Am I A Racist?
Let's see now . . .Here is a simple way to determine whether or not (and to what degree) we are racists.
Pretend that you are asking 100 white adults this question: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born black?” Now do the same hypothesizing for 100 black adults by asking: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born white?” We use the figure 100 so that the conjectured numbers will be expressed as meaningful percentages.
This test is not in any scientific manual. It is a speculative form of self-interrogation that I dreamed up during the recent political campaign, while we were being barraged by so many polls. I have not yet tried to translate the two numbers that emerge, but their relative racist significance will be immediately apparent. However, in order to sharpen your interpretation, you might consider comparing your results with those obtained by your friends or family, who you can induce to also do the test.
Racism is an ugly and destructive force. Its effects are being felt all over the world. But as we endeavor to learn more about it, we will almost certainly learn more about ourselves. And if we can do this together we will surely find ways to stop harming each other.An integral part of every human sub-group’s survival mechanism is its awareness of potential threats from every other group with which it relates. Only when a particular sub-group exists totally by itself in a remote region or territory, can it safely lower its guard. But when inter-relationship between groups is unavoidable, groupism (a less incendiary synonym for racism) keeps it alert to potential danger. Unfortunately however, the indiscriminate use of “racist” defenses will inevitably exacerbate, not mitigate, the danger on both sides of the conflict.
“Birds of a feather flock together” has been an old adage we never had any problem understanding or accepting. But haven’t you ever wondered what Robins really think about Blue Jays? Or, vice versa! And think about what the poor little sparrows are thinking!
Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net
Pretend that you are asking 100 white adults this question: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born black?” Now do the same hypothesizing for 100 black adults by asking: “Have you ever seriously wished that you had been born white?” We use the figure 100 so that the conjectured numbers will be expressed as meaningful percentages.
This test is not in any scientific manual. It is a speculative form of self-interrogation that I dreamed up during the recent political campaign, while we were being barraged by so many polls. I have not yet tried to translate the two numbers that emerge, but their relative racist significance will be immediately apparent. However, in order to sharpen your interpretation, you might consider comparing your results with those obtained by your friends or family, who you can induce to also do the test.
Racism is an ugly and destructive force. Its effects are being felt all over the world. But as we endeavor to learn more about it, we will almost certainly learn more about ourselves. And if we can do this together we will surely find ways to stop harming each other.An integral part of every human sub-group’s survival mechanism is its awareness of potential threats from every other group with which it relates. Only when a particular sub-group exists totally by itself in a remote region or territory, can it safely lower its guard. But when inter-relationship between groups is unavoidable, groupism (a less incendiary synonym for racism) keeps it alert to potential danger. Unfortunately however, the indiscriminate use of “racist” defenses will inevitably exacerbate, not mitigate, the danger on both sides of the conflict.
“Birds of a feather flock together” has been an old adage we never had any problem understanding or accepting. But haven’t you ever wondered what Robins really think about Blue Jays? Or, vice versa! And think about what the poor little sparrows are thinking!
Comment: mailto:domgab1914@comcast.net
posted by Dom Gabriele @ 11:07 AM
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