The Future
By 2056 the average US resident will trace her/his roots to Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, or the Middle East- not Europe.
What can you do…to end racism?
Notes:
The text discusses the implications of growing ethnic/racial diversity in the US.
Following the thesis developed by Howard Winant, a form of metaracism may have
developed in the US. Conservative political forces, stressing individualism
and merit reinterpret the meaning of civil rights and affirmative action in
such a manner as to evoke hostility towards policies that open up opportunities
for traditionally underrepresented groups. This stimulates divisiveness and the
ghettoization of the poor and working poor. Part of this process involves the
cultivation of minority allies who uphold the conservative ideologies and simultaneously
"prove" that minorities, especially blacks, have made it and can make it to the middle
and upper middle class on their own without legislative intervention. (Example-
Republican Representative J.C. Watts; Alan Keyes, Republican who ran for the
presidential nomination in 2000.) More critical analysts than Winant have
referred to these persons as "lapdogs" of the conservative far right. Incidentally,
a similar phenomenon occurs with women (Arianna Huffington is the classic example)
wherein intelligent women advocate policies dear to the far right which in practice
oppress their gender.
Measures individuals could take to make a difference in racism:
learn the history of ethnic relations in the US and the world
understand institutional racism
learn the culture and history of groups other than your own
understand your own stereotypes and be self reflective
have zero tolerance for racism and hatred
join with others online or in your community to oppose racism and discrimination
and finally, to quote Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.."teach your children well."