Enjoyed your article John although I am not entirely clear as to the message you want to convey, to black people, to white people or to tan people for that matter. I try to live my life by respecting and treating with dignity all with whom I come into contact. I think most people today do the same although obviously that is not universal. I think lot about how people of different skin colors are to relate to one another. For my two cents, the invocation of the white privilege/check your privilege phrases make it even harder to figure that out. I was hopeful that after Obama was elected he would help us all answer these questions and move us closer to the day when we could simply deal with others without regard to their race. In many although not all respects it seems like today we are further from that happening than in 2009. I remain hopeful that people like you will continue to write and talk about these issues so that race can become what I like to call a pigment of our imaginations.
The concept that race is a social construct is what the intellectual types call risible. Fancy word for laughable. How does one socially construct the presence or absence of melanin? Or hair texture? Or body difference? You don’t socially construct the differences between the Khoisan people and the Bantus that drove them off their land. Yes, both might be considered “black”, but are only the same in the way a Sicilian is as white as a Swede. It means the American vocabulary for race is extremely simplistic, where “tan” is not allowed and Obama is as as black as anyone despite his white mother.
Social construction looks like just another way to try and push “racism” back to being of vital importance, since it became a tired all around excuse decades ago. The only real racism of note these days comes from “affirmative action” policies and race hucksters figuring it gets attention, even if it comes with a lot of eye rolling. It’s a helpful career move among the weak of mind and empty of spirit, look at the new White House Press Secretary. She may very well be smart, but her employer is clearly not.
Race is indeed a construct. Love the work you're doing John. Hey FAIR. You should check out the academic work that Dr. Sheena Mason is doing with her course "Theory of Racelessness."
Hi John, I enjoyed your article, and my approach in all of this is less about 'identity' (whether personal or 'racial') and more about 'history' and I think your story illustrates this. We all form our perspectives based on our own experiences! Identity is interesting to explore, personally and spiritually, but when it comes to socially and politically, I think it's more useful to look at our histories and those of our ancestors (presuming that they passed along to us values, biases, ideals, myths and stories, etc). Now come my criticisms, I hope not really harsh ones. You mention people who have 'used the identifier' (of 'white') for 400 years and I have to say that does not cover all that many 'white people' in the US today. My father who came here as a seaman from Denmark did not identify as white. He identified as Danish, and secondarily Jewish. He thought the whole white-black divide in the country was offensive and unkind. My mother's family included people who were self-identified as 'colored' (in those days) and 'passing as white.' So these two people brought me up as a human being in the midst of many ethnicities and shades of color - this is what it meant to be American, according to us. It was a kind of stew. Did all these ethnicities and colors get along seamlessly all the time? No, it could be rough at times. But that's life. Also, you mention some 'blacks' saying the 'you moving on up black people hurt us everyday black people' - well, I'm thinking 'white' everyday people could say that too. Are all white people rich and successful? I don't think so. Just by being white does a young poor 'white' kid receive preferential treatment in college? Not really, not even in my day back in the sixties. Not at all! Are there resentments among whites about those whites who do receive all that preference and opportunity? Yes, there always have been. I think the key is to return to realizing that we're all human. There are always going to be disparities and resentments about disparities. It doesn't fall neatly along color lines. In a more specific way, because of the racially-based caste-system in the US due to colonialism and slavery, we have a huge problem around 'blackness' and 'whiteness' which has not gone unaddressed, but is still unresolved. Thank you for your article, with which I resonate, because of my personal history and the way I was brought up. As a woman identified by others for sure as a 'white woman', I appreciate the attitudes of non-racial-prejudice which I received from my parents in the midst of varied people some of whom seemed ugly to me because of their racial attitudes. But not everyone was like that. And it seemed in the sixties with the Civil Rights movement that those ugly attitudes were dissipating. Also, those 'white' people who expressed prejudice were not always people who'd been using the identifier of 'white' for 400 years. I'm thinking of my neighbors who were recent Italian immigrants, who were dealing with the overwhelm of trying to fit into a whole new world of many peoples, a new language and a culture that was completely foreign to them, and in which their ethnicity was not held in particularly high esteem. They found themselves living and working with African(-American) people, which made them uncomfortable, but believe me, they weren't any more comfortable with the British-identified white people and culture that still predominated in our city. They felt squeezed between the white-black divide, and the differences between those two cultures, neither of which they identified with. They had bad words to say about both the 'blacks' and the 'whites.' So, I have to say, my own experience was never so simple as black-and-white. And I don't believe the reality of our world is that simple either. I hope that we, as American people, can find our way through this mess that was originally created by the decisions (made in different times and places) to restrict slavery to people of dark color, which at that time meant Africans.
