I think that the white supremacists who read this will get hung up on your choice to capitalize the B in Black but not the W in white. I personally have a strong distaste for “White Culture“ because anyone who uses the term either refers to the oppressive culture you describe or to the racist 1950s nostalgia culture of the Trumpist white supremacist. I don't like being identified by my race as it that's even a very important thing about me even though I recognize that I've enjoyed the privileges of my race, seen those privileges even out a little, and only now am witness to an administration that promises now to restore those privileges and then some. I did not think what is happening now was possible and I‘m still figuring out how to fight it. Anyway, this essay gave me a lot to think about.
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, the question about capitalizing white is one that pops up all the time, but I think it only reinforces my perspective. The current ambiguity between saying "white" or "White" highlights the definitional ambiguity that comes with the master-slave dialectic. Likewise, the narrative that white should be capitalized if Black is capitalized also highlights the strange attachment of the master-slave dialectic. Colonizers never intended for white and Black people to be considered as the same or equal, but if Black is defined as a proper noun and white is not that affords Black identity a degree of power, authority, and legitimacy that white does not have. Therefore, some people argue that white should be afforded the same degree of power, authority, and legitimacy based on the premise that Black and white are the "same," even though both identities were created so that they could never be the same. Basically, the argument is that Black and white should be treated equally, so that the power dynamics of the unequal relationship remain. Lastly, Black is an identity that exists as part of the process and struggle to liberate African diaspora people from white people, so arguing that both identities need to always remain connected ends up delegitimizing the liberating spirit of Black and the need for the capitalization. Hope this helps to clarify that issue.
That’s a great explanation. I was just reading a comment from someone concerned that she needs to have something called white culture. It occurred to me that white culture and black culture only exist within the framework of a system of racial discrimination and resistance to racial discrimination. Really, what is a white culture? Nothing. It only means something in opposition to black culture. It’s a separation of people into categories by skin color to justify an unequal power relationship. I don’t know if I’m making sense, but you’ve got me thinking.
I think that the white supremacists who read this will get hung up on your choice to capitalize the B in Black but not the W in white. I personally have a strong distaste for “White Culture“ because anyone who uses the term either refers to the oppressive culture you describe or to the racist 1950s nostalgia culture of the Trumpist white supremacist. I don't like being identified by my race as it that's even a very important thing about me even though I recognize that I've enjoyed the privileges of my race, seen those privileges even out a little, and only now am witness to an administration that promises now to restore those privileges and then some. I did not think what is happening now was possible and I‘m still figuring out how to fight it. Anyway, this essay gave me a lot to think about.
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, the question about capitalizing white is one that pops up all the time, but I think it only reinforces my perspective. The current ambiguity between saying "white" or "White" highlights the definitional ambiguity that comes with the master-slave dialectic. Likewise, the narrative that white should be capitalized if Black is capitalized also highlights the strange attachment of the master-slave dialectic. Colonizers never intended for white and Black people to be considered as the same or equal, but if Black is defined as a proper noun and white is not that affords Black identity a degree of power, authority, and legitimacy that white does not have. Therefore, some people argue that white should be afforded the same degree of power, authority, and legitimacy based on the premise that Black and white are the "same," even though both identities were created so that they could never be the same. Basically, the argument is that Black and white should be treated equally, so that the power dynamics of the unequal relationship remain. Lastly, Black is an identity that exists as part of the process and struggle to liberate African diaspora people from white people, so arguing that both identities need to always remain connected ends up delegitimizing the liberating spirit of Black and the need for the capitalization. Hope this helps to clarify that issue.
That’s a great explanation. I was just reading a comment from someone concerned that she needs to have something called white culture. It occurred to me that white culture and black culture only exist within the framework of a system of racial discrimination and resistance to racial discrimination. Really, what is a white culture? Nothing. It only means something in opposition to black culture. It’s a separation of people into categories by skin color to justify an unequal power relationship. I don’t know if I’m making sense, but you’ve got me thinking.