Hatewatch Tweets
Hatewatch is managed by the staff of the Intelligence Report, an investigative magazine published by the Alabama-based civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center.
Student Activists Confront Anti-Semitic California Prof
Students at Cal State Long Beach are launching a campaign against a faculty member known for his anti-Semitic writings and, most recently, for his leadership of a white supremacist political party.
Aiming to force Kevin MacDonald’s departure from the university, student activists this week began urging their peers to boycott classes taught by the longtime psychology professor. “We feel that Professor MacDonald brings a very racist ideology into his teaching,” said Marylou Cabral, a senior art education major at Cal State Long Beach who’s helping spearhead the anti-MacDonald efforts. “We believe that his personal biases are going to affect his teaching no matter what he’s teaching, and we believe that he brings a political force to our campus that we need to counter. … He’s not just an individual with hateful beliefs. He’s someone who’s making an effort to organize and promote those beliefs, and we feel that’s dangerous.”
The impetus for mobilizing students was MacDonald’s new position as director of American Third Position (ATP), whose stated mission is “to represent the political interests of White Americans.” According to in-depth reporting by O.C. Weekly, ATP is partnering with Freedom 14, a local neo-Nazi group, to establish itself as a party dedicated to the deportation of non-whites. ATP’s chairman is hard-line racist William D. Johnson, a Los Angeles-based lawyer who once proposed repealing the 14th and 15th Amendments, which made freed slaves U.S. citizens, granted equal protection under the law, and prohibited race-based denial of voting rights. Instead, Johnson proposed the Pace Amendment, which would essentially allow only non-Hispanic whites to become U.S. citizens. The group is planning to run political candidates nationwide, and the Southern California branch has handed out hundreds of anti-immigrant fliers and other materials, according to ATP’s blog.
Until ATP’s founding last October, MacDonald’s bigotry found expression mainly through academia rather than activism. His widely discredited research purportedly shows that Jews are driven by a genetically programmed group evolutionary strategy to undermine and harm Western civilization. In his academic works, MacDonald has suggested taxing Jews or restricting their access to universities as ways of protecting white society.
The student-led campaign against MacDonald began on Tuesday, the first day of his spring semester classes. Student activists affiliated with the groups Students Fight Back and the Party for Socialism and Liberation attempted to get those who’d signed up for MacDonald’s upper-level psychology courses — child & adolescent development, developmental psychopathology and social personality development — to drop them and join the boycott. The activists entered MacDonald’s three classes before the professor had arrived and distributed fliers detailing MacDonald’s bogus research and far-right political affiliations, along with a supplemental sheet listing alternative courses students could take. When MacDonald got to class, the activists confronted him about his white supremacist views, which he tried to deny, according to Douglas Kauffman, a senior English literature major who’s involved in the effort. But MacDonald did not disavow his association with ATP. “He was completely silent and tried to evade the topic each time by claiming he only wanted to talk about school issues,” Kauffman said.
MacDonald did not address his views or far-right advocacy in a brief E-mail to Hatewatch. “Students have disrupted my classes and encouraged students to drop my courses,” he wrote. “I suppose these are exactly the sorts of thuggish behavior advocated by the SPLC. Disrupting classes is illegal and it is unfair to students who are simply trying to get an education in difficult times.”
Department chairman Kenneth Green also took issue with the students’ tactics. “Those students were not registered for his class, and they had no legal right to be there,” he said. “There are more appropriate ways to protest.”
But the students defended their methods. “That was the most direct, efficient way to reach those students who are encountering him twice, three times a week,” Cabral said. And most students were receptive to their message, Kauffman said; despite a budget crisis that has limited their enrollment options, about half a dozen students immediately walked out in the three classes combined.
Provoked in part by an SPLC investigation, controversy has dogged MacDonald since at least 2006, when faculty members began expressing serious concerns about his research methods and the use of his writings by extremists to justify a racist agenda. In April 2008, the psychology department approved a statement disassociating itself from MacDonald’s work. “We respect and defend his right to express his views,” it stated in part, “but we affirm that they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the Department of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach.” Other academic departments have issued similar statements. While defending his academic freedom, the Cal State Long Beach Academic Senate also voted in October 2008 to disassociate itself from MacDonald’s writings.
