Why we need to talk MORE about race
CVK
USA Today has a great article today about the attitudes towards race held by the “Millenial” generation (those aged 14 to 24). Numerous studies have confirmed that this generation is “more tolerant and open-minded” than previous ones. But is the picture really so simple?
[Some experts] worry that decades devoted to ending racial segregation and creating a colorblind society may have created a new problem: a generation so unconcerned about race that it ignores disparities that still exist…
Even though young people report having friends of other races, Forman says, those friendships don’t necessarily lead to a reduction in negative attitudes toward a racial group, because people view their own friends as an exception to whatever stereotype may exist. Such feelings, along with studies that show less concern for racial issues among white high school seniors in 2003 compared with 30 years ago, makes him believe there should be more and not less talk about race, Forman says.
The data suggest young people “are increasingly becoming comfortable with racial and ethnic inequality,” he says…
I have definitely seen this attitude - the whole “race is so over” thing. And I think the reluctance or distaste for discussing race might stem from the awful diversity-speak that I rant about on the latest Addicted to Race. Instead of talking about the real issues–racist stereotypes that we subconsciously buy into, changing our internal prejudices, addressing the privilege that certain groups have over others, overcoming these inequalities–everything is coated in this touchy-feely crap about “celebrating our differences” or recognizing historical achievements of various ethnic groups.
Of course it’s important to recognize the work that has already been done. But how about the work that has yet to be completed? Race and racism is all about power–and the unequal distribution of that power, but that point gets completely lost in the feel-good celebration of multi-culti chic. Also, constantly focusing on the past makes it seem as if all our racial issues have already been resolved, that there’s no further work to be done.
Rebecca Bigler, 42, a psychology professor who directs the Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab at the University of Texas-Austin, traces such attitudes to baby boomer parents who may have set a tone for raising colorblind kids.
“It makes us feel racist if we acknowledge race, so we try not to, and we end up being color-mute,” she says. “Children learn from their parents that you don’t talk about race.”
And you know, it doesn’t help that Morgan Freeman declared on 60 Minutes that “I am going to stop calling you a white man and I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man.”
So what we’re left with are people who think that talking about race is…
a) impolite, because “noticing color” supposedly makes you a racist
and/or
b) unnecessary, because didn’t the civil rights movement already like, take care of all the race stuff?
Also check out another USA Today article about the mixed population.
Ben wrote:
Thanks for posting this!! It’s a fundamental meta-issue that informs (provides?) the context of all contemporary racial discussion.
Nowadays, the many of us have determined (remembered?) that race is a social construction, and the only way to eliminate racial inequality is to eliminate race in its present form. But the effects of racial inequality cannot be suitably eliminated by any other classification system. So, to paraphrase Justice Powell in the 1978 Bakke decision, we must use race to undo race.
Furthermore, though many of are capable of speaking openly, calmly, and productively about race, most of us lack the vocabulary, comfort, and self-awareness necessary to do so. The perceived rudeness of “what are you?” for instance, belies a bluntness borne of discomfort. The more we think and talk about it, the better we’ll get at thinking and talking about it. The better we get at thinking and talking about it, the better we’ll get at doing something about it. The better we get at doing something about it, the less we’ll need to think and talk about it.
Race isn’t “over” until that fact becomes so obvious that it doesn’t need to be said.
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 2:41 pm ¶
Ben wrote:
Also, I think Freeman’s position wasn’t that we should stop talking about it because it’s over, but that we ought to stop considering it a defining personal characteristic. But maybe I’m projecting…
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 2:43 pm ¶
Marsha wrote:
It seems like it has gone from not talking about racism at all (1980s colorblindness) to commodifying (Asian motif stuff at the Pottery Barn, anyone?) other cultures (1990s). Then, all this commodification makes it seem like we have moved away from being racist when in fact nobody has. And, I agree with Carmen and Jen that this whole “celebrating diversity” thing has done more harm than good. I mean, “celebrating diversity” usually means bringing in “ethnic foods” and dressing up in “ethnic dress” which is quite a touristy view of culture and race- not to mention, as Carmen and Jen pointed out “happy” and not getting at the tough issues. I wished I had saved this email from work where they wanted us to dress up in “traditional dress” one day while all the other white people sit around and ask us questions and gawk at us like it is a freak show. I would have cut and pasted the original message here but I think I deleted it.
