Americans on the bottom rung of America's social political and economic ladder. The status of women is not much better although women comprise over a third of the labor force in this country they still earn only 60 percent of what men earn. And the situation is not getting better. Discrimination is alive and well today. Racist and sexist incidents of behavior are increasing and becoming more overt. Nowhere is this more apparent than on college campuses. Some universities are taking steps to deal with the problem by holding workshops lectures and demonstrations to make people aware of racism and sexism. One local school Hampshire College recently suspended classes for a day and organized an awareness day to enlighten students of the issues of discrimination and prejudice. Our speaker today is John had a call formally professor in the anthropology department now associate

provost of undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At a women's studies colloquium at UMass. She spoke about sexism and racism and the increase of anti-social behavior in this country. Well in a fairly short period of time although I do confess I've got a lot of comments. I'll be as disciplined as I can. I wanted to present three points first to document that racism and sexism are in fact on the rise in our society. The point that I'm trying to indicate there is not simply presence but on the rise. Secondly I'd like to suggest what seems to be the source or the source is of this intensified assault on third world folk and on women. And finally because I think you never give one of these talks without raising this question. Finally of course I want to suggest something about what should be done.

Racism and sexism on the rise again. Well first of all let me be clear about what I'm talking about. I'm talking about an intensification in racism and sexism taking a couple of forms. That is we're going to have and do have now more of a denial of access to resources a denial of rights basic human kinds of rights because of folks gender and because of their race. But I'm also talking about the rise in those vicious expressions those really truly barbaric expressions of both racism and sexism. In other words I'm talking about an increase in the brutal and violent form and an increase in those forms of racism and sexism to take off from Roberta

Flack song and that fine fine film that form which in fact is killing us all softly. Well the open and vicious forms aren't that difficult to document. And although this is certainly not a setting where I've got to convince you of the intensification of racism and sexism for the record we ought to put it out there. I mean it isn't credible that a matter of months ago a 19 year old black youth was lynched in Mobile Alabama. And that the press of this country chose to give it a small lie on page 19 or 20 or so. I find it incredible that in nineteen eighty one women who choose to control and to make decisions about their own bodies are literally attacked at

abortion centers. I don't think that is just sort of ordinary. That at a time like this the Klu Klux Klan marches with full support of increasing numbers of people in our country. Now I'm going to restrict my comments basically to Afro Americans as I talk about the increase in racism. But I feel it's important for me to say that I'm doing that because of my own limitations not because of the reality and that this kind of increase in racism which I want to describe is in fact being suffered by all so-called national minorities or third world folk. Well the increase then in racism. A teenager killed on a football field in Boston

Massachusetts in Salt Lake City. Two black men killed as they dared to jog with two white women in jeans. Two black teenagers killed as they went to buy hotdogs in a neighborhood store. Buffalo New York this past October two black taxi drivers murdered and their hearts cut out of their bodies. Only a matter of days later. Animal hearts left in the locker room of a plant a locker room used mainly by black workers. A repeat of this kind of savagery in downtown Buffalo as animal hearts are left in public bathrooms. Nineteen eighty one. We're talking about the full public expression of the most Heaney a symbol of racism in this country. But look what's

client. I mean it's not some kind of obscene nightmare that I'm having. It is the reality that there are cross burnings and the distribution of Klan literature in Decatur Alabama Middletown Ohio Columbus Georgia Barga not New Jersey. Okolona Mississippi Castro Valley California Muncie Indiana Hartford Connecticut. In April of 1980 the Klan wounded four black women in Chattanooga Tennessee. Five Communist Workers Communist Workers communist party workers killed by a Klan in North Carolina. And of course the killers were freed. There are Klan Special Forces youth camps at this moment in San Diego San Bernardino and Los Angeles California. These youth camps and Special Forces camps which are openly the Klan says

dedicating to ridding the world of Jews and niggers are also in Peoria and Chicago Illinois. In Jeffersonville Indiana and Oklahoma City in Denver and Hillsboro Colorado in Birmingham to school to school in Decatur Alabama there are power military and psychological warfare training camps of a Klan there in Alabama California Connecticut Illinois North Carolina and Texas. And unless of course we start to think that this is some isolated expression of far out action Neri racism. Remember that a Klansman Tom Metzger in San Diego California received over thirty two thousand votes to win the Democratic nomination for Congress. Racism in other words

