I obviously didn’t write the headline, but I think the problem goes deeper than that. The underlying article that Medium censored was titled “ Marginalizing Protected Groups in the Name of Equity and Inclusion Is the ‘New Normal’”.
Censorship is rampant these days, but it’s being “justified” by use against certain groups (extremists, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, blah blah blah). I suspect that the headline was intended to make the point that censorship now clearly extends far beyond these groups. Lots of people sleeping. Gotta find some way grab their attention ;-)
Re “well-meaning white people”: I think most white people have good intentions and want to do what they can to help eliminate injustice. Many of them are simply going about it the wrong way. IMO.
Many usages are common. I want to know why *you're* dumping people of extremely diverse ethnic origins into one basket, and then exhorting the basket-contents on what you think they ought to do.
Would your purposes not have been served by saying "Americans should...?" Ought everyone not look at the problems of class rather than of ethnicity?
Ah, I think I better understand your position now.
To be clear, I specifically used “white people” in the context of anti-racism ideology, which exhorts white people (based on the common usage above) to do their part to eliminate systemic racism by acknowledging their inherent biases, the inherent challenges of POC, accepting shame/guilt for their privilege, etc. I based the article on a specific encounter I had with a group of people at our son’s school who subscribe to this mindset. My message to them is that class — not race/ethnicity — is what we should all be focusing on.
It was not my intent to suggest that only people of European ancestry should look at the problems of class vs race, but rather to encourage those in that group — who are obsessed with systemic racism — to instead focus on class.
In fact, you’ll note that the vast majority of my writing focuses on the pressing issue of class in the U.S. FYI I also try, whenever possible, to make this point to my POC friends/colleagues. Unfortunately, when delivered to POC in the “educated” class, the message falls on deaf ears. By contrast, POC outside the educated class are extremely aware and receptive to the message. Make of that what you will.
I think it's only the neurotic subset of otherwise healthy liberalism obsessed with anti-racism ideology.
In my view what we all ought to be focused on is decency towards one's neighbors and letting that spread outward. Reformation movements always become tyrannies.
I couldn't agree more. And I apologize for my inartful use of "white people" in making my point ;-)
I believe we are being purposefully divided to distract from the class issue you're rightly focused on. Gender is a distraction. Race is a distraction. Political bickering is a distraction. We all need to get on the same page about the real threats to ALL Americans ASAP.
Words matter. Terms matter. I was always bemused at those "ethnic hair care" designations on store shelves, as if that word was reserved for people of one specific (or several specific) ethnicities.
I encountered someone recently on Substack who called herself a "generic white woman." It's this sort of idiotic thinking that has me entirely allergic to the generic use of the term "white."
Yes, I completely understand your sensitivity in this context. And for the record, the level of white self-loathing/self-hate I see has become positively creepy. Apologizing for your own existence doesn't advance the rights of any group. It's ludicrous.
What will it take for people to understand that we are all beautiful, we are all connected, and we are all worthy?
"What will it take for people to understand that we are all beautiful, we are all connected, and we are all worthy?"
This is a little over-sentimental for my taste. People can be good, or bad, or just ordinary and struggling to get by as best they can, with as little deliberate harm as possible. Some people remove themselves from worthiness by their actions. We're not participants in a Coke commercial. Not everyone strives for decency.
You think maybe it's part of the problem to have a headline line that?
Again with identity leading top, front and center, rather than your legal credentials and viewpoint as an actual woman.
PS: https://medium.com/bigger-picture/the-antiracist-quagmire-27bb4bbc9857
"Well-meaning white people?"
I obviously didn’t write the headline, but I think the problem goes deeper than that. The underlying article that Medium censored was titled “ Marginalizing Protected Groups in the Name of Equity and Inclusion Is the ‘New Normal’”.
https://monica697.substack.com/p/marginalizing-protected-groups-in
No mention of my identity in that headline.
Censorship is rampant these days, but it’s being “justified” by use against certain groups (extremists, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, blah blah blah). I suspect that the headline was intended to make the point that censorship now clearly extends far beyond these groups. Lots of people sleeping. Gotta find some way grab their attention ;-)
Re “well-meaning white people”: I think most white people have good intentions and want to do what they can to help eliminate injustice. Many of them are simply going about it the wrong way. IMO.
Who is "white people?" Why are you viewing Americans of very diverse ethnic heritages as one group?
What a remarkably patronizing pair of sentences.
It’s a common cultural descriptor in the 21st century, but I would say this fairly accurately captures the definition:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people
Thanks for directing us to this link, Monica.
My pleasure!
Many usages are common. I want to know why *you're* dumping people of extremely diverse ethnic origins into one basket, and then exhorting the basket-contents on what you think they ought to do.
Would your purposes not have been served by saying "Americans should...?" Ought everyone not look at the problems of class rather than of ethnicity?
Ah, I think I better understand your position now.
To be clear, I specifically used “white people” in the context of anti-racism ideology, which exhorts white people (based on the common usage above) to do their part to eliminate systemic racism by acknowledging their inherent biases, the inherent challenges of POC, accepting shame/guilt for their privilege, etc. I based the article on a specific encounter I had with a group of people at our son’s school who subscribe to this mindset. My message to them is that class — not race/ethnicity — is what we should all be focusing on.
It was not my intent to suggest that only people of European ancestry should look at the problems of class vs race, but rather to encourage those in that group — who are obsessed with systemic racism — to instead focus on class.
In fact, you’ll note that the vast majority of my writing focuses on the pressing issue of class in the U.S. FYI I also try, whenever possible, to make this point to my POC friends/colleagues. Unfortunately, when delivered to POC in the “educated” class, the message falls on deaf ears. By contrast, POC outside the educated class are extremely aware and receptive to the message. Make of that what you will.
I think it's only the neurotic subset of otherwise healthy liberalism obsessed with anti-racism ideology.
In my view what we all ought to be focused on is decency towards one's neighbors and letting that spread outward. Reformation movements always become tyrannies.
I couldn't agree more. And I apologize for my inartful use of "white people" in making my point ;-)
I believe we are being purposefully divided to distract from the class issue you're rightly focused on. Gender is a distraction. Race is a distraction. Political bickering is a distraction. We all need to get on the same page about the real threats to ALL Americans ASAP.
Yes, I agree with you here.
Words matter. Terms matter. I was always bemused at those "ethnic hair care" designations on store shelves, as if that word was reserved for people of one specific (or several specific) ethnicities.
I encountered someone recently on Substack who called herself a "generic white woman." It's this sort of idiotic thinking that has me entirely allergic to the generic use of the term "white."
Yes, I completely understand your sensitivity in this context. And for the record, the level of white self-loathing/self-hate I see has become positively creepy. Apologizing for your own existence doesn't advance the rights of any group. It's ludicrous.
What will it take for people to understand that we are all beautiful, we are all connected, and we are all worthy?
"What will it take for people to understand that we are all beautiful, we are all connected, and we are all worthy?"
This is a little over-sentimental for my taste. People can be good, or bad, or just ordinary and struggling to get by as best they can, with as little deliberate harm as possible. Some people remove themselves from worthiness by their actions. We're not participants in a Coke commercial. Not everyone strives for decency.