Preparing For An Honest Dialogue: Examining The Sociology Of Race
Compiled by, Matthew A. Jendian, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair of Sociology
California State University, Fresno
(The following essay is compiled from excerpts of Allan G. Johnson’s Privilege, Power, & Difference, McGraw Hill, 2000, and Paula S. Rothenberg’s White Privilege, Worth Publishers, 2005, which I have adapted, personalized, and made directly applicable to my paper.)
Publisher’s Note: We begin this historic dialogue on race relations with an essay written by Matthew A. Jendian, Ph.D., that we believe is very valuable in outlining the barriers that have entrapped us and prevented us from engaging in a sustained conversation about the complexities of race relations in America and across the globe. Moreover, we believe that the framework Dr. Jendian presents will enable us, if we are truly willing, to have an honest and open discussion that will yield meaningful and lasting results. Dr. Jendian’s essay will be presented in four parts and will guide our conversation over the next four weeks.
Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D., M.A.
Founder, Publisher & Executive Editor
USARiseUp.com
The Trouble Surrounding Differences
Vast amounts of knowledge, from scientific research to passionate memoirs, document the trouble surrounding issues of difference in society, trouble relating to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and social class.
Despite this, we are stuck, both individually and collectively, in a kind of paralysis that perpetuates the trouble and its human consequences. All of us are part of the problem. But, we could also make ourselves part of the solution if only we knew how.
This paper introduces a way of thinking about the trouble that has the potential to help us become part of the solution by getting us unstuck. We will be able to see not only where the trouble comes from, but how we, as individuals, are connected to it, which is the only thing that gives us the potential to make a difference.
Immediately, when most people read/hear the above: “That all of us are part of the problem,” and “we as individuals are connected to it,” they think they are about to be told they’ve done something wrong. Usually blame, and guilt aren’t far behind, especially if they are members of any of the dominant groups – white, male, heterosexual, or of a privileged social class. This defensive reaction has done more, than perhaps anything else, to keep us stuck in our current paralysis by preventing each of us from taking the steps required to become part of the solution.
As a person who is white, male, heterosexual, and a middle class professional, I know about such feelings of defensiveness from my own life. But as a sociologist, I also know that it’s possible to understand the world and myself in relation to it in ways that get past the defensive feelings and give us all a common ground from which to work for change.
It’s my hope that this paper will have something to offer almost everyone who wants to deal with these difficult issues and help change the world for the better. If we are successful, then the meaning and emotional weight of concepts like privilege and white racism will soften and shift. The project of interrogating whiteness and identifying white privilege will have a different meaning for us depending upon our own racial/ethnic background.
While some of us who are white may be uncomfortable with the conversation and seek ways to deny responsibility for benefiting from white privilege, others may feel guilty and become overwhelmed with a sense of responsibility for enjoying an unearned advantage.
Some of us who are not white may feel we have long been aware of the power of whiteness to shape culture and values and may feel we have intimate knowledge of how white privilege operates. Others of us who are not white may feel a sense of confusion when confronted with the claim that whiteness provides the norm or standard by which other things are judged.
Wherever we are, and whatever experiences, doubts, and expectations we bring to this class, we are likely to find that the very diversity of our backgrounds and the specific relationships we have to the questions being raised and studied will turn out to be important and valuable aspects of a shared learning experience.
Whiteness and white privilege will look different and have different meanings for everyone. By sharing our perspectives, each of us is likely to become aware of aspects of our society and forms of social interaction that previously were invisible to us.
What do you think?
Comments
The "white man" has dominated
The "white man" has dominated the power control in America ever since Columbus reached the Bahamas in 1492. It took 500 years for an African American, Barack Obama, to hold office as President of the U.S. Even though as a nation we are taking steps towards complete equalization, the steps are small at best. Racial differences can arise with the smallest spark. For bigger steps to be achieved I feel It is up to everyone individually to take responsibility for their actions, to step back and evaluate how we feel about our fellow human beings and to treat others the way we all would want to be treated--with respect.
