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Aug 14
2008
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White America and The Need for Enlightened SensitivityPosted by parentadvocate68 in Jeffery A. Faulkerson |
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Note: Originally posted August 14, 2008 on www.blackinamerica.com
Recently, it was brought to my attention that a select group of white Blogtalkradio (BTR) hosts have been critical of the new "Black Talk Radio Network" (www.blacktalkradio.ning.com). This ning.com network was created by BTR host One Black Man to provide a meeting place for black BTR hosts and give listeners one-stop accessibility to the shows of their favorite black Blogtalkradio hosts. It also allows black BTR hosts to submit blogs for reading and videos for viewing.
I'm sure there are a number of white Americans who are critical of "Black in America" as well. They seemingly believe the creation of these meeting spaces creates more division than unity, does nothing to create what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to as the Beloved Community. What they fail to realize, however, is that they have had reserved meeting spaces for themselves for centuries, and have been adamant about keeping black Americans and other persons of color in their place. "Lord forbid my white daughter fall in love with a...a..Negro."
I would encourage readers of this blog entry to purchase a copy of the PBS documentary "RACE: The Power of an Illusion". You will learn about the different methods white people used to insulate themselves from Blacks and other persons of color. One method they employed concerned the denial of loans to Blacks who wanted to move into predominantly white communities.
As most of you well know, prior to 1968, Whites weren't supportive of Blacks moving into their neighborhoods (Some of you are probably thinking, "And they still aren't."). They were concerned about maintaining high property values. If their neighbor ended up being black, they surmised that their property value would plummet. This long-standing and universal sentiment was fueled by local, state and federal policies that were developed to prevent race mixing.
But I love white people. All of them aren't bad. The enlightened ones recognize that the concept of race is an illusion; therefore, they're doing everything they can to support Black America's campaign to write its name into the American history books. The ones I worry about are the unenlightened ones, the ones who say nothing and sit idle as we black Americans talk about the different ways we are being treated in this country and around the world. They are saying nothing and sitting idle because their privilege doesn't allow them to see the truth, that they have been, and continue to be, the beneficiaries of their ancestors' crimes against humanity.
But we black Americans must also understand that there have been a number of white Americans who feel a great deal of sorrow for the crimes that were committed then and the ones being committed now by their ancestors and contemporaries. Those are the white Americans I love the most, the ones that I want to align myself with.
In this era of political correctness, I find that many Blacks are afraid to talk about the elephant in the room, fearing that they will be labeled a trouble maker or angry Black by Whites if they speak out about racism in the workplace or in society. But I challenge you to call a spade a spade if you see it in the workplace, in society, because that is how you gauge white Americans' willingness to work with you to secure recompense for their ancestors' crimes. If talking about these issues makes them feel uncomfortable, then they have chosen to remain your enemy. But if they can talk about these issues and still maintain their composure, you have gained an ally for life.
What do you think? Do you love white people? Do you think more of them are willing to support our cause today than they were yesterday?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Be blessed, and continue to be a blessing.
Jeffery A. Faulkerson, MSSW
http://www.jefferyafaulkerson.com/
http://www.practicalwritingeditingconsulting.com/
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Copyright 2008 Jeffery A. Faulkerson. All rights reserved.
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I love everyone -- as my Christian experience leads me to "love my neighbor as myself." It turns out that I live in a neighborhood where most of my neighbors are white. I worked in Corporate America where most of my colleagues, superiors and subordinates were white. I find nothing special about loving whites. It comes with being human. Your next question is the bell ringer.
Do you think more of them are willing to support our cause today than they were yesterday?
Whites as a rule are not willing to support our cause. Most whites were born into a position of privilege -- multi-generational stable families; multi-generational job security; multi-generational educational achievement; multi-generational "better off than most blacks." Their natural tendencies are to preserve and protect their position of privilege. They will not support any cause that threatens the security of their privileges. This is not a conscious, planned, or conspiratorial process. It is just human nature.
What I do find is that many post-civil rights whites (under age 50) have a wider acceptance of the presence of Blacks in their schools, communities, and work environment. They are more accepting of Black achievement when they consider the achievement is based on merit. So, they support Barack Obama, but that doesn't mean that they support Black causes. They see him as "different." Many of us Blacks who were the "firsts" on white college campuses, in corporate management positions, in our neighborhoods -- are perceived as "different" than the stereotypical blacks that are depicted by American history and the mainstream media, or even by many blacks themselves. This post-civil rights generation of young whites have grown up with Blacks in many cases, and they see fewer differences than their parents. So they are more accepting of the achievement of Barack Obama. Unfortunately, that acceptance doesn't go very far -- just up to the edge of ther privilege.
That is why scare tactics will work to erode much of the support for Senator Obama's candidacy. They will say, "We don't know him."
"He doesn't have (our)experience."
"We don't know what to expect."
"He will probably defer to his Black supporters in crunch time."
"My children won't have the priviledges I had."
Loving whites folks must be balanced with a reality check.