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 4:40 pm ¶
WD wrote:
“touristy view of culture and race”
I like that one. That really sums up the attitudes of some people.
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 5:49 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Wait, Marsha, your work wanted only the visible minorities to “dress up?”
What was their rationale on the German-Americans not wearing leiderhosen? Or at least 1800s American garb (if they came over in that period, etc.)
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 7:55 pm ¶
Susan Ayoob wrote:
I think your posting wsa very well-written, Jen. I am tired of all this celebrate diversity crap- it’s that same mindset that makes people feel tickled that I’m their “ethnic” friend. Why, hanging out with me is celebrating diversity! Also, I am very peeved that my international school (here in the States) is having an internaional bazaar day where the students dress in their native garb and yeah, parade around for curious white folks. Do the organizers realize that the native dress for 99% of the students at this school is jeans and a sweater?
Posted 08 Feb 2006 at 8:47 pm ¶
Marsha wrote:
Wait, Marsha, your work wanted only the visible minorities to “dress up?”
What was their rationale on the German-Americans not wearing leiderhosen? Or at least 1800s American garb (if they came over in that period, etc.)
Yes. Well, let me explain the whole story. I work for a government (state) human services agency and we have a diversity council here at work. I served on it for a few years, but I got so frustrated and pissed off most of the time that I didn’t serve on it anymore. Anyway, a few years ago, the assistant commissioner (the 2nd in charge of our agency) had this big interest in diversity so she started to go to our meetings. (She seemed like one of those touchy feely 1960s flower type children.) Anyway, so I’m at work one day and the assistant commissioner sends an email to everyone on the diversity council about this great idea she has: that all of us people of color can dress up in “traditional dress” and people can come around and we can describe out culture to them. (big eye roll) (I suppose since I’m 1/2 Peruvian I’m supposed to dress up like one of the indigenous people of Peru and bake a potato dish for them.) It never happened at work, but the fact that our ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER- someone who thinks she’s so “diversified” and “informed” and “liberal” thought that this would be a good idea just killed me! I mean, if part of the mission of the so-called diversity council was suppose to dispel stereotypes, I don’t know anything more stereotypical than having people dress up in “traditional dress” and share our traditions with them. And, to my knowledge, the white folks didn’t have to dress up at all.
Posted 09 Feb 2006 at 10:41 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Marsha, I don’t know where to chip away at the mountain of STUPID in that situation… yikes! It sounds like your department didn’t go along with the idea, so kudos to you.
It’s like that old Land of Lakes margerine ad: a stereotypical Indian plains woman going, “What your people call corn, and my people call maize.” I remember MAD magazine’s response as something like, “Who, your people at the Department of Agriculture, or your people at the corporate office?”
>Do the organizers realize that the native dress for 99% of the students at this school is jeans and a sweater?
Susan, that’s so true. Occassionally (on holidays, New Year, or just for a change) at my college, some students (mostly those from outside the US - African, Southeast Asian, API) would dress in ethnic or traditional garb, and they got the chance to share anything they wanted with the curious (and yes, I was one of them). But it was totally by choice.
Posted 09 Feb 2006 at 3:29 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
As far as the dressing thing goes, I know what you’re talking about. Back in my college dorm days, I would wear a kaftan from time to time. Actually, that was a lot more frequent than I did back home (in Lagos, we usually only really needed to wear the elaborate kaftans to formal/semi-formal events that involved older people).
Anyway, it was interesting how many people were “fascinated” by my clothing, and asked a million questions about it. One of my buddies, who seemed the most sincere of the bunch, asked if he could have one. I obliged.
