Major disclaimer: I am not white.
Okay now that we’re clear on that, let us continue: On Friday, the 10th of September most of the First Year class attended the CSW Diversity Theater event. During that event, issues of diversity were presented from the perspective of a homosexual male, a black male, an Asian female, and a white female. I found it particularly interesting that the white male perspective wasn’t sufficiently addressed.
Upon hearing of this event I heard grumblings from a white male associate who was upset that the diversity event was a required event, on a Friday following TNDC, mind you! This person felt that the school had sufficiently addressed diversity during orientation week and he felt that the message to accept differences had been loud and clear. I sensed from him what I sense from many white people and that is a burning desire to push back on what they perceive as a push, by some, of the idea that they are racist, misogynist, homophobes. I sense a growing impatience with what some may see as a forced silence imposed on them by society and I sense there is an urge to push back against what they see as society’s unjustifiable countenance of race-based scapegoating and blame shifting….
But I’m not white so I may be wrong.
If, however, I am right about this sentiment emanating from many in the white community, then I must say I understand this feeling. Consider for example that the same people who may argue for white people to be more accepting of other cultures may also be outraged when they feel America is imposing its cultural values on other countries. Why shouldn’t white people get to be who they are? Why shouldn’t other people change to accommodate them? Well I offer 5 and ½ points that I hope may be a different and useful perspective:
- Your Asian colleague’s kid will likely be kicking your kid’s ass economically. We’re business students so let’s consider the potential monetary value of adapting to other cultures. You don’t need Crystal Ball to see that China and India are on a trajectory to have dominant economies in the not too distant future.
- Black and White folks are like a married couple; our disagreements are not about right or wrong or what should now be done so much as they are about different perspectives. (If you’ve been in a long term relationship you’ll understand better.) White people may feel like Black people are the partner who claims to have forgiven but refuses to let go of a past indiscretion. After the trust was broken, Black people don’t know whether our white partners are still committing acts of indiscretion. By acts of indiscretion I mean, Black people can’t tell the difference between the person who believes Black people are inferior (the racists) and those who are simply tired of being called racist. As in a marriage, or any hostage situation, trained negotiators will tell you that if you’re interested in resolving an issue the first step is to make the other person understand that you truly understand his viewpoint. If you begin by defending yourself and your viewpoint you have just lost the opportunity to educate. If you care about getting through rather than winning the argument, take an opportunity to express understanding and agreement before presenting your side.
- Showing understanding is much more than acknowledging slavery and Jim Crow. For example did you know that in 1983 only 43% of Americans approved of marriage between a Black person and a White person? Yeah, that means the majority of us thought that interracial marriage was wrong. Not that long ago unh?… Also, many argue that the reason African-Americans aren’t further along in many metrics of human achievement post-integration, especially when compared to immigrants of African descent, is because African Americans reacted to being rejected by mainstream America by rejecting mainstream America in kind. The result, it is argued, was that many of the beneficial traits of mainstream America (e.g., educational values, speaking standard American English, etc.) were also jettisoned with the bath water. I personally don’t think that was an unreasonable reaction?…. What I’m trying to say in this paragraph is that you may be tired of hearing Black folk complain about racism, but this enduring and recent refusal by this country to accept its own has had real consequences on our collective psyche and our present socio-economic and academic position. I think more patience is warranted.
- Don’t be Glenn Beck. This is a continuation of number two. Presentation is important. I don’t know Glenn Beck, but assuming positive intent, I argue that he is more disgruntled than racist. I now feel that way about many white people and Tea Party’ers who may have stood up to defend what they perceive is unjust attacks on their character. But recently, while having a debate in which I argued that most white business students were simply resentful of what they perceive as the disadvantage of being white–and therefore they are not necessarily racist–my opponent likened the arguments she had heard from some white students at UVA to arguments she heard from Glenn Beck. She argued that she doesn’t know if that makes the students racist but she felt that those arguments were disturbing to her. That comparison clarified her argument in my mind and I had to admit, Beck’s arguments are disturbing to me as well. So the lesson I took from that exchange and will now share with you is that if you feel disgruntled or indignant abou how unfair life is, but you don’t believe in the inherent inferiority of Black people, and if you would like to have an honest conversation about race, don’t be Glenn Beck. Instead, refer to suggestion number 2.
- “Minorities” are the underdogs and that is why White people are often asked to be more understanding/sensitive and not vice versa. Everyone loves an underdog. The reason this is true is the fact that life works in such a way that each one of us fails much more often than we win and so we can easily relate to being down. White people are winning so you’ll look bad beating up on the wimpy kid. If this idea troubles you as a White person, fear not, it seems like Asia is determined to change this fact…. Besides, please believe that those of us minorities who are here at Biz School are trying. It’s still your home so thank you to those of you who are doing your best to make us all feel more comfortable….
- ½ That being said, it is my belief that we as Black people need to make a concerted and genuine effort not just to get along but to belong. How many of us have played flip cup in the basement of Dan Buckman’s house, enh? How many of us know what flip cup is? I bet the Indian students can tell you.
Just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen.
Mack Audena ’12
