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
Breaking The Paralysis of Racism and Making A Difference
Breaking the paralysis begins with realizing that the social world consists of a lot more than individuals. We are always participating in something larger than ourselves — what sociologists call social systems — and systems are more than collections of people.
To understand what happens in society, we have to look at both the society and how individual people participate in it. If patterns of racism exist in a society, the reason is never just a matter of white people’s personalities, feelings, or intentions. We also have to understand how we participate in particular kinds of social systems, how this participation shapes their behavior, and what consequences it produces.
This is how systems of privilege work: Good people with good intentions make systems happen that produce all kinds of injustice and suffering for people in culturally devalued and excluded groups. AND, if you take a different path and respond differently, people would let you know it and you’d encounter a good deal of resistance.
To perpetuate privilege and oppression, we don’t even have to do anything consciously to support it. Just our silence is crucial for ensuring its future. No system of social oppression can continue to exist without most people choosing to remain silent about it.
If most whites spoke out against racism; if most men talked about sexism; if most heterosexuals stood openly against heterosexism; if middle and upper class individuals advocated on behalf of the working class and others who are oppressed, it would be a critical first step towards revolutionary change. But the vast majority of “good people” are silent on these issues, and it’s easy for others to read their silence as support.
Absolute/either-or thinking divides the world up into different kinds of people — good people and bad people, racists and non-racists, good guys and sexist pigs — when human experience seems to be more holistic, involving elements of both ends of these continuums.
If we have a vision of what we want social life to look like, we have to create paths that lead in that direction. We can choose whether to be just part of the problem or also to be part of the solution.
For example, if white privilege makes it easier for white people to get a hearing in some situations, then those of us who are white can use that opportunity to speak out against racism and other social inequities. We can all protest incidents of racist harassment or intolerance on our campuses. We can go to school board hearings and argue against public school budgets that perpetuate segregation while “protecting” white property values. We can speak out against racial profiling and police brutality. We can seek ways to connect across racial lines in a society that for many of us is still largely segregated in housing, schooling, and social patterns. We can all refuse to laugh at racist jokes, and we can challenge our friends, neighbors, and colleagues when they, often without thinking, parrot positions that reinforce the unfair advantages that white people enjoy in a variety of venues.
The first step toward dismantling the system of privilege that operates in our society is to name it, and the second is for all of us, but especially those in positions of privilege, to speak out against the system of privilege as a whole.
What do you think?
Comments
Speak Up
I really enjoyed reading this article because I felt strongly about this issue. I know a lot of people, like me, would definitely oppose racism, but we don’t speak up about it. Instead, we just keep it to ourselves or talk amongst with friends or family. But after having reading this, it gave me some motivation to do more to stop all this racism. If the “accepted” group of people such as whites, the rich, the heterosexuals, etc. just spoke up on behalf for the “non-accepted or discriminated” then that would certainly make a difference because others will see that even their own kind is standing up for others and that discrimination and segregation of people that are different is wrong.
A New Voice Against Racism
This article had a great topic, I personally am one of those people that keeps quiet about racism. After reading this article I feel like I now have an obligation to speak up and be heard by others about this issue our society is still trying to overcome. If I so strongly agree that racism is wrong then I need to let others know about racist issues and make change happen. I do believe that it only takes one person to take initiative and come forward about topics like this to start making a difference. I do talk about racism within my family, and friend discussions but it's really hard trying to express ones true feelings to a crowd that you know nothing of. Usually the thoughts that run through my head when I'm in class and we're discussing race or racism I tend to sit tight and listen to others because I'm afraid that what I have to say might happen to offend any of my colleges, but now it's my duty to let others know how I feel and where I stand on topics like these. A food for thought to all of you, spread the word about racism because it only takes one person to make a slight difference, so why not let that person be you!