Thank you for your thoughtful article. I would imagine it can be difficult to have a foot in both worlds in this racially charged time... I was in middle school when busing started in the south. It was a violent and scary time. A time of major social upheaval.. I find it sad that after so much has been sacrificed for racial equality, that we find ourselves in this place.. Progress in racial relations have been set back 30 years. I can understand how young people could be easily fooled by race hustlers and others who personally profit from this divisiveness.. Its very easy to create an US vs THEM narrative.. However, it seems to me that so many people have blinders on.. While demanding an end to racism, would at the same time use the term "whiteness" as a derogatory stereotype. In turn, would be offended if "blackness" were used as a negative stereotype. I'm not saying the world is perfect or that there is no racism. As humans we are ALL biased and always will be. But if we truly want to make America a better place to live in, we must treat others as we want to be treated. We must see beyond our immutable characteristics.. Dr King was righteous in his desire for a colorblind society... He gave his life fighting for that dream. For all of us who grew up in that tumultuous time, its up to us to honor Dr. King's ultimate sacrifice by speaking out against this madness that has gripped our country.
I am sorry Mr. Wood but your distorted view of whiteness and blackness is the problem. By viewing their lives through the lens of skin color African Americans diminish themselves and their abilities. Blacks do this to Blacks; whites have nothing to do with your attitudes. Take responsibility for your own plight. You quoted Derrick Bell, an African American, saying successful blacks make the rest look bad. Well, what's the alternative? All Blacks should remain in poverty? This attitude is what is holding African Americans back not white supremacy. Doing well in school and speaking the "kings" English are not "white". If a Black kid believes that then he or she will not succeed, and African Americans will remain marginalized. Black kids should be told they are superior to whites, that nothing is beyond their reach. The plight of African Americans is in the hands of African Americans, stop waiting for whites to give you something and stop blaming whites for your own failing.
The fact is, Mr. Wood, your success had nothing to do with being "tan", nothing to do with color; you succeeded because you were middle class. The goal must be to lift African Americans out of poverty and part of that is getting Black kids to believe in their potential and to believe they can succeed. Telling them that success is "white" and making that a pejorative will not accomplish that objective.
Well said, John. Unfortunately, at 75 years old, I'll never see the day when Dr. King's wish comes true. At the rate we're regressing these days, it's unlikely anyone alive will see it, either. I watch some of the Sci-Fi series that are on now (such as Star Trek: Discovery) and wonder at the harmony of races and species. Then I ask if it will take 500 years to get there and if we will even survive long enough to see that day.
Enjoyed your article John although I am not entirely clear as to the message you want to convey, to black people, to white people or to tan people for that matter. I try to live my life by respecting and treating with dignity all with whom I come into contact. I think most people today do the same although obviously that is not universal. I think lot about how people of different skin colors are to relate to one another. For my two cents, the invocation of the white privilege/check your privilege phrases make it even harder to figure that out. I was hopeful that after Obama was elected he would help us all answer these questions and move us closer to the day when we could simply deal with others without regard to their race. In many although not all respects it seems like today we are further from that happening than in 2009. I remain hopeful that people like you will continue to write and talk about these issues so that race can become what I like to call a pigment of our imaginations.
The concept that race is a social construct is what the intellectual types call risible. Fancy word for laughable. How does one socially construct the presence or absence of melanin? Or hair texture? Or body difference? You don’t socially construct the differences between the Khoisan people and the Bantus that drove them off their land. Yes, both might be considered “black”, but are only the same in the way a Sicilian is as white as a Swede. It means the American vocabulary for race is extremely simplistic, where “tan” is not allowed and Obama is as as black as anyone despite his white mother.
Social construction looks like just another way to try and push “racism” back to being of vital importance, since it became a tired all around excuse decades ago. The only real racism of note these days comes from “affirmative action” policies and race hucksters figuring it gets attention, even if it comes with a lot of eye rolling. It’s a helpful career move among the weak of mind and empty of spirit, look at the new White House Press Secretary. She may very well be smart, but her employer is clearly not.
Race is indeed a construct. Love the work you're doing John. Hey FAIR. You should check out the academic work that Dr. Sheena Mason is doing with her course "Theory of Racelessness."
