White guilt redux
Posted 24 weeks 2 days ago byA reader sends a private message about my blog on "white guilt." I share it in its entirety, along with some of my own thoughts:
I don't praise white guilt at all. As a matter of fact, I don't feel guilty what so ever. First of all, there is no one left alive that had anything to do with black slavery.
Well, of course, I don't dispute that. My point was that we certainly feel pride regarding national accomplishments during the same time period -- perhaps that pride ought to be tempered by sober contemplation of our national shortcomings.
As a matter of fact, England went to Africa to buy some slaves and Africans sold there own people into slavery. America just happened to be the place they unloaded them.
Which, of course, left Americans with no choice but to use these strange new people as slaves. Whoops! Please. Slaves were sold in America because there was a market for them, not because of some colossal 300-year accident.
Secondly, what makes black people any different than any other race that has been slaves throughout history? If people would actually read history books, they would know that every single race throughout history has been slaves at one time or another. Have people forgotten about the chinese who were american slaves and built our railroads? ect....
I had the Chinese in mind when I wrote the original post. But I didn't want to make the list of American sins too long, for fear that my point would get lost. Thanks for bringing it up!
No, I will never and I mean ever feel guilty.....This country has bent over backwards for people of color.
(Cough, cough.) Um, bent over backwards?
We have allowed there to be a Ms Black America pagent,
Allowed? Allowed? Was there some kind of law banning Ms. Black America pageants until white America graciously permitted them? So we're bending over backwards by letting people do as they please? I thought that was, mostly, what America is about.
...affirmative action, and about a million other things to please them. Nothing we will ever do to make amends will ever satisfy the unsatifiable. I for one am sick and tired of the whole thing....
And that wraps it up.
As I said: I don't think Americans need to be weighed down and burdened by our nation's sins. -- sins that, in many cases, were inflicted by the white majority upon minorities. I do think we should keep them in mind, however, so that we might approach today's issues and challenges with a proper dose of humility -- so that we don't commit further sins in the belief that we're immune to the forces of history.
Thoughts
agreed
Submitted on March 24th, 2008 by alicescheshirecatbut its interesting his prospective that he too would have a chip on his shoulder perhaps even a larger chip on his shoulder had he been in the same situation. I honestly think I would too!
I'm still shocked that someone emailed you that - I emailed it to everyone i know. Just insane.
Huckabee
Submitted on March 24th, 2008 by JoelSaw that. I don't agree with most of Huckabee's views, but he strikes me as fundamentally decent -- for a politician.
wow
Submitted on March 24th, 2008 by alicescheshirecatwow... I mean... wow... My only comment is to watch Mike Huckabee's talk about this
Affirmative Action
Submitted on March 23rd, 2008 by AnonymousI could not believe the comment that person made regarding affirmative action as an aid to patch up racism. Affirmative action, in the end, still helps out the white man. It helps WHITE WOMEN the most, over any other race, and white women typically marry WHITE MEN. There you have it, money back in the Mans hand. Such a crock. Of course, it does help other minorities, but not nearly as much as it does specifically white women.
ether
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by kevinkindWhy is it that everytime I try to blog on redblue everything I write disappears into the ether? Are you mad at me for saying Barack is smarter than all of us combined? I tried to send you and Ben a private message but the same thing happend again. Is it my spelling? I got out the dictionary and it is getting better. Is this a matter of thought police or some kind of technical glitch? If you can ,please send me a message so I can know for sure
Can America become color blind?
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by MercyphotographyDear Dots,
Great comments. I think what the African-American community needs to do( Unlike Rev. Wright) is to try to forgive but never forget the tragic journey of their ancestors.
Senator Obama , because he is racially mixed, give us a unique hope to overcome our past and perhaps move forward towards a color blind society
Mercyphotography
Trickier and trickier, I tell you!!
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by dotsDefine White Guilt. While you are chewing on that, define Racism. I'll be holding my breath.
Sentiment:
"Gee willikers, I'm sorry for what my ancestors did to your ancestors!"
Translation:
"Awww, you poor thing. I want you to know that your weakness in the face of our racist society is not my fault. Gosh darn it, I'm on your side. Please like me."
Sentiment:
"Why can't black people appreciate the great strides this country has made since the Civil Rights Act?"
Translation:
"No matter what you do for the ungrateful *racial epithet of choice*, they always want more."
Sentiment:
"Everything I say is considered racist."
Translation:
"Don't call me a racist. I'd prefer that you LIKE me."
Racism still exists in this country because it hasn't even been addressed. We are still having first grader conversations about it, what it means, and how it affects our direct relationships and our daily lives.
Very few of us have a keen enough sense to understand another's life experience and how that experience can shape a world view opposed to our own.
