Quote:
Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS
No offense, but this is doubletalk. You just said "You know, when white people stop getting so defensive over other people getting somewhat offended, the people getting offended won't wield nearly as much power"and "White people loan power to charges of racism because they're fearful of it."
There is no distinguishing power from empowerment in this context if whites feel that they are "loaning power" and can buffer the effects if they "weren't so fearful." Mind you, beyond wanting to believe they are good people and free of prejudices, most whites aren't really fearful. But the "harmless yet terrified white people" approach is nothing new in this country, either. Nonwhites and whites who speak out against inequality generally aren't doing it because they need a hobby. They are generally doing it with hope for change, which is difficult if those in the majority of decision making power positions in this society (whites) take the approach that you're advocating.
I hope you're being as sarcastic as I was and referencing the commonly held misconception rather than the reality.
|
Yeah it kind of is misleading. I think white people allow stigma to attach to charges of racism because we're so petrified of it. If you cut out the stigma, meaning if white people don't automatically start pointing the finger at each other when charges of racism arise, it is going to disempower people who uses those charges to their advantage, regardless of their race. Does this mean the power is on "loan" from the white community? Sure, partially. When we allow other people to control our actions, which is what I think we do at times, then we're empowering some other group. If we begin drawing our own conclusions and don't immediately start "eating our own" as soon as such charges arise, then we'll be taking some of that power back. That doesn't mean white people possess and distribute all power, but the reactions of the majority of this country (white people) certainly constitute a large reserve of power in this context.
But this aside, the goal, in my mind, is to empower white people to make decisions on their own. It isn't to disempower minority groups, though that will be the effect. I would just prefer that white people act as a better screen in determining what issues WE are going to care about.
I was simply speaking in your terms. I don't most think minorities are race-obsessed or irrational, though some certainly are. Whites too.
Threaded Mode