University Assistant Vice President Toni Beron said she hadn’t heard about the student campaign against MacDonald and didn’t immediately have any comment.
The students will circulate a petition next week calling for MacDonald’s removal from the faculty and for students to stop taking his classes, Kauffman said. (They plan to present a copy, along with a letter explaining why students want him dismissed, to a psychology department committee conducting senior faculty reviews.) They’re also planning a campus meeting to discuss MacDonald and their efforts to get him ousted. They hope to work with faculty members who have pressured MacDonald in the past and would like to get the unions on campus to join their cause, including the California Faculty Association.
“Our campus is one of the most diverse in the country, and that really flies in the face of having a Nazi as a professor,” Kauffman said.
on January 30th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Thanks for bringing this issue to light SPLC. I have never heard this from the MSM. It’s sad the media, either through ignorance, or intentionally, keeps issues like this from reaching people who rely on them for factual based/responsible journalism.
It has gotten the point I don’t particularly trust the MSM. I find worldfocus.org, BBC America, CCTV (China based news channel) do a better job for news. Otherwise, I have to look to websites such as yours for information not reported in the news.
on January 31st, 2010 at 8:36 am
Funny how it’s really difficult to get rid of these Nazi professors (and their country cousins, Klan professors in the deep South).
But supposedly liberal bastion CU in Boulder has no trouble getting rid of Ward Churchill.
There’s a double standard here, and it does NOT skew to the left, it skews right. Ward Churchill is proof of that, whether or not you agree with the man himself.
Radical thought is now subject to punishment and tenure is no protection. But racist thought is still protected, even though it is just as dangerous if not worse.
How did the Klan Nazis get the upper hand in supposedly eeeevil librrrrrul academia?
With Right Wing support from powerful monied interests, that’s how. Another connection between the Right and the Haters.
on January 31st, 2010 at 9:18 am
I recently viewed the German movie Sophie Scholl- The Final Days. She was a college girl pamphleteer and eventually beheaded by the Nazis after investigation and trial. She was executed on the very day she was found guilty, February 22, 1943, Scholl, a member of the White Rose resistance, was only 22 years old. Cancers are best beaten down and eliminated when small and nascent. Hitler became Master Tumor through democratic avenues. Good to see that folks-Volks are more vigilant than they used to be.
on January 31st, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Why is it ok for Mexicans to have MeCha and the Race to fight for THEIR rights, but European-Americans are denied any groups dedicated to supporting Whites’ interests?
on February 1st, 2010 at 5:22 am
Well let’s see John- does MeCha or the Council for La Raza advocate segregation, and the removal of civil rights for non Latinos? No, they do not. Moreover, being minorities as a whole, they NEED groups to look out for their rights, whereas economic statistics show that “white people” aren’t facing massive discrimination and disparities in wealth and other areas. Moreover, there are plenty of organizations for various European ethnic groups, which attract no negative attention.
on February 1st, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Ya, this guy is the biggest threat in the country right now.
on February 1st, 2010 at 5:30 pm
What surprises me is that only a few folks here realize that there are no “whites”.
This “Professor” who wallows in his rationalization & intellectualism will find some serious, desirable door shut to him. Not entirely because of his views but because he champions the worst offenders.
When this man sits alone at night he MAY realize what his childish passions have done to him. but once he had taken the road traveled darkly he will also come to see it’s tough turning back. He may see himself as another William Pierce.
But as Pierce became acclimated, he ran from people; allowing his poison to fester.Students won’t soon let him forget what he did.
And he did sell his academic soul to feed his simplistic view of the world.
I wonder what perceived “wrongs” were done to him that made him take that leap into the abyss?
I have very little sympathy for him (remember that older Rolling Stones song?) I would also be willing to bet he is starting to understand what a deal he made & with who.
