While perusing other blogs this morning I came across a person who felt that this article was a frightening indication that "the political apocalypse [is] upon us."
I have a much different opinion, however. Realizing that the issue of race is such a volatile issue for many people, I thought twice about posting an opinion to this article. But it is an important issue to me. I have seen discussions get very heated on this subject, so if you choose to express your opinion here, please do so with civility in mind.
Now, it is really good enough to read the article itself, because it provides two sides to this issue. But in the end, the message that I got was pretty clear. Though I am not totally comfortable with the term "Whiteness Studies," I see their benefit for what they are. A history lesson which focuses on a subject that most people are very, very uncomfortable with. Especially white people.
Being half hispanic, half german, I have never felt that I was discriminated against for my "race" because I have light hair and light complexion and dark eyes. People first think I am of european descent and rarely expect me to be half Mexican. But I have had people make a visible face when they learn my background. Especially here in New York, where Mexicans are looked upon as those dirty guys (the men) and housekeepers (the women) with too many kids. I've had men who were coming onto me a minute ago make a face and say "no, you're not Mexican" like it was a dirty word. Others try to insist that I am "Spanish" because it makes them feel better, as if the word "Spanish" is not nearly as offensive as "Mexican." You would think it was a racial slur like "Spic."
There are many people who would like to deny that there is still so much ingrained racial prejudice in society, but its evidence is everywhere we look. These people just don't want to look. Many white people feel victimized by the "trip" that is being laid on them about centuries of white superiority. They don't want to own it. They push it away from themselves, saying, "yuck. That's not me. I wasn't a slave owner. I didn't force the American Indians out of their homes and drive them to ruin. I don't discriminate against anyone. So don't lay that history shit on me."
I don't see the practice of examining the history of white people, and how they have asserted their superiority for ages, as "scapegoating." I view it as an important part of being educated about race, the way that it is looked at by all people and its continued repurcussions on society and "minorities" today. Which is why this kind of study is offered in colleges across the country. The opposition cries out that "'Whiteness studies,' is 'a derogatory name for Western civilization.' Its study is important only to those who think 'black studies and Chicano studies haven’t gone far enough in removing the baggage of Anglo-European traditions...'"
See, simply by this statement alone, the person who said it is asserting that "whiteness" and "western civilization" are synonymous by his own conclusion and also totally gives the middle finger to black and chicano studies, as if their value were only to demoralize whites. I find that attitude so contradictory to his side of the argument, which is that there is no good reason for these studies. Instead, by his comments, he provides evidence as to why these studies SHOULD be conducted, without even realizing it. Funny how that works. Of course, the fact that race is still such a huge issue does not mean you have to feel bad and hate yourself for being born "white." I don't think that is the aim in making these classes available to people. I think the aim is to be honest and not to ignore a thing which has been ignored already much too long.
Anyway, my final word on this is that anyone who chooses to deny the presence of racial injustice and inequities in this world and in this country, brushing it aside as a past which needs to be put to rest once and for all by ignoring it and failing to recognize the weight of its continued presence in society, is basically just burying their heads in the sand as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by Maria at June 21, 2003 12:45 PMGREAT POST MARIA! I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!
Posted by: Chosesinconnues at June 21, 2003 07:04 PMSorry,
Had a memory lapse. It's kinda like tyring to shake a bad case of the SWINE FLUE.
More topically, I have so damned much to say about this topic I suspect I'd better say nothing at all.
This whole "Whiteness" thing IS unsettling.
************************************************
I was all high and mighty thinking ya know the 'fag' is so open-minded and liberal. Everyone's cool.... I am in a minority cuz I'm a homo so I can relate.. all that stuff.
Then about 6 years ago we were cleaning out my great grandaunt's house in Newport, Rhode Island. In the closet in the finished room in the attic was a document box. I pulled it down and sat on the bed and opened it. The whole room stunk of moth balls and flaky skin.
Inside was an ancient packet of family papers tied with a faded pink gros grain ribbon. I'd never seen this stuff NEVER. And the family had always considered me the "genealogy freak".. so I thought I'd seen everything.
There inside were several very sobering documents. They all dated roughly from 1765 to 1780. Some were from the time when we were still a British Colony, the others were after the establishment of the USA. They ALL were certificates of ownership for slaves.
One, I have it right here, states "bought at auction one negro boy named "ned" in the thirteenth year of the reign of His Majesty George III of England, ruler of Ireland, etc. etc." Signed and dated Elisha Buffington 21 July 1771.
Elisha Buffington was my 6th great grandfather.
Not sure what it meant. I sat there as I do now just reading those documents over and over wondering WHO this "ned" and the others were. What had it been like on the auction block in the summer of 1772? (document mentions they were "just in from the West Indies") In addition there was a newspaper clipping advertising the event from a contemporary newspaper.
I have still made no sense of my feelings around it. I was fascinated by the discovery and wanted to destroy those papers all at the same time.
************************************
This accountability thing is tricky business.