in its most violent and vicious form is on the rise again. But there is also an increase in that other form of racism to that form which creates in a sense the living dead. The Senate of this country has already passed an anti busing Amendment. Things in fact are worsening for black folk. One out of every four black families has an income in this country now under $5000 a year compared with one out of every 13 families. Clearly my position is no family should exist for under $5000 a year the income gap between blacks and whites has widened since 1977 by for

18 percent. You know in general what the unemployment figures are like you know the throughout the 1970s unemployment among blacks was always twice that of whites. Never lower than 8 percent of the black population. Always well over 30 percent for black teenagers today in Detroit Michigan. There are some areas where black unemployment overall is 35 percent. And of course you don't really need me to tell you that racism ain't good for your health. That is that in this country now a black child or a black baby is twice as likely to die in the first year of life as a white child twice as likely to have a mother with no prenatal care are twice as likely to have a mother who dies in childbirth twice as likely to have no regular source of health care twice

as likely to be malnourished malnourished and of course when the police disease unsanitary housing and unemployment Don't do us in. Unfortunately I have to tell you that because of these societal ills black folk are increasingly taking their own lives in the last five years. Let me give you one concrete case. Some 200 plants have closed or run away in California with a loss of 70 to fives and jobs 25 percent of the unemployed folk as a result of those plant closings are black. I think there is a relationship between that and the fact that suicide is soaring so hard in Oakland California that the San Francisco Examiner Being cute as these

newspapers like to be has called Oakland suicide. City suicide city where the rate among black folk has soared by 11 percent. Where 60 percent among the young black unemployment we are seeing then what Levon percent increase in suicide. What about gender inequality. Is sexism on the rise what a silly question obviously is the answer both in terms of violent attacks on women. As well as in terms of that more subtle form of denial of access to resources. It's certainly an irony that the great defenders of life the anti-abortionists have in fact their own clan like activities attacking the workers attacking the clients in abortion

centers the National Abortion Rights Action League reports several dozen incidents of violence in the recent period. The methods of these pro-lifers are obviously very selective. That is about who live whose lives they are for. Since the methods that they use to attack the lives of women include fire bombings physical attacks verbal abuse the incidence of rape in our country is phenomenally high. With every indication that it will continue to rise. It's of course difficult to determine the exact rate of increase in sexual harassment especially in work situations. What percentage of that increase in reported cases is certainly a reflection of women's refusal to be pawed over and women sense that there is somewhat And sorry and women sense that there

is a somewhat more supportive climate to resisting those kinds of attacks. As in the case with racism it seems to me that there are many legal forms of sexism that are also on the rise in our country. And of course racism in evidently joins with sexism to produce certain realities. Women are at the bottom of the economic ladder while Fifty two percent of all black women work. The median income for black women is only 94 percent of that of white women 73 percent of that of black men and only fifty point four percent of that of white men. Yes so then against third world folk and against women combines as a tax Third World women the general assault on women and on children has been brutal. And now finally with the passage of Reagan's

bills. It promises to be unbearable with full passage of the Reagan budget Baron Victor Pirlo has suggested that in the years 1981 to 1986 the Reagan proposals now the Reagan budget will save rich individuals one hundred billion dollars. It will cost the rest of us two hundred billion dollars. For example the tax giveaways to corporations will total one hundred and sixty four billion dollars over the period of 1981 to 1996. Meanwhile in terms of those very programs which affect all poor people which affect working people and which is specially affect women and children mean disaster

since as you know the figures I can only briefly refer to the fact that it is estimated that Reagan's budget calls for and in fact will cut over four hundred and ninety six million dollars in federal support for dependent children. This then is what Reaganomics means for us. Now if the so-called legal attacks on women and I mean legal attacks that's what a Reagan budget is it's a legal attack. If illegal attacks on third world folk and that's what you get when you now have strong firm I'm the most hated symbol of Southern racism when you now have strong Thurman heading the Senate Judiciary Committee attempting to turn back all of the civil rights

