One question that I occasionally hear from Whites is that while Blacks and other minority groups are able to create organizations and communities centered around race, why is it considered racist for Whites to do the same?
I do have to admit that this is somewhat true. Imagine White Entertainment Television, the United Caucasian College Fund, or the National Society for White Engineers and the uproar that would be caused by those organizations. In fact, former Klan leader David Duke founded a White nationalist organization, the NAAWP, presumably for that exact reason.
I believe that there are acceptable mediums for creating communities around race, and that we should be responsible when we do so. Black in America is a good example. Whether we admit it or not, race is an issue in the US and we cannot act like it does not exist (although it would solve many problems if
everyone did.) Forums like this are needed because our social institutions were founded upon race and class distinctions. While there are many important issues that affect us all, there are some which are unique to Blacks and this is an appropriate forum for discussing them.
That leads us to the question... if we are comfortable talking about race and racial issues, is it hypocritical to prevent Whites from doing the same?
DiversityInc has even suggested the benefit of holding White-only forums where the complexities of being White could be discussed. Believe it or not, there are some internalized issues within their community as well. For example, in much the same way that we walk into a crowded room and expect preconceived notions of who we are... do Whites walk into the same room, and expect minorities to automatically see them as a bigot or an oppressor? Prejudice cuts two ways.
The United States is unique amongst world cultures. Today, regardless of our ethnicity, our race still takes precedence over our nationality... which considering the history of world civilizations is completely absurd and out of touch. Egypt (Khemet) was populated by Black Africans, Semitic Arabs, and European Greeks, all of whom were brethren under the Egyptian monarchy. The same was true of ancient Rome. Ironically enough, it is the homogeneous societies that were most easily colonized and conquered (think China, Japan, colonial Africa).
Will we follow in their footsteps?
Posted By: Jon C.
Friday, August 8th 2008 at 10:03AM
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