Shining The Light On White
I read the article that Chris handed out last week in substitution for the activities on the Day of Presence. I apprciate the historical infomation imparted by the author in the piece. The difference between white "servents" and black "slaves" is interesting. It never dawned on me that the slaves never had a chance to work off their "debt" and that indentured servents could. The white servents had the option to move out of the old "working class" and up in rank to to become a landowner, while the slaves all toiled at the bottom rung of society. I can see these cultural contexts in play in contemporary U.S. society. Privilige for whites is everywhere. You see it in the job market when folks are generally and often subconciously picked by employers by the sound of their name. In other words, if it sounds "black" than they have less of a chance of getting the job. You see it in the stores where blacks are harrassed more often than whites for shoplifting etc. when they are just shopping like everyone else. You see it in our school/education systems. Just read the book "Savage Inequalities" and you get the scoop on the situation in East St. Louis where children (mostly of color) are going to school without so much as a pencil to write with let alone books to read. Meanwhile in our private schools, the predominantly white student body leisurely types away at their brand new Microsoft donated computers, (because someone's daddy has conections to Bill Gates), while craving after the new thingamabob they want from fill in the blank store. It's bullshit people. I have also personally seen the divide in privilage in our international community. I taught in Jamaica, and helped restore an indigenous school in Guatemala where I got to meet the children and play with them. I gotta tell you, my fellow whitey's, we gotta wake the fuck up. Poor white's, though oppressed in their own way do not have it as rough as those of color. And people in the United Statesdo not have it as bad as those in the third world who ALL of us are contributing to oppressing through economics.
The author writes about "kidnapped" Africans in her article. She discusses the living and working conditions by the second decade of the colonization of the Americas as "horrendous." She further imparts that the slaves where often whipped, starved to death, denied days of rest, and refused permission to marry amoung other terrible things. On the contrary, the white servants, who were protected under English poor laws, had little time of servitude, however their masters often disregarded the laws.
The difference here that I see is the gross dehuminization of those of color. It is a social disease which has permeated it's way through our society from the so-called birth of this nation. And like a disease, racism has mutated into a more subdued and less obvious form to the untrained eye. Denial of one's color is denial of one's culture and ignorance turns out not to be bliss for those denied. The catch phrase in the mid-1990's where "love sees no color" enforces just that. It is the forced assimiliation and degredation of rich and beautiful cultures that we can all learn from, including white culture. It is sad to think that we whites are taught to deny that we have a culture. Trust me! It's there. This is where I feel fortunate to be that child of an immigrant because I see a huge difference in my siblings and I who are first generation in the U.S, and those who have been here for generations. I grew up with my friends constantly talking about how strange my father was calling the boys "love" and how thick his accent was, of which I cannot hear to this day. I was always aware of my family difference. Yet the difference I experience and those of color experience is vastly contradicting. Though I am queer and a woman, I still have white privilage. I can get away with much more than your average person of color just because of the color of my skin. It's prepostorous folks, and though I see a change in the air as opposed to 40 years ago, we still need to move forward. Today, those of arab decent are being excommunicated by the thousands in this contry everyday. Not everyone who covers their hair, or speaks Arabic is a criminal. In fact, behind most so-called colored criminals you are likely to find white fingers pulling the strings. Just look at mainstream rap and hip hop music.
Okay. enough ranting outta me. Thanks for reading!