Non-Racist attitudes (Verbal irony)
Reynolds and Kendi discuss the problems surrounding being "not racist." They write, “What’s the problem with being “not racist”? It is a claim that signifies neutrality: “I am not a racist, but neither am I aggressively against racism.”
The idea that someone can be absolved of responsibility because they are "not-racist" has existed throughout time. However, this attitude has harmful implications that continue to permeate American structure today. It is ironic that non-racists consider themselves to be in support of Black people, when in reality this perspective allows for harmful behaviors, laws, and policies to exist. To be non-racist is to shrug off the responsibility of actively tearing down the racist barriers that comprise our society.
The "Abolitionist" Northeast (Situational Irony)
In the 18th and 19th centuries, slave labor was needed in order to support plantations and the cash-crop industry. Due to its clear economic ties to slavery, the South has often been deemed to be the "most racist" region in the United States. In numerous historical accounts, the Northeast has been portrayed as the region with progressive, abolitionist thinking. However, this thinking is reductive and flawed.
Although there were abolitionists in the Northeast, it is imperative to note that abolitionism did not absolve its believers from being racist. While slavery was essential for the livelihood of the Southern agrarian economy, the manufacturing industry that dominated the Northeast itself depended on the raw materials produced in the South. In this way, many Northerners viewed slavery from an economic lens rather than a humanitarian one. In addition, after slaves ran away from the South, they were met with hostility and were prevented from fully integrating into Northern society. Although the Northeast may have regionally advocated for abolition, it is important to distinguish between this goal and the region's racist history.
Assimilationist Liberation (Situational Irony)
Many leaders firmly believed that Black liberation could be achieved through assimilation. Prominent leaders such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois believed that for Black people to adjust to life post-slavery, they had to adapt themselves to the wants and needs of white people. This is ironic, according to Stamped, as this idea only further supported white supremacy.
Jefferson's Stance on Slavery (Situational Irony)
Thomas Jefferson published many articles that denounced slavery and declared its existence immoral. This is ironic, because Jefferson's wealth and economic prosperity were entirely due to slave labor. At the height of his political career, Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves and had affairs with female slaves. Although he drafted the Declaration of Independence and famously asserted that "all men are created equal," Jefferson did not practice what he preached.
