The Study of Racialism

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

I can identify three possible social trends which might be responsible for maintaining the rule of hypodescent.

1. Many white Americans may feel guilty for their priviliged status as "whites" and for the racist attitudes they secretely harbour against "blacks". They subconsciously believe that mulattos are superior to other black americans. It is important for them to remind themselves and others that light-skinned, blacks, whom they secretely feel are superior, are really part of the same race which they secretely think is degenerate. Thus, by attributing the successes, asthetic beauty, social prominance, and other acheivements of mulattos to africans, they are able to convince
themselves that they are not really racists by reason that it would be impossible for some members of a given race to be better than other members. Supporting hypodescent is important to protecting their own self-esteem.

2. Many black americans are accutley aware of the precarious position of their ethnic group in a society dominated by "whites". Many are aware of the preferential treatment that colored black Americans sometimes receive. They worry, that eliminating the rule of hypodescent would cause a rapid fragmentation of the black community along color lines, with many light-skinned "blacks" realigning themselves with the white community. They fear that many of the darker blacks in both poor and more prosperous areas, would then face the major brunt of racist discrimination on their own. In other words, they fear being left behind.

3. Many black political organizations such as the AME, the NAACP, the Black Muslims, and others predicate their mission statements on black unity and so are invested in maintaining the largest black community possible.

4. Many politicians might be invested in keeping ethnic conglomerations such as the black and white communties as unified and homogenous as possible so as to control their voting behavior. It might be dangerous if people in these communities began to dissociate themselves from the traditional interests of their compatriots. Maintaining hypodescent could be a way of preventing diversification of opinion.

Anybody have any ideas?

Kid

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

I think that you are right about on all counts and that all these things, (plus a few more perhaps), keep the "white" and "black" designations firmly in place.

The concept of the "superior Mulatto" has been in the American consciousness since slavery. It is mentioned quite often in "Clotel" by William Wells Brown, by both "white" and "black" characters. In chapter 12 there is a scene with the enslaved gossiping in the kitchen. They are appalled to hear that a light skinned woman is planning on marrying a field worker. It was asked why this woman would throw it all away on a man like that when she could have her pick of the house servants.

Otorongo · Experienced User Joined: 28 May 2007 {Posts: 107 }

Add growing up with many family members or acquaintances that are mixed ancestry that identify as Black. Social conditioning. Once you have grown up with a mentality it is very hard to break away from it. Especially if many of those that are the topic of discussion support the perception you have grown up with.

lsgh · Mentor Joined: 02 Oct 2007 {Posts: 226 } Location: Seattle

White Folks need to get over their guilt---REAL QUICK!