After a night of partying, one of the previously-fascinated guys decides it would be “funny” (in a dumb sort of way) to wear the kaftan I gave my friend. He puts it on and runs around making cute “African” clucking noises, eventually getting his vomit (and other special fluids you can only find in a communal bathroom) all over a $200 garment. I didn’t realize how protective I was of my culture until it got puked on.
In summary, diversity-speak can kiss my ass.
Posted 09 Feb 2006 at 5:19 pm ¶
Marsha wrote:
My boyfriend’s 15 year old niece is a “Millenial” and she’s always shoving her “Italian-ness” down everyone’s throat. (She is 1/4 Italian and has an Italian last name. Her grandfather was full-blooded Italian and had the stereotypical dark Italian look. But, she looks white with pale skin, light brown hair. In case you were wondering, nobody in her family “celebrates their Italian diversity” either.) My boyfriend pointed out that since she goes to school with other minority students that maybe this makes her feels like she fits in better if she can say she is Italian and “ethnic”. I think what bothers me the most is that she wants to identify with her “ethnic Italian roots” because she thinks it is “so cool to be a minority”.
There’s a 31 year old woman in my office who is white who is sort of like that too. She asked me if I was American Indian one day and then she proceeded to tell me that she thought she had an Indian somewhere in her family tree and that she wanted to find out so she could go register with the tribe. She’s really into equal rights and affirmative action and used to work in a shelter for homeless teens but what bothers me the most is that she acts like it is cool to be an oppressed minority.
Anyone else encountering people like this? I’m thinking that it must be very convenient for people like this to slip into being “the other” whenever it tickles their fancy… Gee, I wish I could do that, especially when I’m at the airport: “Yeah, Mr. Security Guy, I know I look like I might be Middle Eastern, but I’ve decided that I want to be white today so you don’t really have to single me out…”
Posted 10 Feb 2006 at 1:57 pm ¶
Merqury wrote:
Funny. I know a couple white guys who, on first meeting me, felt the need to somehow work into the conversation (not very skilfully, I might add) that they had a Latino parent/grandparent.
Getting to know them, of course, you find that they don’t identify with Latino (or “Spanish”) culture in any way. Rather, it’s a useful little nugget they bring out when they meet a “real, live minority.”
Posted 10 Feb 2006 at 7:49 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>She’s really into equal rights and affirmative action and used to work in a shelter for homeless teens but what bothers me the most is that she acts like it is cool to be an oppressed minority.
Sounds like insecurity to me. All those beliefs and actions are admirable, and that should be enough. If your beliefs are put into action, then those actions should speak for you. Some people seem to think that one needs to be part of a group in order to help or be a sincere voice for that group. If that were true, every group would be on their own and the competition would impede progress for everyone.
When a culture or ethnicity is really “lost,” it can be acknowledged, but I don’t think it can be authentically reclaimed. It is very likely that my parents-in-law both have Sephardic Jewish background. The last names, lack of religous affiliation, and time period of immigration all fit. But the religious/ethnic link was lost due to oppression and exile, and they are themselves in denial. So are my husband and his sisters Jewish? If one of them sincerely converted, sure… but the physical ancestor is at least 3 generations back, so the culture hasn’t been part of the family in living memory.
Posted 13 Feb 2006 at 1:30 pm ¶
Brandon wrote:
My boyfriend pointed out that since she goes to school with other minority students that maybe this makes her feels like she fits in better if she can say she is Italian and “ethnic”. I think what bothers me the most is that she wants to identify with her “ethnic Italian roots” because she thinks it is “so cool to be a minority”.
I am not so sure that anyone thinks its cool to be a minority, because it is most definitley not. I rather think that this acceptance of ones own ethnic background is good , because italians are ethinic and I think its good thing that americans are realizing that its ok to be ethnic and in fact should be proud of it. This I think allows for empathy for “true minorities”, and hopefully will one day lead to a “real” end to racism because the colorblindness that others are talking about is something I am just not seeing other than on a very small scale.
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 3:50 pm ¶