Posted by: Chosesinconnues at June 21, 2003 07:21 PMI agree w/alot of what you've written maria but let me say this....the truth should be taught, but it needs to be taught in a manner that doesn't incite a classroom. My high school was 75% black. In my senior year I took sociology, I was the only white person in the class, the teacher Mrs Bell was black. She was gonna teach the "truth" and her words had bitterness, anger, resentment and hate in them. She incited these black kids so much that when the bell rang, they ran down the halls yelling "Fuck the White Man"..She than looked at me and said..."here, I've signed the paper you can change this class if you want". I stayed throughout the year but...Mrs Bell should not have been teaching the "truth". She was using it as some kind of a therapy for herself. She knew what she was doing and she loved it...She was molding them into "black rascists". These kids had never experienced what she had but she made them feel as they had. She burned her pain into their minds and hearts...
Posted by: sandy at June 21, 2003 07:29 PMp.s.
I asked my granny if her father had ever owned a slave..she spit her snuff out and said, "hell we was so poor we didn't even own a god damn mule much less a negroe"
Works for me.
Where I live in the city it's hugely multi-racial.
There are many Blacks, many Cape Verdeans, and many Hispanics. There are a few of us "Whities" too ;-)
When we two guys moved in as a couple we didn't have a CLUE what to expect. Remember, I'd lived my whole life "among my own kind" (my mum's remark). This was untested ground.
I do recall the previous neighbourhoods were rife with gossip and inquisitive innuendo re "who exactly ARE you to each other". Consequently, the choice was clear. Out ourselves. Or live the implied lie.. play the game.
Well. I'm here to report that I have never experienced more widespread acceptance than I have since moving to this city 5 years ago. Our sexuality is no more an issue than the price of gasoline.
(Yeah I know I'm turning this into a Gay thing, but it is a minority comparison)
My neighbor Michael is a Black man. He's in his mid-forties and has a wife and two children. He was raised in the projects of East Providence. He calls 'em as he sees 'em. I think he rocks. He said once. "How's it going for you guys??"
I said, "Well Michael I wish the city was quieter at night". He said.. "no no no... anyone give ya any shit about it"?? I said, "nope not so far".
Michael said, "Good, they'll answer to me if they do. Don't think you'll have much trouble".
I thought for a minute and responded... "ya know Mike, for the life of me I've never heard of a band of roving homophobic BLACK youths bashing Gay ass" He chuckled and smiled.
He said, (his quote verbatim) "my brotha, I think we have more in common than we know truth be told".
*********************************************
Sandy. NO question. Your teacher was totally off. NO excuse for what she did.
I do however, suspect, there is HUGE multi-generational anger at what has been denied access to legitimate history for all minority Americans. The pendulum had done what it does in all history; swung way in the opposite direction to make up for past transgression.
Acceptable NO!
Understandable, maybe.
Posted by: Chosesinconnues at June 21, 2003 07:51 PMI guess that's why I stayed in the class. I loved Ms Bell, she was also my History teacher the year before..very passionate teacher. In some sick way I wanted to know the "truth". One time in that class one of our schools football players Tyrone laid his head on his desk and cried. Ms Bell was telling how black families were seperated and sold off and never saw each other again. When I saw Ty cry, only than did I cry. Later that year we learned about the Native American Indians and I will say that the black kids in the class didn't have the sympathy for them that they had for slaves. They snickered, and fell asleep...they didn't really care. When we talked about the Holocaust it was the same. They didn't care, they only got upset about their own situation..I've always found that to be troubling..to this day.
Posted by: sandy at June 21, 2003 08:03 PMSandy,
I think what you say is enlightening. Point well taken. I hate that about people. It's a selective morality not a humanitarian one.
You'll understand me when I say that I feel equal sympathy and when I see those horrific films of the Holocaust I sit there with the tears of sadness and futility running down my face.
My ol' shrink in Boston, Mary McCarthy, said something to me once. "you think everyone feels things on the same level as YOU do??" "You think they intellectualize things as YOU do??"
"Why Richard"! "You narcissitic pig!" "Depth of understanding, much like intelligence, is a genetic as your blue eyes"
Her point's well taken.
********************************************
Kinda scary huh? Makes perfect sense in the context of your scenario re the similar plight of those OTHER than the Black kids cited in your recounting of that story.
Posted by: Chosesinconnues at June 21, 2003 08:11 PMMan I hear you..I feel so strongly about things than wonder why nobody else seems to give a shit.
Jason told me the other day, "You can't save the world Sandy, so stop trying"
I don't want to save the world, I just truly want people to treat people the way they want to be treated...that's it in a nutshell. You know, don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining kind of thing.
Good morning all..:) Hope everyone slept well last night...I woke up in a weird mood..not a bad one..just weird..You know when you wake up and you don't feel like you're in the right body. I feel a little "off" and no I'm not hungover :)
Posted by: sandy at June 22, 2003 10:43 AMHey guys! sorry I haven't been around to respond to any comments or blog anything new. It's been a busy weekend.
I'll be back tomorrow with some newbies for my homies!
Posted by: Maria at June 22, 2003 11:11 PM