The Smithsonian’s National African American History Museum, in an effort to get to the head of the pandering line, established a section of the museum dedicated to educating people about “whiteness.”
Before the leftist mob tried to redefine the word “racism,” which simply meant prejudice against others based on perceived racial characteristics. Racist discrimination, racial oppression, and racist abuses of power were all distinct concepts, of which racism was one component and the discrimination or abuse of power was another.
The leftists, though, have tried to hijack the word “racist” so that it only applies in the context of power relationships and so that it can flow only from whites (the “powerful”) toward members of other groups.
This is malicious nonsense, and its fruit is apparent in the museum’s malignant furtherance of racism under the guise of combating it.
From the museum web page:
Whiteness and white racialized identity refer to the way that white people, their customs, culture, and beliefs operate as the standard by which all other groups of are compared. Whiteness is also at the core of understanding race in America. Whiteness and the normalization of white racial identity throughout America’s history have created a culture where nonwhite persons are seen as inferior or abnormal.
This white-dominant culture also operates as a social mechanism that grants advantages to white people, since they can navigate society both by feeling normal and being viewed as normal. Persons who identify as white rarely have to think about their racial identity because they live within a culture where whiteness has been normalized.
Thinking about race is very different for nonwhite persons living in America. People of color must always consider their racial identity, whatever the situation, due to the systemic and interpersonal racism that still exists.
Whiteness (and its accepted normality) also exist as everyday microaggressions toward people of color. Acts of microaggressions include verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs or insults toward nonwhites. Whether intentional or not, these attitudes communicate hostile, derogatory, or harmful messages.
So what constitutes this horrible “whiteness”? Let’s go over the elements.
- Individualism
- Self-reliance
- Nuclear family
- Scientific method
- Objective, rational linear thinking
- Protestant work ethic
- Hard work being the key to success
- Respecting authority
- Planning for the future
I’m sorry, but these aren’t “whiteness” things. These are keys to success irrespective of religion or color. It is actually highly demeaning to minorities to suggest that these elements are not and cannot be part of their lives. Instead of educating, the museum has actually engaged in the bigotry of low expectations.
The Smithsonian should be ashamed.
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.