Yes, it's fantastic that something gets said/done/discussed/acknowledged, but it's not like racism (black history) ceases to exist after the week (month) is over. Neither does IBARW. Last year's IBARW generated quite a few posts that were referred to, recited and linked on the blogosphere throughout this year.
Will it catch the attention of one or two new people? Certainly. Will it make them participants in The Cause? Probably not. In two days this year's IBARW generated as many posts as the entire week last year. While posts are not participation, I do believe that is the direct result of last year's posts being used so frequently as reference material when racial issues came up. It advertised IBARW, gave people a common framework for discussion as we'd all read the same things and provided the necessary repetition that's a part of all learning.
If they didn't have it before the week (month), they're probably not going to have it after.I disagree; I think people can learn. Sometimes it takes people more than one explanation to
( ... )
In two days this year's IBARW generated as many posts as the entire week last year.
A fair point. More people participating is great! Is there going to be a study of how many of the "more" are people who didn't participate last year? And are multiple posts from one person counted in the final tally? Because I think that makes a difference.
I disagree; I think people can learn.
I didn't say people can't learn. :) I just said that I doubt the liklihood of people joining the cause because they read a few blog posts. If someone does, I think the thought or the idea was probably (and note that I said probably in my initial post too) already there and percolating in their minds.
I think it's really easy to get swept up in the heat of the moment and click 'reply to' on a blog post, but to never do anything else about it, or challenge anything in the real world, etc.
It's about acknowledging that white people (even if they don't want to, even if they hold no racist beliefs themselves) benefit from racism every day and the impact that
( ... )
If someone does, I think the thought or the idea was probably (and note that I said probably in my initial post too) already there and percolating in their minds. I agree, but I think for some people it's IBARW that gets the idea percolating in their minds.
What is the point of insisting that people acknowledge this other than to say that they're inherently guilty and inherently responsible based solely on the color of their skin? To me, the point of acknowledging and discussing white privilege is certainly not to make anyone feel guilty or responsible for racism. The point of acknowledging and discussing white privilege is to fight racism, which can't be done if one whole segment of the problem is ignored.
Do you believe that it will solve problems if people feel guilty? Do you think that telling people that, even if they do not have racist beliefs themselves, they are still benefitting from traditions and practices that oppress and limit and hurt people of other races, has any positive impact?It's not about making people feel
( ... )
Sean's ability to successfully combat racism in society is going to be hugely dependent on whether he's aware that these things kinds of things are even happening, and that's one of the points to me of discussing white privilege.
Okay. Let's assuming that he believes and acknowledges that he's benefitting from what his parents chose to name him or the fact that taxis stop more readily for him. Now that he acknowledges it, what is he supposed to do about it? How does this knowledge change what he does in his own life? Is he supposed to turn down the job offer because it wasn't offered to DeShawn? Is he supposed to refuse a taxi ride or give up his taxi in favor of DeShawn should they happen to be on the same corner?
If he is, then isn't that expecting him to undermine his own success in favor of someone else's? If he's not expected to change his behavior, then I honestly don't understand how encouraging people to think 'I probably got X achievement because I'm white' is productive.
It's more important to me, personally, to talk
( ... )
I'm not sure what your race/ethnicity is, but if you're white, and you feel guilty about white privilege and your position on top of a racist society, I would encourage you to move beyond guilt and toward action. I and the other IBARW participants I know are not interested in making anyone feel shame. We are interested in educating the ignorant and persuading the recalcitrant -- or at the very least, sparking dialogue in hopes that it will stick in people's minds when IBARW is over.
Pardon the intrusion, but I feel I have to comment on this.
"I'm not sure what your race/ethnicity is, but if you're white, and you feel guilty about white privilege and your position on top of a racist society, I would encourage you to move beyond guilt and toward action."
No offense, but it sounds like many of the people behind IBARW are assuming that all white people are privileged, which, no matter which way you slice it, is pretty damn racist. That mode of thinking is akin to "all Germans are Nazis" and "all black people are dumb". It's intellectually lazy, arrogant, and does this project disservice as a whole.
"I and the other IBARW participants I know are not interested in making anyone feel shame. We are interested in educating the ignorant and persuading the recalcitrant"Call me pessimistic, but somehow I doubt that many of 'the ignorant and the recalcitrant' are going to find their way to this blog gathering. It would be more effective, in my view, to seek out said people, and talk to them. It still won't be easy to
( ... )
many of the people behind IBARW are assuming that all white people are privileged, which, no matter which way you slice it, is pretty damn racist.