Speaking Out
While reading this article it was easy thinking about white privilege and how it effects many individuals, white or non white. “Those of us who are white can use that opportunity to speak out against racism and other social inequalities,” this quote out of the article was a great point and something that I have never thought about. I think it’s absolutely true that whites have an easier time speaking out and people listening. Why not use that power and privilege for good and try to make a change for everyone. Well in a perfect world I think that would be the case. In reality I think there are much more whites scared and uncomfortable to speak out. The question I have, why does a white individual have to speak out for the minorities and try to make a difference for them? Can’t minorities do that for themselves? Or do white individuals want the satisfaction in helping minorities and having the saying that they took minorities out of oppressed. Though this injustice and inequality has been worse throughout history, I feel that minorities have the opportunity to say and stand up for themselves. We’re already living in a world were segregation is still happening and our children in schools are not obtaining the knowledge they need to graduate high school and attend college. Test scores speak for themselves, and our racism is embedded to our children since they’re very young. I’m not surprised when a minority child knows that they’re inferior to a white child.
Stand Up "Good People"
The author made a great point when he said that the masses of good people remain silent in the face of social injustices and that the powers that be take that as support for their agenda. That is the real problem, and when he speaks about white priveldge and how white people should take advabtage of this and use our power for the greater good, that is absolutely correct. Myself as a white person has a great deal of priveldge in this nation, but unlike others, I stand up against social injustice when I see it because it is what is oppressing one group is oppressing all, because we are a united people. I always ask people, "Who benefits from racism? Why has it taken so long to overcome? and Why is it still so prevalent?" I always get a myraid of answers but never the one that really hits the right spot, and the right spot would be Capitalism. As long as we have a system that is based on oppression, we as a united family will never exist.
This was a good article and
This was a good article and speaks to a lot of people. There are to many people that talk the talk but will not walk it. It is time to stand up and make a change, do something and quit arguing about things you can fix but are just to scared to step in front of. I think that we wait for someone else to do the hard work and wait in the shadows to speak after all is said and done. Its time to go to these places like school board meetings and speak out to see what is going on with the money and mention better ways it could be distributed. I think that if we all did this once it would make it easier the next time and time after that. Its like watching domino's fall the first one leads the way and the rest will follow.
Taking advantage of privilege
I like the idea of taking advantage of white privelege that's at the end of this article. The concept behind this is that if we do have these priveleges, such as being able to speak out, as the article mentions, then we can take advantage and use that opportunty that others may not have to speak out against oppression and inequalities that we see every day and use that to stand up for the oppressed rather than go along with it. At least that way, some good can come from the priveleges that do exist rather than just constantly either contributing to it and making it more secure or easier for whites, or just standing by in idle waiting for something to happen. I have to say I go against the idea of being silent against these issues. OF course being silent isnt as bad as contributing, but if you say nothing, then you're simply allowing these systems to stay in place rather than try and deal with them in a positive way. Lastly, bringing both of these situations together, and example I have is that I want to
be a police officer, but when possible, I want to be able to go against the grain and try and change things for the best. If one is under orders, then it's hard to resist, but at the same time thigns don't always have to be done according to the book, so keeping that in mind, and being able to speak as an authorty figure, I think I would be able to change some small things one step at a time. These different things may be small and in a smaller sociological bubble than the rest of the world, but at least doing something about these problems is better than nothing at all, or worse, contributing to the systems of oppression.
21st Century Racism.
While reading this article I realized that it is so easy for people to come together just to make the slightest change. white middle class people can make the biggest difference just by standing up and speaking about racism. If people start to see that not only the lower class and other races are complaining, people will start to understand that 21st century racism needs to stop. Even though racism is not as bad as it used to be, it is still found with different races and religions. It's my duty to try and stop this racism when it happens around my friends
Stand up
I like the way this article tells how to do things to put it all out in the open and solve it from there. We need to take that first step and move forward creating even more steps to take. People need to speak out about racism about the wrong it does not only speak amongst each other about the situations of racism. In the article it is a good point about the white privilege in how if those who do have white privilege speak out about racism this will show others about giving everyone the privilege. White privilege people should take that advantage and talk about the people that do not have it and how we can make it possible they do have it. We need those good people that the writer talks about to speak out if they speak out others will follow their foot steps of good and keep creating a bath of right instead of just whispering in the shadows of stuff we think we should do and actually do them.