legislation if we can see these increases in the legal attacks on women and on third world folk if we can see the encrease in the violent attacks against women in third world folk then we have to ask the question where is it coming from. Is there in fact an increase in racism and sexism. And my answer of course is that it is coming. Don't look all around you look to the right because that's where it's coming from. A very powerful combination and alliance of the O and the new. An alliance of those rather traditional hate groups combined with a much more sophisticated and very carefully closed the legitimate action area set of forces forces which in fact are both in

government and in the corporate structure. I want to share with you my reading and analysis which is presented in a pamphlet called the New Right vs women's rights. Because it puts it much more succinctly than I could. It is quite correct to entitle this wave of reactionism reactionary ism. Sorry as the New Right they differ from the own right. Twenty five years ago in the p o Wright directed itself towards the businessman promoted isolationism and was prompted by east coast money interests the New Right appeals to the working class promotes aggressive international expansionism and is promoted heavily by a new industrials. Their leadership although it borrows heavily

from the OHL right is primarily young energetic men who offer so-called new blood new strategies including front groups and including single issue campaigns not to mention they bring a keen sense of opportunism to the new right. The right wingers are now quite well organized at the grass roots level. Considering that they only regroup for this onslaught in the late 1970s they are well received by many people who have honest fears about their own futures. One weakness is that the core of the New Right has yet to overcome is that they are still battling over exactly who will be in the future. The moderate Reaganites. I mean this. This language is incredible. The moderate Reaganites control the Republican Party. But it is the extremists that control most of those political action

committees. The development which we must be alerted to is of course the extent to which big business decides to throw its weight into the camp of the right. If the corporations agreed that the extreme right wing faction is not only capable of taking power but also best represents money interests then it is conceivable that the people's victories for so hard for in the past could be reversed. It's a very succinct statement. What we have in is a combination of the old and the new presented in very sophisticated clothing with enormous technological backing and with the ability to appeal to the real fears of the North American people. The Cutting Edge Of course of this particular movement although

registered as a political lobbyist call moral majority incorporated its leader Jerry Falwell is probably the second most watched human being on North American television. Only a little less popular than Johnny Carson. I understand that this man on three hundred and seventy three stations presents o time gospel. His basic message is that of right wing fundamentalism. He in fact tells us that he has a divine mandate. To go right into the halls of Congress and fight for those laws that will save America. Understand that the Moral Majority and one of my students was wearing a wonderful pin today that says the moral majority you're wrong on both counts.

The moral majority in fact can claim substantial victories. It was the moral majority that helped to turn the US Senate Republican among its victorious candidates. We notice one Mr. Denton who is now the chair of the revived Subcommittee on internal security. That man had never held a public office in his life. We noticed Senator John East victorious moral majority candidate Senator John East now heads the sub committee which will draft rules for the first constitutional convention since 1787. You all know David Stockman the man with the great big hatchet David Stockman. Of course vacated his Michigan seat in

order to join the Reagan administration. The winner of his seat is a moral majority candidate a devout church goer with absolutely no previous political experience. We better understand that the moral majority as a specific formation the new right as a more widespread formation may be crude in its beliefs but they are most sophisticated in their techniques. They play upon the 14 million North American people. Who claim that they are Christians and perhaps one of the most important things of all for us to understand is that these 14 million Americans of every possible Christian denomination are often black folk who say that they have been born again. There are a hundred and twenty eight million listeners to right wing

religious radio shows. That is the new right's captive audience and it's with that captive audience that they in fact bring their message. What is the message. The platform is very clear the line is very clear. Frankly all you've got to do if you want to know the line is think what is it that in your opinion is correct just humane and then say the opposite of that. Because in fact the platform is one of pro segregated schools pro prayer in the schools. Pro born again Christianity. Pro cooperation with South Africa. With the fascist of Chile and with all right wing Latin American dictatorships. Well what do you get to be against. Don't worry you can be anti sot that is anti detente

