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Mande: Everything Is Racist

“NUDE” BRAS? REALLY? By MANDE WILKES  ||  Something’s changed, subtly but swiftly, over the past couple of months. Suddenly there are charges of racism absolutely everywhere, from seemingly everyone, irrespective of whether those accusations are grounded in reality. This isn’t entirely new, obviously, but it has intensified as of late. And…

“NUDE” BRAS? REALLY?

mande wilkes fullBy MANDE WILKES  ||  Something’s changed, subtly but swiftly, over the past couple of months. Suddenly there are charges of racism absolutely everywhere, from seemingly everyone, irrespective of whether those accusations are grounded in reality. This isn’t entirely new, obviously, but it has intensified as of late.

And I’m tired of it.

While I can concede that some people are racist, and some systemic racism lingers, it’s hardly rampant or pervasive. On the whole, black Americans and white carry on together just fine.

To claim otherwise, actually, is to hurt children — black children, specifically. How must it feel to be a kid and to be told, over and over again from the get-go, that the world is out to get you? While it’s not causative, it isn’t hard to understand, then, why black youth suffer from high rates of incarceration, poverty, drug use and teen pregnancy. Honestly, had I grown up with the world at my ear, telling me I’m despised, I can’t be sure I wouldn’t have had a rockier time of it.

There are consequences, is what I’m saying, when you convince a whole segment of America that they’re hated. Not for nothing, one of those consequences could be that a black teen, having been brought up to believe that racism is everywhere, might behave defensively when approached by a white cop. In that instance, we can’t discern whether the issue was racism itself or, as likely, the mistaken and unwarranted fear of racism where it doesn’t exist.

I’ll keep it real, for a moment, and confess that I’m not saying anything new on the subject. So much has been said about racism that it’s hardly possible, at this point, to deliver any large insights.

But I reached my breaking point a few days ago, upon hearing news of the editorial board of a college newspaper charging that bra manufacturers are racist. Why are they racist? Because “nude” is a common bra-color designation, and black women’s skin isn’t actually “nude.” Or something.

Anyway, interestingly, this recent ratcheting-up and battening-down of hysteria coincides with genuine and growing racist sentiment — but it has nothing to do with the black population.

In recent weeks, a number of Americans have convinced themselves that Islam is a race and a religion to be feared, and, more than that, annihilated. You might imagine that to a Jewish person like me, Islamophobia would be comforting — a measure of commiseration about the ongoing Mideast unrest. But in fact it bewilders me that unofficial American policy seems to be that an entire population must be either converted or killed.

Which is all to say that right now it’s safer and sounder to be black in America than to be Muslim anywhere. Perhaps that’s progress of sorts, but it feels like more of the same.

Mande Wilkes is a wife, mother, businesswoman, author, etc. residing on the South Carolina coast with her family.

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62 comments

shifty henry September 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm

O JEEZ..!! Does this mean the end of all those sexy, black bras, panties, stockings, teddies, and what-evers.? Shifty is going to stock up and become a’ black marketeer’ — I’m gonna’ get rich..!!

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euwe max September 21, 2014 at 5:05 pm

I think *most* people have had it up to *here* with all that holocaust stuff. Talk about your hypersensitive ancient history!

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euwe max September 21, 2014 at 5:06 pm

Hey! Wait a minute! I just realized this is a tittie topic!

Yay!

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shifty henry September 22, 2014 at 10:10 am

A woman had enormous breasts and each time she met a man, she’d heave her bosom. He’s heave it back! Ashamed of her gigantic bosom, the woman went to Halmar the Faith Healer. He studied her for a while and said that faith could move mountains. She paid him a large sum of money and he started to pray. For hours he prayed, and, lo and behold, her bosom grew smaller. Her breasts became beautiful, but now she has two giant lumps on her ass!

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euwe max September 22, 2014 at 11:53 am

wow! where did those two giant lumps come from?

…and when are you going to tell us the grisly details?

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shifty henry September 23, 2014 at 7:14 pm

It was early afternoon on such a perfect day when sky, sea and the universe seemed to be in perfect sync, and I was the center around which it all was revolving, and then…..

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euwe max September 23, 2014 at 8:09 pm

was there a shudder?

Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 21, 2014 at 5:40 pm

So…you’re trashing black people as being racist (who literally still suffer from racism) and sticking up for Islamic jihadi sympathizers who are bent on Israel’s destruction and the annihilation of the U.S.?