Level Playing Field
The idea of "race" has shaped our nation's history since the beginning. The "white men" have dominated this country and have oppressed groups such as Native Americans and African Americans. This was the case up until about the 1990's in my opinion. Being young, I am unsure about the timeline of black opression after the Civil Rights Movement. However, today I am sure that African Americans are afforded the same rights as whites. There is no reason that in today's day in age, that there should be this discussion of white people having an advantage. Everywhere you look, you see examples of reverse discrimination. BET (Black Entertainment Television), NAACP, Black Student Unions, Black Fraternities and Sororities, Scholarships for "Minorities" What is perpetuating this continued discussion of "race" is the reverse discrimination and double standard in this country. In the 21st century, there should be no reason for the continued use of "affirmative action."
Inequality
In the sense of engaging with the problem and being part of an equality solution, I think we as a society are far from it. I don’t see how white individuals can neglect the privileges they have when they’re viewed as the elite in our society. Practices of white privilege are still very present in today’s society as it was 100 years ago. In Levittown, PA after WW1, the GI bill was enabling white males that served the opportunity to purchase low income homes in suburbia. Black males who served as well were sent to live in public housing known as vertical ghettos. In today’s age, we still see some concepts of redlining and we also see property values drop if minorities move in the white neighborhoods. In a sense it would be great to have rid of inequality, but to say we are the problem as well as part of the solution seems like a lot of pressure for minorities. Our government and country started favoring whites, and till this day statistics show that whites are the elites and in a capitalistic society they have more of the wealth and their children are going to the schools that are receiving more funds. Should we follow Marx’s theory and rebel against the bourgeoisie?
Post-Obama era and Equality
As "SaINTBON-20B343408" stated, it has taken 500 years to have an African American in the highest office in our nation, however, to add to this, we still don't have equality and unfortunately most likely won't in the near future of our country. Our countries current situation is seen as the "post-Obama" era in which a Black man has successfully risen to the top of the ladder and become our leader, however, as also previously stated, this is a very small step in a long line of steps to come to gain equality. In order to target privileges that are often unseen in our day to day lives, we must collectively make people aware of their situations, analyze them, and then reconstruct them in sociological ways by analyzing what people need, vs. what people take for granted. This step, among many may eventually lead to equality, but unfortunately this isn't something that can happen overnight.
Understanding Whiteness and Privileges
Whiteness and privilege is something that needs to be discussed. I know in my class even though my professor goes over it, many of the people who sit around me believe whiteness means white people and privilege is something that needs to be earned. I honestly think if we could have one meaning for whiteness or at least understand one another’s meanings for these words we could actually get somewhere. Also privilege is not a bad thing, that’s one but we have to understand that some privileges could equal as human rights, that’s why some groups of people could be upset. When we talk about these two issues, people shouldn’t get so defensive, it would just be best to listen and understand what is being said.
Is it logical?
Yes it’s true that "whiteness" and "privileged" are two of the largest issues that stand in the way of the world becoming a non-racist society. That most white people do feel defensive about what they are and what privileges they have had over others. is trying to change everyone’s feelings really a main step in trying to overcome the issue of racism? Is it logical to try and make "everyone" change the way they think, to try and rewire their brains? But what is the way we should think? Obviously we can't ignore the issue of racism it needs to be an open matter of discussion among everyone. We can't change the past that white people were very dominant over other races it’s just a fact. Is that how we should view all the issues about race? Make it so that everything is merely a fact and not connected to any emotion on one level or another? If it wasn't emotionally tied in some way to our culture and everyone had the same privileges than surveys, SAT and ACT exams etc. would not have us fill in the little bubble next to Caucasian, African-American, or Hispanic.
I just don't think that it is a logical idea to try and change the way everyone thinks just to try and end racism. Because the way we think is directly connected to how we emotionally feel about a certain situation or our different beliefs.