Quote:
Originally posted by preciousjeni
Phasad1913, this is very insightful though very unfortunate at the same time.
I wanted to make a statement, not directly regarding this, but along the lines of why change is not occurring. I'd love to get your opinion! I believe that we will agree that power (including power to define beauty, power to succeed, power to live in privilege, etc.) currently rests among whites.
Having said that, this analogy has been developing in my mind and I've mentioned it before, though not on this site...For whites to be faced with white privilege/their power is like a person being faced with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Some form of denial may occur that can last for any amount of time. It's too much to wrap one's mind around.
Then, those who finally acknowledge it are at a complete loss and are horrified at the pervasiveness and severity of the situation. Some may feel so helpless, they give up. Or they may decide they simply don't care and will just allow the disease to swallow them up.
However, there will always be those who exist who do have a strong grasp, as they are blindsided by reality. These are the people who will be intentional in their actions against disease by educating themselves and "fighting back" (which, in the case of white privilege/their power, doesn't have to mean violence or being outspoken - it could be as simple as a lifestyle overhaul toward a better life.)
These people see the situation, identify with the situation and desire to change the situation.
I am compelled to say where is God in this? But, I'll leave it at that. [/B]
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As to the first part of your post, its hard for me to respond because your statements seem to be from the perspective of a white person coming to terms with the concept of white privilege or failing to. I cannot speak to that because I don't share that perspective, naturally because I am not white. However, I do agree with you that in a society where most, if not everything, stems from the perspectives of white people, at least in terms of how the world functions and what groups of people represent what, who is normal who is not, what cultural expressions are legitimate, which ones are not and so forth, its hard for a person living comfortably within that framework of thought to recognize it and feel a need to do something about it. Think about it, if you are the beneficiary of a paritcularized realm of thinking based on YOUR race's or ethnic group's persepctive, why would you really go out of your way to change anything. Its far easier and more tempting to just let things be and live your life in ignorant bliss. So, to these types of people there isn't much anyone can do. How that relates to this topic in terms of rectifying the disparities in various groups' abilities to mix and mingle romantically, I have no idea. It's just one of those things that will have to evolve as time goes on...if it evolves at all. I suppose when we move on from our current "group mentality" ways of thinking to a more individualized society where people feel perfectly comfortable meeting and discovering things about other individuals instead of always attaching social acceptance standards to who they would like to date or marry or live next to or go to school with, etc. etc.etc., then perhaps these trends will change.
Your second point about where God is in this, I really can't answer that one. I do believe that God is in each individual and we are all made in his image. The earthly problems and human/social constructs that we allow to restrict our freedom to enjoy the presence of all the different types of people God placed on the earth are just that, our problems. I don't think God will involve himself in this sort of thing when people are perfectly capable to (and do everyday) make their own decisions about how they want to treat people and who they want to surround themselves with.