Time for Liz Gunn to step in again and write a back peddle piece.

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J Mande Wilkes September 21, 2014 at 5:57 pm

Pedal. Back pedal.

Now you know.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 21, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Peddle…meaning to sell or push an idea. As in…I can’t believe Fits News peddles this shite.

What was it you said…”just leave”.

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J Mande Wilkes September 21, 2014 at 7:06 pm

I’m unaware of ever having said “just leave.” That sounds like a shallow summation, and I’m far more nuanced. In any event, you’re dead-wrong about backpedal.

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Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 7:17 pm

Sneaky. You do it correct as one word here.

J Mande Wilkes September 21, 2014 at 7:23 pm

You’re right. I did it as two words in my first retort so as not to overwhelm the simpletons with too many corrections. But trust me, if there’s anything I appreciate it’s a pedant — so rock on.

Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 7:28 pm

To be politically correct, it’s like the pot calling the kettle nude.

Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 10:04 am

Damn, I hate it when you’re actually clever.

Proves you’re not Grand Tango anyway. But I knew that.

Mike at the Beach September 21, 2014 at 8:28 pm

I got your back on the backpedal thing…pun intended. We were bound to agree on something at some point. It had to happen.

Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 7:18 pm

So what is the meaning of “back peddle”.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 21, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Mike at the Beach September 21, 2014 at 8:26 pm

Not to jump into yet another grammar discussion, but I can’t stop myself… Yahoo Answers is not really considered authoritative, you know on much of anything (English grammar included).

Merriam Webster, however, is: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpedal

Oxford Dictionaries knows a thing or two on teh English front as well: http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/pedal-or-peddle/

Nothing to do with the topic at hand, I know. Just saying… ;-)

Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 21, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Kudos to you on knowing how to spell grammar for a start. Yes, you’re right…Yahoo answers (or Urban Dictionary…which also has a definition for back peddle) are not authoritative sources.

I was trying to evoke a Shakespearean play on words and it back fired big time.

Mike at the Beach September 21, 2014 at 8:59 pm

I feel ya…as I said, I totally get that I’m running down one of my grammar-Nazi rabbit holes. We all have our crosses to bear…

SCBlues September 22, 2014 at 7:58 am

“We all have our crosses to bear…”
I prefer bear claws – the pastry kind.

Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 10:06 am

I have my cross-eyed bear as well. I don’t keep him chained, though. He’s so cross-eyed he can’t find his way out of the back yard.

Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 12:30 am

Back-fired.

Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 22, 2014 at 12:45 am

LOL.

SCBlues September 22, 2014 at 7:54 am

“Not to jump into yet another grammar discussion . . .”
Maybe we ought to query Kelsey Grammer??

Smirks September 22, 2014 at 8:45 am

Yahoo Answers is not really considered authoritative, you know, on much of anything (English grammar included).

Oh come on man, without Yahoo Answers we wouldn’t have such gripping intellectual commentaries as this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll-lia-FEIY

Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 8:32 pm

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2007/12/a_librarians_worst_nightmare.html

Your Yahoo answer said it came from bicycling. Clearly wrong spelling. I thought you might be coining a new figure of speech. Palin coined refudiate and it is now in the dictionary.
Sterling Holloway played Bert Miller a peddler on Andy Griffith that discouraged customers because he didn’t want to be pushy. Bert was a “back peddler”.

Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 12:32 am

Specious at best. And you need a comma after “Bert Miller.

Boring September 22, 2014 at 9:18 am

Brilliant. Where else can one go and read a political or cultural article and then read comments by both a reader and the author where they argue over how to spell a word. These girls are replacing Tango.

Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 10:01 am

Somebody had to do it.

Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 7:16 pm

Careful now. “Back pedal” is incorrect. It is one word or hyphenated.
back-pedal or backpedal – reverse one’s previous action or opinion.

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Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 12:37 am

She has it right about Islam. It is absolute madness to want to either convert or wipe out every person of that faith on the planet. That’s all she’s saying. That’s not being a fucking sympathizer, that’s just being sane.

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RHood2 September 21, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Any person who is comforted by the idea of a religion/race being ID’d for extermination is a moron.
Once the policy is carried out, which religion/race will be next? That’s the problem.