It's not, and here's why. The word "privilege" has different meanings. We often use it to mean rich, elite, snobbish, pampered, etc. It has a different meaning in the context of feminism, racism and antiracism, classism, homophobia and queer rights, and so on. Privilege means the unearned benefits that members of the majority/dominant group get. I'm sure you understand that racism gives disadvantages to people of color and sexism gives disadvantages to women, but the less obvious thing is, racism gives advantages to white people and sexism gives advantages to men. Those advantages are called "privilege." White privilege, male privilege, heterosexual privilege, able-bodied privilege
( ... )
Comments 11
Neither does IBARW. Last year's IBARW generated quite a few posts that were referred to, recited and linked on the blogosphere throughout this year.
Will it catch the attention of one or two new people? Certainly. Will it make them participants in The Cause? Probably not.
In two days this year's IBARW generated as many posts as the entire week last year. While posts are not participation, I do believe that is the direct result of last year's posts being used so frequently as reference material when racial issues came up. It advertised IBARW, gave people a common framework for discussion as we'd all read the same things and provided the necessary repetition that's a part of all learning.
If they didn't have it before the week (month), they're probably not going to have it after.I disagree; I think people can learn. Sometimes it takes people more than one explanation to ( ... )
Reply
A fair point. More people participating is great! Is there going to be a study of how many of the "more" are people who didn't participate last year? And are multiple posts from one person counted in the final tally? Because I think that makes a difference.
I disagree; I think people can learn.
I didn't say people can't learn. :) I just said that I doubt the liklihood of people joining the cause because they read a few blog posts. If someone does, I think the thought or the idea was probably (and note that I said probably in my initial post too) already there and percolating in their minds.
I think it's really easy to get swept up in the heat of the moment and click 'reply to' on a blog post, but to never do anything else about it, or challenge anything in the real world, etc.
It's about acknowledging that white people (even if they don't want to, even if they hold no racist beliefs themselves) benefit from racism every day and the impact that ( ... )
Reply
I agree, but I think for some people it's IBARW that gets the idea percolating in their minds.
What is the point of insisting that people acknowledge this other than to say that they're inherently guilty and inherently responsible based solely on the color of their skin?
To me, the point of acknowledging and discussing white privilege is certainly not to make anyone feel guilty or responsible for racism. The point of acknowledging and discussing white privilege is to fight racism, which can't be done if one whole segment of the problem is ignored.
Do you believe that it will solve problems if people feel guilty? Do you think that telling people that, even if they do not have racist beliefs themselves, they are still benefitting from traditions and practices that oppress and limit and hurt people of other races, has any positive impact?It's not about making people feel ( ... )
Reply
Okay. Let's assuming that he believes and acknowledges that he's benefitting from what his parents chose to name him or the fact that taxis stop more readily for him. Now that he acknowledges it, what is he supposed to do about it? How does this knowledge change what he does in his own life? Is he supposed to turn down the job offer because it wasn't offered to DeShawn? Is he supposed to refuse a taxi ride or give up his taxi in favor of DeShawn should they happen to be on the same corner?
If he is, then isn't that expecting him to undermine his own success in favor of someone else's? If he's not expected to change his behavior, then I honestly don't understand how encouraging people to think 'I probably got X achievement because I'm white' is productive.
It's more important to me, personally, to talk ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Thanks for commenting.
Reply
"I'm not sure what your race/ethnicity is, but if you're white, and you feel guilty about white privilege and your position on top of a racist society, I would encourage you to move beyond guilt and toward action."
No offense, but it sounds like many of the people behind IBARW are assuming that all white people are privileged, which, no matter which way you slice it, is pretty damn racist. That mode of thinking is akin to "all Germans are Nazis" and "all black people are dumb". It's intellectually lazy, arrogant, and does this project disservice as a whole.
"I and the other IBARW participants I know are not interested in making anyone feel shame. We are interested in educating the ignorant and persuading the recalcitrant"Call me pessimistic, but somehow I doubt that many of 'the ignorant and the recalcitrant' are going to find their way to this blog gathering. It would be more effective, in my view, to seek out said people, and talk to them. It still won't be easy to ( ... )
Reply
It's not, and here's why. The word "privilege" has different meanings. We often use it to mean rich, elite, snobbish, pampered, etc. It has a different meaning in the context of feminism, racism and antiracism, classism, homophobia and queer rights, and so on. Privilege means the unearned benefits that members of the majority/dominant group get. I'm sure you understand that racism gives disadvantages to people of color and sexism gives disadvantages to women, but the less obvious thing is, racism gives advantages to white people and sexism gives advantages to men. Those advantages are called "privilege." White privilege, male privilege, heterosexual privilege, able-bodied privilege ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment