The Study of Racialism

Patience · Mentor Joined: 13 Mar 2007 {Posts: 261 } Location: Canada

It occurred to me from another discussion on this board that I would like to get some feedback on what "white" is. I know it is a social construct, but as such, what is it and what does it mean?

What is "white" for you?

kalima · Posted: Fri 18 May 2007 15:52 Post subject:

That's an interesting question. It's more than just phenotype, but it's not a specific culture. You can have white Germans and white Australians, white Americans and white Africans. We all recognize each other as white.

The reason I say it's more just a phenotype is that Blacks living in the US who subscribe to the ODR say it is. In the US, your culture and ancestry trumps your phenotype. They've in a sense removed themselves from what they see in front of them. It's a sort of doublethink.

So I guess my answer is I don't know.

fwsweet · Posted: Fri 18 May 2007 16:14 Post subject:

I depends on who is using the word.

Americans who do not see themselves as being of mainly Euro descent (including some Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, Jews, Native Americans, and Arab Americans) tend to use it to refer to mainstream English-speaking society in general and to anyone but themselves and Blacks in particular. For example, U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) famously told two Republican Mexican Americans, "All you White men look alike to me." Similarly, Blacks often refer to other minorities (Hispanics, Jews, Asian-Americans, etc.) as "White" when they want to convey opposition but as "people of color" when they want to indicate support. Another famous example is that the Native Americans engaged in warfare against the U.S. Army's 24th and 25th infantry, and the 9th and 10th cavalry referred to the enemy soldiers as "black White men."

On the other hand, Americans who see themselves as being of mainly Euro descent seldom apply the term to themselves. For example, when asked their "ethnicity" on the census long form, fewer than one USAmerican in 100 chooses "White." See http://backintyme.com/rawdata/ethnics.xls for details.

In general, it seems to be a term used nowadays only by White supremacists and by people who, at the moment of usage, do not consider themselves White and see "White" as "the opposition." Historically, of course, it has changed in meaning many times, usually referring to mainstream U.S. society, whatever that happened to mean at the time ("Christian" in the 1600s, "Protestant" in the 1700s, "Anglo-Saxon" in the 1800s, etc.)

ImBack · Suspended Joined: 28 Jun 2006 {Posts: 630 }

kalima · Posted: Fri 18 May 2007 21:47 Post subject:

kalima · Posted: Fri 18 May 2007 21:49 Post subject:

[quote="TheMulattoKid"]

High School Teacher · Posted: Fri 18 May 2007 23:37 Post subject: Re: What is "White"?

kalima · Posted: Sat 19 May 2007 01:09 Post subject: Re: What is "White"?

Patience · Mentor Joined: 13 Mar 2007 {Posts: 261 } Location: Canada

fwsweet · Posted: Sat 19 May 2007 11:37 Post subject: Re: What is "White"?

kalima · Posted: Sat 19 May 2007 16:20 Post subject: Re: What is "White"?

Patience · Mentor Joined: 13 Mar 2007 {Posts: 261 } Location: Canada

In thinking about the concept of "white" I'm trying to figure out if there is anything left if superiority is taken out of the equation.

What is "white" if this is gone?

Can it be defined?

There's the European heritage, but why not just say European.

Is there a difference psychologically between saying 'I am "white" and 'I am of European Heritage?' What different images do these two sentences conjure up?

ImBack · Suspended Joined: 28 Jun 2006 {Posts: 630 }

There is only one thing left, Patience. Mainstream. Oh, and Kalima, you are absolutley correct about what I am saying.

LMartin · Posted: Sat 19 May 2007 21:15 Post subject:

ImBack · Suspended Joined: 28 Jun 2006 {Posts: 630 }

Yea Martin is correct. White is about being a mainstream American entittled to all of the social and legal priviliges under our constitution and traditonally granted to established Americans.

Kid

Patience · Mentor Joined: 13 Mar 2007 {Posts: 261 } Location: Canada

Thinking some more on the subject of colourizing....it's now anti-social and insulting to call a Native American person "red" and an East Asian person, "yellow" but "black" and "white" are still more than acceptable ways of categorization.

mixedmom · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 782 }

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pianoplayer111 · Wizard Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 429 }

In America, "white" is often interpreted to mean blue-eyed blond people. However, there are broader definitions of it. Some black folks and some white racists believe that it is impossible to have a brown-eyed, brown-haired white person without that person being "corrupted" by black blood. Some people feel that if a white person has curly hair or olive skin then that person is black. That is one example of the myth of racial purity in this country.

It is difficult to say what "whiteness" is. Some would say it is all about appearance or phenotype. Others would say no, it is about how you're treated by society on a whole. There is no real definition of whiteness or blackness in my mind. Here is what I've observed over the years, however:

-Most in America perceive "white people" to be those of discernible European/Caucasian ancestry. If you're a blue-eyed blonde, that helps. If you have straight hair, even better. If you happen to have dark hair or brown eyes you will mostly be seen as "nonwhite" despite any overwhelming European blood. I don't agree with this, but oh well... Rolling Eyes

-White people are often viewed as being socially dominant, the ones that all others aspire to emulate. Many minorities in America perceive whites as being the ones who reap all the benefits (i.e., white privilege) whether or not these whites are rich or poor.