What I hope is that we, as a country, can answer Senator Obama's call to a higher discourse. Less sound bite finger pointing and more listening.
It doesn't matter that Rev Wrights sermons are racial and anti-american. What matters is that HE is an American and enjoys the freedom to express his views. What matters is the actual work he has done in his community. What matters is that we can heed his anger without embracing it. What matters is that our nation is comprised of many powerful conflicting ideas that challenge our thinking; racism is not the only one, and racism is broader than black vs white.
What matters is that we ARE A STRONG ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ABSORB CONFLICTING IDEOLOGIES WITHOUT FORSAKING OUR COUNTRY.
This I believe is true regardless of who the next president is.
I think this varies in
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by AnonymousI think this varies in different areas of the country. A big problem I've encountered with the "white guilt" thing, is that I've encountered a lot of accusations where there was nothing to be found. People trying to push me b/c I'm white so I must be racist. A friend of mine didn't like a song, she was accused of being racist b/c it was a gospel song written by a black person (despite the fact that she likes several gospel/rap/hip hop tunes). She didn't places the label on it, a black person did. A big problem with "white guilt" is that you're still putting focus on the color of someone's skin. It doesn't matter! I don't have a single friend that is racist and I've always had friends who are different nationalities and race. Friends from Egypt and other parts of Africa, friends from Albania, England, Austrailia, China, Russia, Puerto Rico, wherever. I always viewed these people according to who they were, not where they were from, and I'm getting tired of the accusations of being racist if I even have an opinion that differs from someone who has a different skin tone. The problem with white guilt is that it accuses people who have done nothing wrong and makes us pay for someone else's mistake. Equality, not superiority.
America's " Original Sin".
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by MercyphotographyDear Joel,
Thanks for this great blog!
We should all feel guilty for the slave trade...not only in America but also in Europe.
The wealth of America ( and Europe) was built, at first, from the despicable exploitation of people.
We have come a long way, but the wounds are still fresh ( think about Rev. Wright). It is only in the last 50 years ( thanks to the Civil Rights movement) that we are overcoming the infamy of the " peculiar institution".
I spend a lot of time in the " deep South", where one can find,way too ofen, the Confederation flag flying in front of houses.
I think, it is disturbing but it is even worse to see it in front of State buildings. Getting rid of it would go a long way within the African-American community.
We still have a lot of work to do.
Mercyphotography
"White guilt is an assumption of superiority."
Submitted on March 22nd, 2008 by JoelNice comments, dots.
I might quibble with "white guilt is an assumption of superiority" -- if, by that, you mean that white guilt is an assumption of continued superiority.
From where I sit, white guilt is a recognition that assumed superiority has been abused.
Sad. Absolutely
Submitted on March 21st, 2008 by dotsLet me ask you, anonymous, what color were the hands that snatched babies out of African mother's arms?
Slavery is a a scourge upon our entire species. It is practiced even today in some areas of Africa.
White guilt is an assumption of superiority. Which makes it tricky, I tell you.
The perpetual cycle of perceived victimization can only be broken by the perceived victims.
Racism is real. We are powerless against "solving" it to the same degree we are powerless to change the color of the sky. History is not a do-over.
BUT:
Treat everyone with respect. Don't teach your children hate. Work hard. Take care of your family. Give blood. Be kind. Keep your lawn trimmed. Smile at your neighbors.
We can only help make sure we are not the ones making it worse.
the sad thought I have
Submitted on March 21st, 2008 by AnonymousI only have one sad thought for some reason, I heard that the babies were taken from the african mothers brought here as slaves as soon as they could walk. For that sin, i feel sadness and pain.
it was a long time ago and all those people are dead. They were not able to pass down their family history... but... the only way to be happy again is for the blacks to forgive. I have heard many people and churches apologize but until the black community can forgive the wrongs of the people long gone for wrongs done to ancestors long gone... they will not be happy. Kind of sad for them to live in this anger... Jesus taught forgiveness from up on the cross. today is Good Friday . I pray some people can think of what Jesus taught and be healed.
I did not do it, am first generation and am still tired of the anger and hostility. I never felt it so much as this week. I am taking time to teach my kids our heritage... but hey... I know I didn't do anything to blacks and they have not done anything to me but they still do not smile, even their little one year olds are taught not to smile at whites. I hear them telling their kids to not talk to others(whites)sad for those babies too as was sad for the babies of the slaves. Forgiveness has to happen . prayer is what we have and they need to open their hearts and pray for the grace to be able to forgive.
I don't feel white guilt for this reason.
Submitted on March 21st, 2008 by AnonymousMy grandparents immigrated to the USA in the early 1900's. My ancestors came from countries that didn't deal in the slave trade. So it isn't in my history.
Do I feel bad for slavery, yes.
Do I think that anybody alive today is responsible for it? No.