RadicalGeek
RadicalGeek's JournalA Bit Of Closure
Last month, a "radical readings" group did a discussion of the piece in The Atlantic on reparations. In the course of that discussion, I though one of the participants was evidencing "White Guilt". When I brought it up in DU , I, perhaps rightly, got chewed out.
We had a follow-up meeting yesterday where I apologize to that participant, and now understand that she was not speaking about "guilt" but "awareness".
She did forgive me, and even gave me some suggestions for books to read and podcasts, etc to listen to.
Piers Morgan--America Has Become More Racist Since Obama was Elected. . .
I think he makes some good points here.
Just 16 per cent of whites believe there is a ‘lot’ of discrimination in America today – compared to 56 per cent of blacks.
Incredibly, white perceptions of anti-black bias have plummeted to the point where many think anti-white bias is a bigger problem.
. . .
But if anything, I’d argue that America is now more racist than it was before Obama was elected.
Or at the very least, the angry racist minority (but still many millions of people) is more vocal – enraged by the whole notion of a black man living at the White House.
Having said that, America is clearly massively less racist than it was 40 years ago. It has come a long way, very fast.
What is desperately needed now is a sustained period of calm, rational reaction on all sides to the myriad incidents that occur on a daily basis in the United States where race might be seen as an issue, even where it isn’t.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2788266/america-racist-obama-elected-doesn-t-mean-injustice-race.html
Observed 'White Guilt'
I have to get this out into the open, at whatever risk it poses.
Yesterday, our reading group, formed out of group that discussed books like Rules for Radicals, Pedagogy of The Oppressed and A Theory of Liberation sat down to discuss the recent Atlantic article "The Case for Reparations".
One of the participants did mention that race was, indeed, a legal construction, but also mentioned that all White's have benefited somewhat from the things described in the Article.
She has done this before when we were discussing other books, and it got me to thinking that she may be an real example of the "White Guilt" that the Right often accuses many progressives of.
To me, I cannot feel guilt over something I had no control over! I was born the way I was, my attitudes towards other groups, that is something I can control.
Has anyone else ever observed something similar. Am I missing something?
Back From Exile?
I was on this about 2-3 years ago. Before the 'Tea Party' takeover of the Government.
I figured that it's time for me to come back into the Underground.
A little about me. I'm a help desk specialist, a sort of "Working Class Geek" in my own opinion. Have gotten somewhat active in the local "Occupy" movement. I've been doing some writing on HubPages and Examiner.com, and have found some great voices of the "%99" like Central Pennsylvania's own Rick Smith!
So as Jeff Hardy once said; "Man is it good to be back!"
Profile Information
Name: JamesGender: Male
Hometown: Camp Hill/PA
Home country: USA
Member since: Tue Sep 22, 2009, 06:37 AM
Number of posts: 344