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Bible Thumper September 21, 2014 at 7:20 pm

Why not clear bras. Then we’ll all be satisfied.

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Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 12:34 am

Not so much the blind people, though.

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Bible Thumper September 22, 2014 at 12:49 am

We could put braille on the bras easily enough.

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shifty henry September 22, 2014 at 10:22 am

That’s what the bumps around her nipples are for. It’s braille for “suck here”….

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Bible Thumper September 22, 2014 at 10:59 am

That’s a different kind of lip reading.

Sailor September 22, 2014 at 11:29 am

Lets try “braille bras”.

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shifty henry September 22, 2014 at 9:21 pm

from CRAYOLA as a matter of interest—

———————

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayola

Some colors have been renamed rather than replaced, often due to cultural sensitivity issues. For example, “Flesh” was changed to “Peach” in 1962, since not all people have the same hued complexion, and “Indian Red” was changed to “Chestnut” in 1999 out of concern from teachers that their students wrongly thought it was supposed to be the color of Native American’s skin. The name actually referred to a red pigment from India] Chestnut had a color vote and some other names included “Mars Red”, “Old Penny”, “Crab Claw Red”, and “Baseball Mitt”. “Prussian Blue” was renamed “Midnight Blue”, since Prussia had long since ceased to exist and the name had fallen into disuse.

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SCBlues September 21, 2014 at 8:17 pm

“On the whole, black Americans and white carry on together just fine.”
Well I sort of agree and I sort of disagree. We’ve made much progress as you noted – and I know, I know – we elected a Black President. To be honest with you though when I look around I actually don’t see that many black and white Americans “carrying on together” at all – at least not here in South Carolina. Sure – they work together and go to school together as mandated by law – they play sports together – white people certainly like their black athletes – but outside of the mandated by law scenario I am not so sure about. Most churches here are still totally segregated – there are still many “black sections” in most towns – the ones that white people call the “bad section of town”. I do see white and black young folks socializing together but mostly what I see in public here are white people “carrying on” with white people and black people “carrying on” with black people.
I do completely agree with your ending of “more of the same”. Nice article – thanks.

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White people blah blah blah... September 22, 2014 at 9:14 am

I beg to differ. The worst place in Greenville is a place even black people are afraid of and the cops just will not go alone – ever.

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SCBlues September 22, 2014 at 11:10 am

” The worst place in Greenville is a place even black people are afraid of and the cops just will not go alone – ever.”
Trey Gowdy’s Greenville office?
Bob Jones University?

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Hateful September 22, 2014 at 12:40 pm

Trey Gowdy’s Greenville office? Really?

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euwe max September 23, 2014 at 8:16 pm

Stubb’s BBQ.

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Disgusted in Columbia September 22, 2014 at 11:10 am

Wow, I cannot believe I agree with SCBlues. You’re completely right SCBlues, blacks and whites do not “carry on together”. I recently signed my son up to play basketball on an AAU travel team, at the recommendation by the parents of a black friend of his. Unbeknownst to me, it was an all black organization and his friend wasn’t even on the same team, due to their slight age difference. So we went to the practices, where I tried to assimilate, introducing myself and making attempts at conversation. I figured I would be accepted after a period of time, but I was wrong. We would go out of town, spending a great deal of money to play in tournaments, where I would be treated like a pariah by the other parents and my son would sit the bench practically the entire time. When I voiced my concerns to the director, it was only that my son didn’t seem to be getting adequate playing time for a “developmental” basketball team, NEVER once did I try to attach race to the conversation. We pulled out of the team after I had spent about $1000 dollars on registration and travel expenses, watching him being willfully discouraged by an all black coaching staff.

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SCBlues September 22, 2014 at 12:31 pm

“Wow, I cannot believe I agree with SCBlues”
Koombaya, my lord, kumbaya . . . .

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Disgusted in Columbia September 22, 2014 at 12:40 pm

Yeah, wish some of the parents and coaches on that team had more of that Koombaya attitude. I treat everyone equally, until they give me a reason not to. Unfortunately, my son and I were treated like outsiders. Some people refuse to let go of the past and sadly those people are infecting future generations, that goes for whites and blacks.

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DodgingBullets September 22, 2014 at 1:00 pm

I can sit outside of my house and regularly hear gunfire emanating from the MLK/Waverly/Gonzales Gardens. Those areas are populated largely by blacks, which don’t inherently make them “bad sections of town”. The fact that I can regularly hear gunfire from those areas makes it a “bad section of town”.

