A dish fit only for a madman!

[evil_mr_tim]

In case anyone has missed it, I kind of have a toothpick up my nose (figurative) about modern (almost post-modern, I would say) conceptions of racism and sexism, and the specific problem that I have with the essential racism of applying different standards of interactions (and ethics!) to people of different races, owing to some presume 'race-

Comments

[aussietiger]

Can I throw into the hat the racism that is "Black History Month". Consider if there was such a thing as "White History Month". There'd be outrage and cries of white supremacy.

[beliael]

Because every month is white history month as people (especially kiddies) get taught predominantly white history?

It's kinda like saying it's discriminatory to have a Save the Children week and not also a Non-Poverty-Stricken Children Week. Some things need more awareness because they generally don't get a lot of awareness yet it has some sort of detrimental affect on a large number of people.

[aussietiger]

That's the thing though. In America, where Black History Month is predominantly ... celebrated? ... black history is normally taught as well as white history. It's pretty hard to do American history for too long without coming across some black history. The country was built by slaves. All Black History Month does is set out one month of the year where, instead of being called lazy or a bad student for not paying attention in class, students get called racist. [For example, the students in Boston this year, who put up mock-posters in their school for a "White History Month" and made national news and talk-shows for being "damn negro-hating Klansmen!*"]

As with all major topics, we should look to the celebrities for wisdom. Legendary film star Morgan Freeman says - "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." On 60 Minutes, he noted that there is no "white history month," and the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

So there you go. Case dismissed.

[*some artistic freedom used]

[evil_mr_tim]

I'm willing to agree with you (and Morgan Freeman) in saying that long-term attention and emphasis of historical racisms do little to mend contemporary racial issues, and in fact harm 'race relations' in the maintenence of perceived racial distinctions (and for the record, I don't really think there needs to be a 'black history month' necessarily either), but I will caution you that there is a sort of slippery slope here.
Paying excess attention to 'racial issues' is a recipe for only further racism, but paying no attention to it either is also unacceptable. It's like when we were discussing affirmative action, there simply are ongoing racial inequalities that we need to actively attempt to resolve before we can realistically declare "Ok we have perfect equality... NOW!"

And on the topic of things like 'white history month', this isn't rocket science. There is such a thing as an ambient racial priviledge, and while it may not be a particularly good idea to support racial boundaries with activities like black history month, it is

[aussietiger]

But the white history month was never brought up in a serious tone. The kids who made these posters weren't seriously advocating that we need a white history month [unlike the online petition] they were drawing attention to the fact that black history month is ridiculous and pointing out the racial inequality that is affirmative action.

[evil_mr_tim]

Yeah! We discussed this! Affirmative action is important and useful, and I don't understand why it bothers you so much! :D

[evil_mr_tim]

I thought Black History Month is less about 'blackness' than it is about slavery, a memorable part of American history?