Article: ‘To be white is to be racist, period,’ a high school teacher told his class

[Ultralight]

This article is quite interesting.

I find white guilt to be openly "admitted" to in some of my classes, even by some very bright peers.

I think the issue is rather complex.

For instance, a peer in a class says that he has been living in white neighborhoods for a few years now and as a result has become "whiter" which is something he is "not cool with."

Another peer in class said she has been working for a long time to reverse her implicit bias preferring white people. She then noted her most recent test (Harvard's implicit bias tests) showed she now strongly prefers black people over whites. She noted that when she was out registering voters for Hillz she went up to the first door and a black man answered. She claimed she felt "incredible warmth" and as though she was being greeted by one of her people.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/10/19/to-be-white-is-to-be-racist-period-a-high-school-teacher-told-his-class/#comments

[iris lilies]

This again?

[IshbelRobertson]

Sounds about as sane as creationism.

[Alan]

When impressionable minds are held captive by political correctness they develop symptoms similar to Stockholm Syndrome. It's an interesting process to watch as it unfolds, yet you can't help but feel sorry for the victims.

[creaker]

Sounds about as sane as creationism.

It sounds like saying "to be white is to have two arms and two legs, period".

It's a very one dimensional view of a very complex issue.

[JayPee]

@Alan: +1!

Same over here, but not with black/white but with Germans and foreigners. Any criticism of the immigration policy of the government makes you an intolerant Nazi. Any opinion that *could* be nationalistic or right and does not agree with Angela Merkels "We can do it", makes you a persona non grata. Quite useful for them, as any criticism can be easily suppressed. Funny thing, those who criticise you as intolerant and racist are just this. No other opinion but their own is acceptable and all this under the flag of tolerance and democracy and of course freedom of opinion.

It is not about content, just about the label they put on you.

Fascism will come back, and name itself als anti-fascism - q.e.d.

[Alan]

Fascism will come back, and name itself als anti-fascism - q.e.d.In the US, we're well into that cycle.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I find white guilt to be openly "admitted" to in some of my classes, even by some very bright peers.

ok do they also feel guilt if they come from for instance a middle class background while other people are poor? Although guilt as such isn't really the word, but kinda unfairly fortunate or something. I always have.


Another peer in class said she has been working for a long time to reverse her implicit bias preferring white people.

well that sounds like a good thing. Is it more or less laudable than working on any other of one's bad character traits (for instance I get super competitive even with people I love sometimes - so insanely competitive mentality is one of mine). Who knows.


She then noted her most recent test (Harvard's implicit bias tests) showed she now strongly prefers black people over whites. She noted that when she was out registering voters for Hillz

she is trying to overcome her overwhelming guilt for not having phone banked for Bernie :laff:


she went up to the first door and a black man answered. She claimed she felt "incredible warmth" and as though she was being greeted by one of her people.

a little weird but kind of the attitude many beliefs say we should cultivate toward all people (like the Buddhist loving-kindness etc.), and that most people have trouble having for any people not in their immediate circle, so hard to see it as bad in any way (although weird that she thinks she is black) though love alone will not fix social problems.

[ApatheticNoMore]

to be white is to have two arms and two legs, period".

to be born with two legs and two arms is to be able-ist period, well maybe.

To be white is too be privileged period, well what about the homeless white person sleeping on the streets, how much privilege do these lowest of the low have? To be white is to be *born* with privilege period? Even dirt poor in some coal poisoned town in Appalachia? To be white is to have a tendency to see and not see certain issues related to race? Ok , that's kinda true.

[LDAHL]

This is what happens when education gives way to indoctrination.

[jp1]

In the US, we're well into that cycle.

Indeed. We seem to have both new school anti fascism as described above and old school plain facism at the same time. I think this kind of all ties in to the issue of the lack of real debate that is brought up in the Buckley article that ldahl posted.

[LDAHL]

Indeed. We seem to have both new school anti fascism as described above and old school plain facism at the same time. I think this kind of all ties in to the issue of the lack of real debate that is brought up in the Buckley article that ldahl posted.

I find myself in sad agreement with you. Arguing for or against an idea can be difficult and intellectually demanding. it's much easier to simply express your contempt and disdain for the other side. It's easier still to try to suppress thought you find uncongenial.

[Ultralight]

Debate revival!

[LDAHL]

Debate revival!

All that will require will be a retooling of our popular culture, media and educational system.

[Zoe Girl]

[QUOTE=ApatheticNoMore;255204
a little weird but kind of the attitude many beliefs say we should cultivate toward all people (like the Buddhist loving-kindness etc.), and that most people have trouble having for any people not in their immediate circle, so hard to see it as bad in any way (although weird that she thinks she is black) though love alone will not fix social problems.[/QUOTE]

I appreciate people looking at these issues, I was talking to a friend on the phone and told her right now I don't really like being in large groups of white middle class people. I am just not in that world and when I lived there I was the odd one out. White suburbs were not that friendly to me. But I check my bias going back to the suburbs when I do some shopping, I really hate the way the roads are laid out and everything, and just try to not be so grumpy.

As a practicing Buddhist I think there is a challenge any time we want to look at our bias. And being honest about that is where the real work is. If at the end you don't end up where you are 'supposed' to be then that is also something to practice with. One thing I have felt I should do is learn Spanish, but I don't like Spanish or Spanish culture that much. I like French, and French culture much more. I spent 4 years in college learning French. So I focus on how knowing multiple languages can help me serve families instead of forcing myself to learn Spanish (I have tried a few times). If I work at a school with a lot of Spanish speakers I will start to pick it up then. so I went through that kinda guilt process, maybe I was snooty to know French instead of Spanish, but settled into it. Regardless of what people think I grew up next to French speaking Canada and not a Spanish speaking country.

[Ultralight]

All that will require will be a retooling of our popular culture, media and educational system.

Sounds like easy work for me and my fellow liberals!

[LDAHL]

Sounds like easy work for me and my fellow liberals!

Sure, just have them tweak their operating system a little to get around the speech codes, trigger warnings and dog whistles. As WFB once said, Perhaps somewhat unfairly,“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing toother views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are otherviews.”

[ToomuchStuff]

Have a friend who works in a mall. A new eating joint (I wouldn't call it a restaurant, smaller menu's) opened in the food court. Some sort of soul food place. A guy went and asked for an application and they told the guy that "we don't hire your kind, your white". He called the health department, not knowing that is an EEOC thing. The health department went to inspect the place and asked to see their permits, and the gal ran.