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Same ol' Same ol' September 21, 2014 at 9:07 pm

Well hell, just rename the bras to black, islamic, white, asian, whatever…. nude. Pick your race, buy the bra. That won’t work, though, someone would complain that the shade was incorrect and thus racist. Why does every race but white have to wear it like a thorny crown? Oh, look, now I done gone upset the Jebus crew. Stone the mofo, they all say.
If races didn’t mix, wonder where all of the technological and civil behavior would reside? Who would control the world? That’d be interesting to see, no predisposed conclusions here, just curious. What would bras look like in that world?

Best thing to do, don’t wear bras. Quit making them. Nipples galore. There, fify.

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FastEddy23 September 22, 2014 at 8:10 am

Mean Scream Media being divisive at the behest of the “progressive” elites. The cbsmsnbcabd duffisses… Spinning anything in the snooze that excites and turns eyeballs on their ads.
Abolish the IRS

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Smirks September 22, 2014 at 8:40 am

“Nude” doesn’t even make sense anyways. White people come in different shades too, from pasty white to various beige colors. (Just look at the makeup industry.)

It would make more sense if “nude” was not a single color, but a range of colors. Stores can carry the most common shades and have a little chart that shows the others that can be ordered.

It’s not really that big of a deal, and even if it were, the solution above would be more than enough to solve it, but your average SJW would just find something else to bitch about.

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euwe max September 23, 2014 at 8:14 pm

what color should nude furniture be?

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shifty henry September 22, 2014 at 9:01 am

Mande, after reading the comments I see that there is some confusion that you could easily clear up by demonstrating, in a slide show, what the difference is in the colors. Front and side views would be appreciated.

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Sailor September 22, 2014 at 11:37 am

plus 10

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Philip Branton September 22, 2014 at 9:31 am

Dear Mrs Wilkes………really…?

This article you have written illustrates the exact and prime reason that women are treated the way they are in this state…!!! Mande…you are much smarter than this…! Writing about bras and then suggesting that Bras are racial instead of SEXUAL..? Geez, as a SMART woman you have the privilege of submitting articles to a website for “publication” and you choose a “heat” topic. Do you not think that the fine women of our state would be better off getting your twist and perspective concerning other topics like……

1) http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140922/PC1603/140929921/1177

2) http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140922/PC1603/140929914/1177

3) http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140922/PC1002/140929876/1022/a-good-option-for-csol

4) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/34e874ac-3dad-11e4-b782-00144feabdc0.html

5) http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/lois-lerner-breaks-silence-irs-scandal-111181.html

Come on ….Mande. Really, as breast article to feed sugar to the brain dead men on this website..? Naturally, there are very few brain dead men on this site thanks to SMIRKS and Grand Tango…!!

Mande…….we highly doubt that a BRA will ever get one of your children killed. We hope you review how the CSOL could kill a female lawyers future. We hope you review how ISIS could kill a LOT of women in various countries…!! We hope you review how the Post and Courier is killing female BRAINS with every publication..!

Mande….just how many females in our state even know that they are SLAVES to foreign OIL…!? Heck, read this action here…. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/us/heirs-to-an-oil-fortune-join-the-divestment-drive.html

Mande, you are so much better than this. Heck, what advertising rep from Loreal would even notice this article to offer you a sponsorship…?

Mande……get your self a latte and sit back and think……

Sincerely,

Rhett Butler…..

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Buz Martin September 22, 2014 at 10:02 am

Grammar-shaming is the new racism.

Pass it on.

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euwe max September 23, 2014 at 8:13 pm

The grammar, or the racism?

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Buz Martin September 23, 2014 at 9:15 pm

Racism, whether real or imagined, need not be passed on. It was a viral meme before there was an internet. And I mekka da choke.

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scdude8475 September 22, 2014 at 4:27 pm

You are incorrect that black americans and white americans “carry on together just fine”
1. Arrest/conviction rates http://ow.ly/BN1Wd
2. Average annual income http://ow.ly/BN268

Where do you get your facts from Mande?

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euwe max September 23, 2014 at 8:20 pm

Should a person be reticent when asked questions about race, or gladly enter into an honest discussion, with no holds barred?

…I mean, speaking as a libertarian…

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