Slog
News & ArtsFriday, February 22, 2013
Life No, You Don't Need a "White History Month"
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 1:29 PM
1
Hey Dominic I'm brown and the same thing happened to me, and the staff also let me go. Doesn't just happen for white people not 1950.
2
Have you ever taken a world/US/state history class in just about any American high school or college? About 95% of what they teach is white history.
In other words, every month is already white history month, and you're just to blind to even realize it.
In other words, every month is already white history month, and you're just to blind to even realize it.
3
@1 - Wow, thank god we have a counterexample. Guess it means racism isn't a problem any more. That's a relief.
4
Call me a racist Mexican, but I am not terribly interested in hearing white people's thoughts on race. I'll give Louis C.K. a pass. He actually has the spine to be in touch with his racism.
5
@1 Congratulations?
I thought it was a pretty decent way to start unpacking white privilege for those unfamiliar with the concept, although certainly there are class, age and locational factors that impact how that story works out.
It may not be the 1950s, but I have first hand experience being detained on a two-word description, and have put my hands in the scars of some of those who bled for equality.
I thought it was a pretty decent way to start unpacking white privilege for those unfamiliar with the concept, although certainly there are class, age and locational factors that impact how that story works out.
It may not be the 1950s, but I have first hand experience being detained on a two-word description, and have put my hands in the scars of some of those who bled for equality.
6
When I was a kid I asked my mom why there was no kids day. I figured we should get a day since she had mothers day every year. Not missing a beat, she said every day is kids day. So suck it up.
7
Good video. I got to say, if I saw that guy walking down the street, I'd cross over to the other side to avoid him asking me "do you have some money for my bus ticket man?" He just has that look.
9
People have lost sight of what words mean. The term "racist" is treated a s a euphemism for "asshole". And I will grant that racists are assholes, but the term refers to a very specific kind of assholery.
Racism is a mindset where people are divided into groups by their perceived ethnicity. These groups are then ranked according to desirability, with members of one perceived ethnicity ranked as most desirable, and persons of another ranked least desirable. Social institutions ranging from ostracism to imprisonment are then used to punish members of the undesirable ethnic group. Social institutions such as employment and opportunity are extended to members of the most desirable ethnicity.
People accused of racism react as if they have been deeply insulted, rather than thinking about whether an act performed by them or an attitude so expressed may in fact have reflected racism as defined above. Other groups react as if the term "racist" is simply a tool to be used to gain the upper hand in a competition. For example, commenter #4 is both being racist by treating members of the ethnic group s/he defines as "white" as inferior to those s/he defines as "Mexican" (odd, since there are a lot of white Mexican people), implying that the former are racist and the latter are not-because to him/her, racist is just another word for anybody s/he doesn't like.
It is important to know what the words we use mean.
Racism is a mindset where people are divided into groups by their perceived ethnicity. These groups are then ranked according to desirability, with members of one perceived ethnicity ranked as most desirable, and persons of another ranked least desirable. Social institutions ranging from ostracism to imprisonment are then used to punish members of the undesirable ethnic group. Social institutions such as employment and opportunity are extended to members of the most desirable ethnicity.
People accused of racism react as if they have been deeply insulted, rather than thinking about whether an act performed by them or an attitude so expressed may in fact have reflected racism as defined above. Other groups react as if the term "racist" is simply a tool to be used to gain the upper hand in a competition. For example, commenter #4 is both being racist by treating members of the ethnic group s/he defines as "white" as inferior to those s/he defines as "Mexican" (odd, since there are a lot of white Mexican people), implying that the former are racist and the latter are not-because to him/her, racist is just another word for anybody s/he doesn't like.
It is important to know what the words we use mean.
10
He admitted he is a Commie, so he is pretty much a fucktard to begin with. Plus he stole a candy bar.
He is just making the problem worse...
He is just making the problem worse...
11
He needs to cut off the pony tail and wear a shirt with buttons.
Not that I'm against his look, but the people he's trying to reach are far more likely to listen to a clean-cut blonde dude than a long-haired hippie, know what I mean?
Not that I'm against his look, but the people he's trying to reach are far more likely to listen to a clean-cut blonde dude than a long-haired hippie, know what I mean?
12
@11: Yeah, the people who should hear what he's saying would totally agree if only a cleancut blond guy were saying it.
And by the way, "blonde" with an "e" is a feminine adjective. Guys with pale yellow hair are "blond."
And by the way, "blonde" with an "e" is a feminine adjective. Guys with pale yellow hair are "blond."
13
douche with an "e" is a feminine adjective. guys who correct inconsequential errors on the internet to feel a smug sense of superiority are douch.
15
@13: If I'd only commented about @11's misuse of "blonde," then sure, I'd be an utter and absolute douch (no "e"). But I guess you can feel smugly superior to me, so we both won, didn't we?
16
And one more thing for @13: I can see why you dislike grammar corrections. From this comment you made (http://www.thestranger.com/slog/archives…), it seems you have no clue of the difference between "your" and "you're". Yes, this comment was douchey. Yes, I don't care that it is.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
It's Spring! Who's Ready for Street Harassment? by Cienna Madrid
-
SL Letter of the Day: Insane Demands by Dan Savage
-
New Gun Enthusiast... by Dan Savage
-
SL Letters of the Day: Just Say No to DSGs by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Gonna Boil My Laptop After Answering This One by Dan Savage
-
Bigot Florist Files Countersuit by Dominic Holden
-
America Doesn't Care About Black People by Charles Mudede
-
"Bus service shouldn't be optional—it should be a right." by Cienna Madrid
-
US Military Grants Itself the Power to Police American Streets and "Quell" "Civil Disturbances" by Brendan Kiley
-
Fucking NBA Rejects Kings Move to Seattle by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (16) RSS