anti abortion. Anti gay anti evolutionary theory anti women working outside of the home. In short I'm really arguing that although the new right is fairly sophisticated in how this stuff is put out there it really is the same or reactionary goal of racism sexism and classism. Now it is important to understand the relationship I think between the New Right and the new administration. It's a very simple relationship. They're in cahoots. OK. Reagan in other words and a good deal of the Reagan administration is supported by the New Right. We're talking about a president of the United States. Who candidacy was indorsed by the Ku Klux Klan but far more

importantly I think we're talking about a president of the United States whose candidacy was not only endorsed. But financially made possible by what in fact is the single most important political formation in this country. And that of course is the political action committees of every major corporation. It's when we come to understand that that is how elections take place that we begin to understand American politics. Well what do you say. What do you say when you have now in an administration sitting on perhaps the committee which has the most to say about civil rights legislation. When you have a strong Thurman What do you say when it is Bush which heads the committee which is set to review all questions of federal regulation and when with it under

that purview is the whole issue of affirmative action. In other words it seems fairly clear to me that it is only a matter of a short period of time before affirmative action loses what ever federal teeth it had. What I think happens or is happening is that we're finding out of alliance of conservative and reactionary forces in the new IT ministration. An alliance among them with the corporate structure. And the moral majority. New Right type creep ading then a climate in our country that both permits and encourages both the vicious and the more subtle forms of racism and of sexism. When we realize the possibility that the Family Protection

Act could be passed. Then you realize the real danger of the new right. Let me give you a summary on. In fact the Family Protection Act. First of all understand that the individuals who are pushing this are individuals like Paul Laxalt Ronald Reagan's right hand man in the Senate. Who is sponsoring then the new Family Protection Act. And that behind an individual like Paul Laxalt is in fact an enormous amount not only of kind of skilled propaganda but substantial money. This legislation claims that it will counteract

disruptive federal intervention into family life that it will encourage restoration of family unity parental authority and a climate of traditional more rounded. You see I think it's important to understand those claims of the Family Protection Act because it allows us to sense how exactly the fears the genuine fears of North American people are being played upon. It would certainly a stablish tax deductions for households where there is an elderly or an handicapped family member. It office incentives for adoption. It enjoins the government from strengthening laws against child and spouse abuse it requires the federal clinics to notify parents within

24 hours if an unwed minor is issued contraceptives it for beards. Federal funding programs that are you ready. In culture Kate values are modes of behavior which contradict the demonstrated beliefs and values of the community. It also for bid some federal funding. To those programs which tend to denigrate or diminish traditionally understood role differences between the sexes. Public schools that required teachers to join a union would be eligible for federal funds. It stipulates that I'm reading by the way now from what I think was a very fantastic article in The Village Voice that discussed this within the context of the

general assault on gay communities. This new Family Protection Act stipulates that no federal funds may be made available to any public or private individual or group. Foundation commission cooperation association or other entity which presents homosexuality male or female as an alternative lifestyle or that suggests that it can be an acceptable lifestyle. This is what the New Right has in store for us. As a final expression of the new right's politics and policies I wanted to raise the increasing activities of the new scientific racism and sexism. The most recent formulation of which I think is scientific creationism.

Now I don't think it is an accident that we are now seeing the revival of the views of the Jensens and the Shockley's Shockley the Nobel Prize winner. Who after all brought us transistors. Shockley the Nobel Prize winner who so graciously has consented to donate some of his sperm to a sperm bank dedicated to raising quote the genetic quality of the American people. Shockley who says quite clearly I believe society has a moral obligation to diagnose the tragedy for American Negroes of their statistical eye. Q deficit. No less dangerous of course in my opinion than the Shockley's and the Jensens are the new socio biologist who come forth to tell

us in their complex and confusing terms basically of the innate inferiority of women. Now I suspect you're really fairly aware of that kind of in quotes scientific racism and sexism but I'm particularly concerned about yet another form which my colleague Laurie Godfrey in the anthropology department deserves full credit for alerting me to alerting the rest of us in anthropology and in fact attempting to help us publicize this as widely as possible. I refer now to a group of individuals who are call the scientific creationists. They are a very special interest group which represents a minority of creationist that is they regard themselves as religious. Scientific Creationism

