Malcolm X once said, “I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, than for one who comes to me as an angel, but is nothing but a devil.” Powerful words that best describe the current situation in 21st century America; a phenomenon that has been quietly built by the American far-right since the late 80’s and has come to a head with the election of Barack Obama, permeating not only the right-wing media but the mainstream media as well. This phenomenon is something I like to call “guerilla racism”.

Guerilla racism is comprised of a number of tactics, all of which are currently being directed at President Obama, but have far-reaching implications in American race relations. From comparing Obama to Hitler (anecdotally, most Europeans I know – especially Germans – find this sickening and hilarious at the same time) to branding him a communist and a socialist; from bring loaded weapons to events where he is speaking to the continuous questions regarding his citizenship; from the ongoing guilt-by-association campaign regarding ACORN and Reverend Jeremiah Wright to the ridiculous claims by right-wing media stars like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity that he’s somehow a racist. For many, the obvious question is: would all of this be happening if Obama wasn’t black? Yet as soon as those who put forward such racially tinged rhetoric are called out on their actions, they push back against the claims of racism with the anger, confusion and naiveté of a child whose hand was caught in a cookie jar, followed by a vigorous defense of their incitement.

It is this pattern of innuendo and subtle race-baiting followed by wild-eyed confusion and denial that is the essence of guerilla racism. Such hit-and-run tactics are vital to cause of stoking fear and anger within a certain portion of the American population who long for a return to the America of old; a demographic of white, conservative “christians” who have seen there ranks dwindle in what is becoming an ever more culturally diverse country. Being labelled a racist in 21st-century America is in many ways political and cultural suicide, so to engage in such demonization is an effective, more sinister way of fueling racial animosity.

Many on the political right have made the bizarre claim that it is those on the left and members of the so-called “liberal media” who are fanning the flames of racial hatred by associating any and all criticism of President Obama as racism. Such a notion couldn’t be further from the truth, however; the President gets plenty of criticism from the left, the current health care debate and Obama’s refusal to fight for a public option or his refusal to prosecute Bush administration officials regarding torture being an example. The difference is that the current criticism coming from the right is almost completely lacking in rationality, coming only as a means to score political points against Obama. There is also a startling amount of violence in the rhetoric coming from the right, which was recently called attention to by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Her words (which were promptly and expectedly attacked by the right-wing media) made a point that shouldn’t be lost on any American who knows about our turbulent history: When rhetoric coming from the right is this vitriolic, political violence is inevitable. Our flag has more than once been stained by violence caused by a right-winger who took conservative rhetoric a little too seriously.

So, how does Malcolm X’s famous quote apply to racism in 21st century America? Simple: the guerilla racism occurring today can be given an alternate name: cowardice. To be a racist in America today takes courage, and those who would fan the flames of racism through these subtle and dishonest tactics show just how much courage they lack.