The students who find him despicable may be wondering why their University allowed this sham to continue as long as it did? Kevin raised some serious questions about academia.
on February 1st, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Ruslan,
I couldn’t have said it better than you have.
on February 3rd, 2010 at 2:33 am
I think its the beginning of the Jewish downfall in America. And AIPAC and the Neocons are to blame. They simply wanted too much and wanted America to act stupid and pretend there is nothing called organized Jewry. I think this will backfire BIG TIME.
on February 3rd, 2010 at 6:30 am
Well, let’s see, Ruslan. You defend a violent group that even the National Council of the Race has disavowed. They’ve been called a “hate group.”
You may wish to read a bit of racist tripe called “El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán” before you step up to bat for MEChA again. It’s one of their founding documents. Separatist? Yep. In case you didn’t know, “Atzlan” refers to the Western US and they think it belongs to La Raza/the Race.
I notice you put “white people” in quotation marks, as though the very concept is questionable or mysterious to you. To clarify, I was referring to those people closely related to or descended from the Founders of this nation. On a seasonal note, these same people were responsible for the invention of blood banks, traffic lights, cell phones, superchargers, the light bulb and other useful items you’ll see spuriously ascribed to other races this month.
on February 3rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Excuse me but what “violence” has Mecha been involved with? Would you like to take a look at crimes connected with the White Nationalist movement, skinheads, the KKK, and right-wing domestic terrorists and see how they stack up against any known cases of violence from Mecha or the Council of La Raza? I have a feeling you don’t.
Ok so you were referring to those people descended from or closely related to the Founding Fathers? That’s a REALLY exclusive group of people. You have to be more specific.
And you can write all you want about inventions but China and the Islamic world blow Europe out of the water in that respect, so you might want not to go down that road. More importantly- YOU didn’t invent anything, so don’t think that you having the same skin tone and a similar phenotype as Leonardo Da Vinci makes you special.
on February 3rd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Hey John, are you justifying or defending the discriminatory actions of this professor and the racist organization that he has made himself apart of based on the actions of another organization?
We all have to take in account for our own selves. The organization MeCha may very well be guilty of the things you stated but that is never a justification for something wrong you, yourself are doing. Even though this professor has the freedom to be just as racist and prejudice as he wants to be (because as I stated earlier he is his own person and will have to take in account for his own actions and beliefs) but when something like that hate is a part of you, and you support something that agrees with the “deportation of non-whites”, or “repealing the 14th and 15th Amendments which made freed slaves U.S. citizens, granted equal protection under the law, and prohibited race-based denial of voting rights” you cannot really think that, that is ok??
I don’t stand up for either side because of the color of your skin or what race invented what but I stand for what is right, you treat others the way you would want to be treated.
on February 4th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I find it funny when one of these types uses some obscure essays or texts from some identity-politics group to “prove” that Latinos plan to take over “Aztlan”. Imagine how these people would howl if someone were to take Klan literature or Mein Kampf and use it as “proof” that “white people” are genocidal.
on February 4th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
This guy should be fired, no question. There’s no place for this in a University. As the man said, “free speech doesn’t give you the right to should ‘fire!’ in a crowded theater.”
on February 4th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Wow! These comments are like one step forward two steps backward for each generation since the times of Fredrick Douglas. All e have to do is appreciate the colors of all flowers, not just the most abundant e.g. the milkweed Reading this is like watching people get educated on these issues while being taught to perpetuate ignorance at the same time. Once you understand the truth and you embrace your fellow human, you understand the racial agenda is very ignorant and based in spreading mistruths to keep power with the majority. That’s all!
on February 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
In a nutshell, to a nut-case, John Lawson, there is not a European American race. Understand that one fact and then you can make “some valid” agruements even if they don’t make any sense, even to those that have your beliefs. Start with facts, end with facts and build an arguement that is debateable.
on February 4th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
The SPLC should be ashamed of itself. So should its camp followers who attack Professor MacDonald without thinking for themselves.