simply means that they will explain to you that the earth is roughly ten thousand years old maybe fifteen thousand years old. That each day of creation was one 24 hour period that humans and dinosaurs were created on the same day that almost all of the geologic column was formed rapidly in the span of approximately one year by a global catastrophic event known as the Noah delusion or the new Waukegan delusion that of course all kinds of organisms were created recently in their present form. Scientific Creationism tells us very simple that the Bible is historically and scientifically true. In all of its original details and it then goes on to tell us that the Bible along with this view of creationism has a lot to say on

such issues as abortion sex education socialism homosexuality feminism nuclear warheads etc.. Now I'm choosing scientific creationists because I think they really represent the kind of new right that I want to talk about or that I am talking about. It is Lou in the sense that it is often dressed in the form of science. PH these are inevitably behind the names of these creationists. But what they say is as old as the battle against evolution as a theory to explain change they say then that if evolution has its day in the classroom so must scientific creationism. They are now able to preserve their biblical version of

creation disguised as science. In 68 communities in twenty seven states Arkansas saw has just voted the legal response of billeting to teach scientific creationism in its schools. Now in the preface to the text book which is the key text book for scientific creationists. I wanted to read you the words of the Baptist Pastor Tim LaHaye who introduces their book. Quote this is what now will be taught in the schools in Arkansas and it's already in 27 other different states although not legally bound to be needed. Evolutionism is the platform from which socialism communism humanism determinism and one world ism have been launched.

Accepting man as an animal its advocates indorsed animalistic behavior such as free love situation ethics drugs divorce abortion and a host of other ideas that contribute to man's present futility and despair. Now watch the connection between this scientific rite and the Reaganites. At a press conference during the presidential campaign President Reagan told reporters that in his opinion evolution is no more than a scientific theory quote in recent years it has been challenged in the world of science. In court he went on to suggest that in his opinion if evolution were taught in the classroom than the biblical story of creation should also be taught. He said quote I have a great many questions about evolution. I think the recent discoveries down through the years have pointed up great flaws in it

now. To me this is very frightening. When the president of this country would have us return to the notion that 50 percent of the world's people in essence came from the rear of Mr. Adam that in fact the total explanation for the present condition of black folk can go back to Ham and then you will understand why we are to be the hewers of wood and the carriers of war. I'm being somewhat sarcastic because in fact what the scientific creationists do is to avoid the open statement of just such blatant and reactionary racism and sexism. But if you will only check out of under the so-called science the message is the same. I would also suggest that that connection between. The new right and the

specific personages of President Reagan and Nancy perfect. Can be seen. And the fact that the very atmosphere which has been created in the White House now may well be an atmosphere on its way back in large measure. You realize that women who work in the White House have been told by Nancy perfect that they must first of all get rid of those styrofoam cups and they must only drink their coffee and tea in china cups that pap soups are out. Now the problem is that of course the presidents and the ex-presidents too have to be a little careful because the more blatant advocates of both racism and sexism point their fingers in all directions. I want to share with you because it is somewhat delightful although it also gives an indication of this expression of the

New Right so-called in its scientific form. A scientist that is a Ph.D. by the name of Arthur Johnson in an article entitled white roots makes the following point. He says if the white race intends to survive into the future its members had best start studying their own moves very quickly in order that they might recover their own lost sense of identity and reach a degree of loyalty and unity which a sense of identity brings with it. He goes on to say once the white race is done this they will readily terminate the rapid progress of intermarriage and interbreeding with members of more hybrid racial stocks. Above all when choosing a breeding partner. White men and women as the undying looted representatives of homo sapiens must look carefully for all of the telltale evidence of low foreheads

protruding ape like Jaws and a generally and for Beloit cast of features which reveal the presence of primitive generations. One can sometimes be surprised at what one finds. Look again at President Carter. That big toothy smile with its surrounding broad fleshy lips never came out of Europe. Now the point that I really want to make to you is that that last passage that attempts to bring back the purity of the primary race and questions Jimmy Carter's ancestry you see really not so far out anymore. I don't think that we can excuse explain the rise in racism and sexism and the new right. And somehow the