Hi John, I enjoyed your article, and my approach in all of this is less about 'identity' (whether personal or 'racial') and more about 'history' and I think your story illustrates this. We all form our perspectives based on our own experiences! Identity is interesting to explore, personally and spiritually, but when it comes to socially and politically, I think it's more useful to look at our histories and those of our ancestors (presuming that they passed along to us values, biases, ideals, myths and stories, etc). Now come my criticisms, I hope not really harsh ones. You mention people who have 'used the identifier' (of 'white') for 400 years and I have to say that does not cover all that many 'white people' in the US today. My father who came here as a seaman from Denmark did not identify as white. He identified as Danish, and secondarily Jewish. He thought the whole white-black divide in the country was offensive and unkind. My mother's family included people who were self-identified as 'colored' (in those days) and 'passing as white.' So these two people brought me up as a human being in the midst of many ethnicities and shades of color - this is what it meant to be American, according to us. It was a kind of stew. Did all these ethnicities and colors get along seamlessly all the time? No, it could be rough at times. But that's life. Also, you mention some 'blacks' saying the 'you moving on up black people hurt us everyday black people' - well, I'm thinking 'white' everyday people could say that too. Are all white people rich and successful? I don't think so. Just by being white does a young poor 'white' kid receive preferential treatment in college? Not really, not even in my day back in the sixties. Not at all! Are there resentments among whites about those whites who do receive all that preference and opportunity? Yes, there always have been. I think the key is to return to realizing that we're all human. There are always going to be disparities and resentments about disparities. It doesn't fall neatly along color lines. In a more specific way, because of the racially-based caste-system in the US due to colonialism and slavery, we have a huge problem around 'blackness' and 'whiteness' which has not gone unaddressed, but is still unresolved. Thank you for your article, with which I resonate, because of my personal history and the way I was brought up. As a woman identified by others for sure as a 'white woman', I appreciate the attitudes of non-racial-prejudice which I received from my parents in the midst of varied people some of whom seemed ugly to me because of their racial attitudes. But not everyone was like that. And it seemed in the sixties with the Civil Rights movement that those ugly attitudes were dissipating. Also, those 'white' people who expressed prejudice were not always people who'd been using the identifier of 'white' for 400 years. I'm thinking of my neighbors who were recent Italian immigrants, who were dealing with the overwhelm of trying to fit into a whole new world of many peoples, a new language and a culture that was completely foreign to them, and in which their ethnicity was not held in particularly high esteem. They found themselves living and working with African(-American) people, which made them uncomfortable, but believe me, they weren't any more comfortable with the British-identified white people and culture that still predominated in our city. They felt squeezed between the white-black divide, and the differences between those two cultures, neither of which they identified with. They had bad words to say about both the 'blacks' and the 'whites.' So, I have to say, my own experience was never so simple as black-and-white. And I don't believe the reality of our world is that simple either. I hope that we, as American people, can find our way through this mess that was originally created by the decisions (made in different times and places) to restrict slavery to people of dark color, which at that time meant Africans.
Thank you for your thoughtful article. I would imagine it can be difficult to have a foot in both worlds in this racially charged time... I was in middle school when busing started in the south. It was a violent and scary time. A time of major social upheaval.. I find it sad that after so much has been sacrificed for racial equality, that we find ourselves in this place.. Progress in racial relations have been set back 30 years. I can understand how young people could be easily fooled by race hustlers and others who personally profit from this divisiveness.. Its very easy to create an US vs THEM narrative.. However, it seems to me that so many people have blinders on.. While demanding an end to racism, would at the same time use the term "whiteness" as a derogatory stereotype. In turn, would be offended if "blackness" were used as a negative stereotype. I'm not saying the world is perfect or that there is no racism. As humans we are ALL biased and always will be. But if we truly want to make America a better place to live in, we must treat others as we want to be treated. We must see beyond our immutable characteristics.. Dr King was righteous in his desire for a colorblind society... He gave his life fighting for that dream. For all of us who grew up in that tumultuous time, its up to us to honor Dr. King's ultimate sacrifice by speaking out against this madness that has gripped our country.
I am sorry Mr. Wood but your distorted view of whiteness and blackness is the problem. By viewing their lives through the lens of skin color African Americans diminish themselves and their abilities. Blacks do this to Blacks; whites have nothing to do with your attitudes. Take responsibility for your own plight. You quoted Derrick Bell, an African American, saying successful blacks make the rest look bad. Well, what's the alternative? All Blacks should remain in poverty? This attitude is what is holding African Americans back not white supremacy. Doing well in school and speaking the "kings" English are not "white". If a Black kid believes that then he or she will not succeed, and African Americans will remain marginalized. Black kids should be told they are superior to whites, that nothing is beyond their reach. The plight of African Americans is in the hands of African Americans, stop waiting for whites to give you something and stop blaming whites for your own failing.
The fact is, Mr. Wood, your success had nothing to do with being "tan", nothing to do with color; you succeeded because you were middle class. The goal must be to lift African Americans out of poverty and part of that is getting Black kids to believe in their potential and to believe they can succeed. Telling them that success is "white" and making that a pejorative will not accomplish that objective.
Well said, John. Unfortunately, at 75 years old, I'll never see the day when Dr. King's wish comes true. At the rate we're regressing these days, it's unlikely anyone alive will see it, either. I watch some of the Sci-Fi series that are on now (such as Star Trek: Discovery) and wonder at the harmony of races and species. Then I ask if it will take 500 years to get there and if we will even survive long enough to see that day.