These people cannot distinguish between academic analysis and real bigotry. It is sadly reminiscent of the Dershowitz’s of the world who scream “anti-semitism” at anyone who criticizes Israel. Or, the Jesse Jackson types who cry “racism” when society prosecutes hooligans running amok at a high school football game.
No doubt the SPLC thinks it is doing the right thing but what it is really doing is attacking academic freedom.
If you happen to read Dr. MacDonald’s books, you will find that he analyzes the impacts of Jews and organized Jewry in an academic fashion. He notes their actions and hypothesizes about their motives.
As with all such analysis, one basic problem is that Jews, like all groups, are not homogeneous. There are some Jews and Jewish groups that do not fit his analysis but this problem is well handled by the allowance of exceptions.
Please note that the same type of analysis, with the same type of flaws could be, and is, done for fundamentalist Christians (Jeff Sharlett), WASP’s (E. Digby Baltzell), and many other groups.
The problem that MacDonald has encountered is threefold: First, he is not a member of the group he is analyzing, which is a risky proposition in this “politically correct” world. In today’s America, there is a double standard for analysis by members of the group and non-members of the group under analysis. Second, he comes under criticism because he is a member of the perceived majority as he is criticizing a perceived minority. Again, in our irrational times, this will draw withering criticism. Third, his analysis includes negative points about the group under analysis. In modern America, it is an unwritten rule that the perceived majority cannot criticize minorities, even if it is true. Just ask the former high ranking official of the New Jersey State Police who pointed out that black people have a higher rate of criminal offense. Though this was true, he was fired within 48 hours. Had he been black, he would have been hailed as a man who dared to speak the truth. But, being white, he was canned immediately.
To sum, the SPLC should focus its efforts on real bigots instead of attempting to constrict thinking which it doesn’t like. Perhaps the SPLC doesn’t have enough to do, or can’t find real bigots. I dare all who read this to actually read MacDonald’s books, not just excerpts, and then come back and demonstrate mean-spiritedness or actual bigotry.
on February 4th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
In response to John Lawson’s two comments, I am a white person directly descended from two founding fathers. Please don’t speak for me, John, or use the founders to justify your philosophy.
My “White interests” are that all Americans be treated with respect. I do not support discrimination against human beings that, by chance, are of a different ethnicity, gender, religion or skin color. I do not need a special group to further “White interests”; we’re doing just fine, thanks.
I also suggest you read some of the writings of the founders to better understand their vision for this country.
on February 4th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
OK this whole “white people” in quotes thing is getting old. On an intellectual, academic level it may be true- there isn’t one monolithic group of White people. Cool, I’ll get an A+ on my cultural studies exam.
But in the real world hell yes there is a group of people called whites! Don’t believe me? Visit any prison or crappy public high school like the one I went to and try to convince the brothers that you’re not “White.” I wish you much luck- please post about your experience afterwards LOL.
on February 4th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Very well said Miranda.
on February 4th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
So what you are acknowledging Muay, is that it is indeed a social construct and there is no actual nation of “white people” or anything known as “white culture”.
As for the MacDonald defender, take a look at this part of your post:
“He notes their actions and hypothesizes about their motives”
“Their” actions and “their” motives- as though the Jews represent some kind of hivemind collective, from Ethiopia into China. More importantly, MacDonald cherry-picks things that support his preconceived notions, and discards that which doesn’t. Topping it off, if any Jewish academics confront him- that just goes to prove his original claim that they are engaged in a massive cover-up.
on February 4th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I support the students’ actions — and would hope they would go further and leave their literature in the college mailboxes of every student who remained in the class. (I also hope at least one student who opposed MacDonald would remain and take careful notes as to what he actually teaches in his classes. This is, after all, the key question, is he using his teaching to disseminate his views. I am too aware of the long fight for Academic Freedom to support his severance for views that leave me nauseous unless he is using his platform to teach them.)
I would also investigate what the rules are for political activity by teachers, and enforce them strictly in his case. beyond that, I know of nothing that should, or sadly, could be done.
on February 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Thank You Ruslan Amirkhanov for your logic and reason!
