Is "Whiteness Studies" racism? Should white people feel guilty?
By umklassg
@umklassg (60)
Canada
October 16, 2010 8:13am CST
Whiteness studies have been developed to determine whether being "white" is actually a construct designed to keep certain people subservient and has nothing to do with ancestry. I'm pretty conflicted about this, what do you all have to say? I'm white but I don't consider myself superior to anyone else... but is that just an imaginary construct? Should I be guilty? I do NOT advocate white supremacy, but I don't like the idea of hating myself because of something I can't change. It's all very confusing to me. I'd love to know what others think, please, no racism, only opinions on the academic concept, I'm not here to start a battle.
4 responses
•
17 Oct 10
I don't think it has to with individual people, so our personal agonies are not really the point. It's about our positioning in society. The fact is that the racist ways in which out global order has been shaped over centuries now, has created an order in which whiteness is advantaged, whether we indiviually support white supremacy or not. So it's really about understanding what that positioning means, and adopting a stance in relationship to that-- whether we are happy to just take these privileges, unearned thigh they are, or whether we throw our weight behind trying to create fairer societies. Youndon't hate yourself, but the system you have inherited. And I think we change systems.
@EnkosiSteyn (1)
•
17 Oct 10
I don't think it has to with individual people, so our personal agonies are not really the point. It's about our positioning in society. The fact is that the racist ways in which out global order has been shaped over centuries now, has created an order in which whiteness is advantaged, whether we indiviually support white supremacy or not. So it's really about understanding what that positioning means, and adopting a stance in relationship to that-- whether we are happy to just take these privileges, unearned thigh they are, or whether we throw our weight behind trying to create fairer societies. Youndon't hate yourself, but the system you have inherited. And I think we change systems.
@RONDOLAWE (774)
• Indonesia
16 Oct 10
i don't know what must i saying about this but i just one think you know even you didnt start a figth for it ... IN THIS WORLD WE NAME IS HUMAN AND THE MOST IMPORTANT IS WE HAVE A GOD FOR CREATED ALL NATION AND COLOR OF SKIN .. NO RASIS FOR IT
@Enkosi (1)
•
17 Oct 10
I don't think it has to with individual people, so our personal agonies are not really the point. It's about our positioning in society. The fact is that the racist ways in which out global order has been shaped over centuries now, has created an order in which whiteness is advantaged, whether we indiviually support white supremacy or not. So it's really about understanding what that positioning means, and adopting a stance in relationship to that-- whether we are happy to just take these privileges, unearned thigh they are, or whether we throw our weight behind trying to create fairer societies. Youndon't hate yourself, but the system you have inherited. And I think we change systems.