strange machinations of a few kooks because racism and sexism are after all grounded in the political economy of our country. Today just as they have always been used. There are double sword. One adage brings profits to a small group a small ruling class and it does so in large measure by creating dual neighbor markets. In other words racism and sexism really do pay they pay the bosses very well. The other edge of course manages to keep both workers and potential workers divided from each other so that they not only compete for the crumbs while a small group devours the entire loaf but in fact they compete what few with for what few jobs there are. By saying that black would be divided from White let men be divided from women.

So to buttress then dual labor markets segregated housing in adequate health care to permit unemployment lack of daycare centers etc.. We get a flourishing ideology about both third world folk and about women. It is out TV. It is our history books our professors Madison Avenue that tells us one gender is weaker and in fact designed to stay at home one race is dumber. And in fact desire to stay in its place. I think that today racism and sexism are actually more needed than ever before. Because in fact the decline in the economy of our own country. Is only a part of a more international economic crisis. But if we look only at our own country the economy is a love crisis.

I mean the cities are nightmares. Energy is in short supply. The people of the Third World are insisting screaming from the Caribbean that they are not in anybody's backyard. Everything is gone amuck. Who in the world are we going to blame. Fortunately fortunately uppity women and niggers are still around at the same time though that I think that those who rule use these racist and sexist explanations. We have to also understand that there is a frustration and a crisis in the personal lives of many people in our country. That makes us particularly receptive to hear of this stuff to hear and to believe the same old myths. Perhaps only dressed up a little bit and sometimes more naked

than ever. I want to ever illustrate what I think is the interconnectedness then that the right see is in the major issues of our day. Perhaps we don't. Perhaps we prefer to organize ourselves around single issues. But I tell you that the right makes a connection among them all. Watch an explanation of abortion presented by John L. Grady m d. In a pamphlet put out by the New Right which of course has as its objective to destroy the right of women to choose abortions. Abortion doctor Grady tells us is only one of many issues. The whole picture includes drug abuse alienation

of youth disrespect for authority religious decline decay of the family structure destruction of traditional education revolution on the campus racial strife undermining of law enforcement in the judicial system increasing homosexuality and perversion inflation repudiation of our currency registration and confiscation of firearms. No win wars destruction of national pride and prestige. Deliberate loss of United States military superiority and economic strength. Planned and fabricated shortages of fuel and food leading to rationing and increasing controls of the American people to fight abortion without understanding and fighting the total conspiracy is to insure certain and total defeat. What this passage tells us and what I think we really have to understand. Is that the new fascist racist sexist reactionary groups

you see are not simply about putting gays in black folk and. Then when men should come on in their place. In fact it really is about our kind of society and a kind of power. It is about who will control the most important individuals in the New Right. Mayo direct mail campaign business puts it quite simply. He says quote The goal of the new right is about coming to power in America. Now let me try to say in a very few moments what I think has to be something of our response.

First of all I would argue that it is not for me to suggest here that there should be a response. On the contrary that where ever there is some form of repression and oppression there is also resistance and that it seems to me that there has been in fact a substantial response both on the part of women and of Third World people to the increase in sexism and racism. The Stevie Wonder rally in Washington D.C. is only a national representation of what I'm talking about. What happened in Springfield Massachusetts. Well I know a number of the young women that I work with students went to make sure that that pro-life amendment didn't get inserted into the Massachusetts Constitution. That is what I call organized resistance by women

and by third world folk. And of course there are massive demonstrations going on all over this country in response to the cutbacks which the Reagan budget brings the difficulty is that out of the 60s the man seems to have learned not to televise our resistance. And so it becomes very difficult for us to know and to have a sense of what is the response to the new right. What is the response to the legitimate cut side to the cutbacks by legitimate powers in what in fact are the rights of people. I think that. That resistance has to remain very very clear in our own minds because once we let it out then assuming that there is none we also

assume that we have no responsibility to create something. The problem though of course is that in fighting the new right. What we're really saying if my comments are correct if my evidence is clear is that we're fighting more now than the right that the right has been legitimize and that it comes now in the form of very vicious and open expressions of racism and sexism of homophobia and that it continues of course in those forms which have always killed us softly. I think that there is a very concrete response which the Academy has to make to this kind of an increase. Inevitably Of course one comes to that part of the talk where you say. I mean I'm sorry Lenin said it. I can't you know claim what is to be done.

