Quote:
Originally posted by Sistermadly
I totally get where she's coming from. I've often said that one of the reasons that there's such a division between "white" people and people of color is because "white" people in the United States are all lumped together under one big group, but non-White people have the privilege of being able to retain their ethnic/cultural heritage. I know the history behind that, but even so, I think it's kind of foul that in this day and age it's still allowed to exist.
Think about it - I can (and do) proudly call myself African American, but how many so-called "white"people do you know call themselves "German American" or "Croatian American"? I'm not talking about individual anecdotes - I'm talking in general. Chinese Americans are Chinese. People from the West Indies are West Indian. Koreans are Korean. But white people are just WHITE. It's limiting, ahistorical, and just plain wrong.
Personally, my (alum) chapter of Alpha Phi is multicultural, and not just in terms of racial/ethnic identity. The collegiate chapter I help advise was featured in a past issue of The Quarterly because of their multicultural nature. Nationally, one of our "Watchcare" programs is centered on how to understand, promote, and foster multiculturalism within collegiate chapters. While we may not "technically" be a MCGLO, we are a multicultural Fraternity.
There is more to multiculturalism than skin colour. I think that's what she's getting at -- correct me if I'm wrong, AXWhoah.
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Is the whole problem with the lumping of the "white" people is that the "white" people created the label. The government, which back in the days of labeling races and such, only had "white" people. But I get where you are coming from, I have a Polish American sister who feels the same way you do about labeling.