As a Mexican American, I couldn’t have said that better myself.
on February 4th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
A boycott – very powerful thing, as people in Montgomery,
Alabama can tell you.
Keep it up until you win.
on February 5th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
To Ruslan – You are being dishonest about what McDonald represents – he has never called for violence against nonwhites, and in fact he explicitly renounces violence. Also to say that whites have groups representing various european ethnicities is true, HOWEVER these are geared towards the recent immigrants of that particular european country. Most American whites trace their ancestry back many generations to various European nations, so obviously these groups do not apply. Those other groups you mention (MeCha La Raza) whatever – sure they fight for hispanics. Who are you to say that whites never face discrimination? Whites are openly discriminated against in education and employment in many cases. When do you determine that a racial/ethinic group is eligible to have a “group” to support it? I think that is all McDonald is doing.
on February 5th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Oh the horror!
on February 5th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Danny, had you read my post, you would have seen that I did not accuse MacDonald of supporting violence himself. The thing is though, once you accept MacDonald’s claims, you have a rationalization for violence. In fact he says himself that “anti-Semitism” is a reaction to Jewish behavior.
It is dishonest to claim that European ethnic organizations cater mainly toward recent immigrants. Many of these organizations date back to over 100 years. When you think about those Americans with deeper roots in the country, you would do well to remember that in those days people spoke about the Irish the same way the idiots speak about Mexicans today.
Mecha and La Raza “fight” for Hispanics because history shows they needed to organize. You claim that there is widespread discrimination against whites? By all means- provide the proof. Because if you have something it’s going to be difficult to explain as to why hundreds of academic statistical studies show discrimination mainly against blacks, not white Americans.
on February 5th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
OK Ruslan-
First off – Whites are being discriminated against in employment and education via affirmative action. Proof is scene in many real life examples – just to name a few: 1) the recent court case where the white firefighters were denied promotions because there were no minorities who scored high enough to be promoted. Another recent example right off the top of my head is the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation millenium scholarship that is open for people of ANY race other than WHITE to apply for…if you don’t believe me check this link http://www.gmsp.org/
Now, again, you are talking about european ethnic groups for individual nations…AGAIN, most white americans are of mixed european ancestry, therefore these groups do not apply, even if they are 100 years old!
on February 6th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
“I also suggest you read some of the writings of the founders to better understand their vision for this country.”
Well, the Founding Fathers restricted citizenship to Whites. So I don’t fathom the point you are trying to make.
on February 7th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Wow Danny, that’s the best you can do? One actual case and then you whine about the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation? That is his private charity- he has the right to give scholarships to anyone he wants.
If this discrimination is true, then how can you explain multiple studies on job and housing discrimination which show minorities still face institutional discrimination- even when they have better criminal records(as in no criminal record), qualifications, credit ratings, etc. than the sample white applicants? How can you explain the studies which show that applicants with “black sounding names” are far less likely to get call backs on their applications? If employers are chomping at the bit to hire minorities, they should be calling Tyrone Jackson more often than Preston Johnson Jr., especially if the qualifications are equal.
FAIL.
on February 7th, 2010 at 9:39 am
“…the Islamic world [would] blow Europe out of the water” re inventions.
LOL! Not even CLOSE to the achievement of Europeans. And Muslims didn’t “invent” Algebra, our numeral system or the astrolabe (India, India, Greece).
Let’s see you back your racist statement up, Rus. You’re a perfect example of what’s going on here. While hate-filled bigots like Noel Ignatiev and others like him are free to spew the vile creed perversely called “Whiteness Studies,” Prof MacDonald is tarred with a lot of guilt by association nonsense. Where is the SPLC on the “Whiteness Studies” hate merchants?
Basically it comes down to your loathing for Whites. There is one standard for us and another vastly more liberal standard for every other group. You don’t hesitate to act in a way you’d consider offensive if it were directed at the minorities which you feel so desperately need your protection.