It seems to me first of all that fear Calamy has a responsibility to present more of an analysis in fact of what racism and sexism are where they come from. Seems clear to me that we can't even begin to talk about eliminating something until we know its source. My favorite example of course is that if racism is assumed to be just some kind of genetic inferiority on the part of white folk you know they're just born racist. If in fact sexism you know is inherent in men. I mean you know it's carrot on a chromosome. You know there's a gene for that it seems clear what we must do. It's not very nice to think about for white folk or for men but in fact if that is our explanation of the sources of racism and sexism it does sort of follow what ought to be done.

The truth of the matter is that in the largest way we devote very little attention to understanding I either of these things of course women's studies exist. Of course there is Afro-American Studies of course of the step program and some others. There is this attempt to analyze where it comes from the Better to understand how society might one day rid itself. But once we dare to raise the possibility that it is the responsibility of all instruct to in some way address these issues that it is the responsibility of all students to somehow confront these issues then all of uncertain academic freedom has of course become a major issue. I would also suggest. That in addition to our responsibility

to make the issues of racism and sexism an integral part of our curriculum that we've got to increasingly put the two together. And some folks know because you're sitting in that class this semester. We tried to do a course on race and gender in the anthropology or working with Margo and some other folks this summer. I hope to give some thought to curriculum that has to do with the two issues. I cannot stress enough that I think it is essential that we demand that the issues of racism and sexism be looked at simultaneously. Because when we do that. It in fact forces shot critical. And in my opinion correct analysis which in

fact is much more difficult to come to the head when we isolate one from the other. But I'm not going to just leave my comments on what in fact is the end. Ever the ball level on the academician. There's a problem. You should talk about it. You see you should have a course about it. And best of all I've even gotten really radical and said you should have a course that talks about two problems. I don't want to belittle that. I don't want to belittle it because I think. Both in terms of the kind of work that I hope to do over the coming years and the responsibility that we all have that we can't remain somehow within the comforts of women studies and the step program and Afro-American studies that we really do have the responsibility to raise these issues in the broadest curriculum. But I also want to suggest that

there's always a place for activism. That there's always a place for activism which hopefully is based on an understanding of the sources of both racism and sexism. And in terms of my comments this afternoon that would also help us to understand the relationship between those in the rise of the new right. I think activism takes all sorts of form. It certainly takes a form of folk in the streets and marching but I think around the issues of racism and sexism it also takes the form of you raising your hand in a classroom and calling it because that's what it was. I think it takes the form of approaching professors and classmates to and discussing the expressions of those things. I think it takes the form of phone calls and telegrams and committees.

But I also think it takes the form of an absolute commitment. Just struggle against the issues of racism and of sexism because it is that commitment that I think first of all will begin to break down some of the barriers which now exist between those who say they have a primary commitment to struggle against racism and those who say they have a primary commitment to struggling against sexism. If there is one thing which the new right shows us that is very definitively in our entrance it is that they see a relationship between racism and sexism that they hook them up. And if we therefore can only come to understand not only that distorted sense which they see abortion desegregation of schools this is all leading to the ultimate demise of this country. But it is our responsibility

to in fact understand the genuine sense in which they have an economic base are fed by a given ideology and unless dealt with will of course be bad news for a song. That was Janetta Cole associate provost of undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was speaking at a colloquium held by the women's studies department at UMass in April of this year. Our thanks to Vicki Bates for the technical assistance provided in recording the lecture. The producer for one of the saunas Curry jury. I'm David Killen asking you to join us for the continuing documentary Africa week heard Sunday at 6 o'clock on the station. And join us again next week as we explore topics under the sun.