Speaking out
I could not agree with this article more. It brings up some important ways in which everyone can get involved in putting an end to racism and white privilege. I liked how it talked about how white people hold a lot of power in putting an end to racism. Those who are a part of the dominant groups in society can make a profound change in the way the dominant groups act in society and from there spread change. The people who choose to be quiet and not stand up for what is right become the biggest part of the problem. They continue to breed this on going cycle. In my opinion it is extremely cowardly to not stand up for something you believe in. I try in my own life to promote the change I want to see. I stand up against people and voice my opinion on inequalities in the world and white privilege. This is something I value in my life and something I think everyone should value. I like how in the article it stated the only way to get rid of this system of privilege is to first identify it. We all need to listen to the stories of those who are oppressed and open our minds to worlds other than our own. We have to get enraged and use that to power us to spread justice. Once we see the problems and identify them we can then use our voices and actions to create change and not continue the cycle of white privilege.
Breaking the paralysis of racism and committing to make a differ
This article opened my eyes to a lot of new opportunities for equal rights for all people. I think we can use examples from this article in everyday life. We can take advantage of our opportunities and speak out for equal rights. As the article says the only reason plans like this haven’t worked in the past is because no one does anything, but if we unite we may break divide between all ethnicities. We can either choose to be a part of the problem or the solution. We all speak out about injustices in the world when they are brought up, but how many will do anything about it. Most will not help at all. The lack of supporters ensures that nothing will be resolved. These groups of oppression can not survive without people remaining silent about the acts of racisms.
Speak up
I agree completely with this article. I believe that we can make the most progress by having open and honest conversations about race. For this to happen white people need to acknowledge the privilege that they have first and be open to hearing issues of race brought forth without reacting as if they are being attacked. As it stands now, whiteness is valued and color is not. This needs to change. White people need to stand together acknowledging that we do not live in a post racial society and confront racism head on and realize that there are privileges that are given without reason or merit. Difficult conversations need to be had.
Processessing
While I completely agree with this article, and have alienated a few family members for being so vocal about “covert” racism, it’s not easy. I’m not afraid to stand up and call someone on their ignorance (man, I sure hope it’s ignorance and not opinion!), however it would be nice if there was a way to do it without labeling them. What I mean is, let’s say someone does tell a racist joke. If I object (which I would), it becomes me judging them. The point is I don’t want to judge them, I just want to educate and share my point of view. How can we expect to change their opinions if they are defensive? I’d love to figure out a way to do it that inspires them to listen, and not just blow me off as “liberal” (for some reason that’s the label that gets put on me when I speak up!?). It’s not easy to advocate for others, particularly from a position of non-economic-privilege. I read a lot of articles about how we should make changes, but nothing that tells us how (I literally mean step-by-step). It actually helps me remember just how inspiring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” truly is – as he clearly outlines a process for change. We need a process.
comment:
For people to break through racism, first, we must identify the causes of
inequality in our society brought by racism. In our sociology race and ethnic class, we have identified ways to reproduce inequality. One is labeling, where people categorize groups of people, not necessarily to dehumanize them but often comes with a negative connotation. For examples, names given to minorities such as beaners for hispanics, fob (fresh of the boat) for asians, etc. These labels are introduced and adapted by the society which are internalized and used from time to time. Second is hidden curriculum, which plainly means that some things get rewarded and some don’t. Third is self-fulfilling prophecy wherein a person say something and might alter his actions so that such a prediction is fulfilled by his actions. From what I got out of my lecture, these things reproduce inequality which often links back to racism and white privilege. Nowadays, racism is “covert” or hidden that it wouldn’t be really to obvious but somehow still keeps people of color at the bottom. Now, that we have identified things that produce inequality, the next thing that needs to be done is to educate people for awareness to end these practices to break through racism. Only through awareness can people realize that racism is still an issue that needs to be addressed. The author pointed out that “people do not have to anything consciously to support privilege and oppression” and “their silence is crucial for ensuring their future”, with this kind of mentality, maybe due to lack of awareness, racism would still be around.