I’ll wait for you to tell me how the “Islamic world” blows Europe away in terms of inventions. What is the Islamic World’s answer to the car (I’m sure you’ll froth about pollution), space exploration, the computer, the lightbulb, the telescope, the microscope, transistor, the mechanical clock, penicillin and modern antibiotics, telephone, the airplane, organ transplantation, photography, air-conditioning / refrigeration, railroads, (modern) aspirin, democracy, the internet, transistor, steel plow, cement, television, the steam engine, integrated circuit, modern anesthetics, ball bearing, open heart surgery? (Hint: You won’t be able to defend your position, so if you want to apologize like a gentleman, I’ll be pleased to accept that apology)
Those closely-related to the Founding Fathers are Anglo-Protestants and other Western Europeans, Rus. There’s a lot of us.
And congratulations for bringing Hitler into the discussion. Wow, that was fast. Good luck defending your violent hate group buddies. I’m sure they really appreciate it.
on February 7th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Ruslan -”institutional racism” is the biggest sham – It is a blanket term that is thrown out whenever minorities want to claim more discrmination, but have no one to directly point their finger at (b/c quite frankly there really isn’t much discrimination from whites against them these days!) In other words, “institutions are white and therefore they are inherently biased against minorities:…Don’t you realize how ridiculous this is? In the past- OK I will give something to blacks, surely they were discriminated against, and maybe they have a right to be concerned. But for all the recent immigrants, of course it is going to be harder, why wouldn’t it be? That’s why lots of these “studies” are bogus – of course the people with deep ties to this nation whose ancestors built this country and built the institutions are going to be better off! In what country in this world is that NOT the case?? The other thing Ruslan, I think in an earlier post you mentioned that you are not American and live in Russia or somewhere over there…so I think you are probably making comments based on what you read from all these “studies” etc….Come spend some time living as a white American (in New York) where I live – and let’s see if your attitude changes. I’m sure it will.
on February 7th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I’ve lived in NYC for 40 of the last 45 years — I am 63 and white. I spent most of my time in low-paying jobs where I was a ‘minority.’ I even spent time homeless, living in a shelter. I have lived in areas of all racial and ethnic compositions.
I have NEVER experienced discrimination because of my race. I have, however witnessed a fair amount of discrimination against blacks, Hispanics and Muslims.
on February 8th, 2010 at 2:18 am
Ok John, let’s examine your ignorance shall we. Here’s a starting point for your question about inventions:
First of all, all scientific discovery builds off of previous discoveries. So when you mention organ transplants, for example, you might be surprised to know that many of the most important surgical instruments, from the tools to biodegradable materials for internal stitches, were invented by a 10th century Muslim scholar named al-Zahrawi. Muslims also discovered the nature of the human circulatory system 300 years before a European. Muslim doctors were using alcohol to sterilize wounds; how would you like your organ transplant without any antiseptic? In fact, in the tenth century it was a Muslim who compiled the works of Hippocrates and Galen into a single encyclopedia which became the basis for European medicine in the 17th century.
They invented chemistry, distillation, and described the processes of crystalization. The Muslims introducted cotton to Europe via Spain. The list can go on and on.
As for China, these are simply too numerous to mention here so I will provide you with a link to get your started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....inventions
But does this mean that people from the early Islamic world, or Chinese, are somehow “better” because of these inventions? No- only a complete idiot would look at the list of things invented by his nationality or ethnicity and conclude that this was proof of some inherent good. John, YOU didn’t invent anything, so nobody gives a damn if you have white skin and Aristotle had white skin. The latter wouldn’t give a damn- he’d see you as a barbarian. So let’s drop this idiotic “white people invented a lot of things” argument and get to the meat of your paranoia.
First off- what is my “racist” statement? And what evidence is there that I hate white people? Being indisputably “white” by anyone’s standards, it wouldn’t make sense to be self-hating. And to answer another person’s accusation, I was born and raised in America in a mostly non-white area, so don’t try to say I don’t understand because I’m a “foreigner” or that I am some liberal living in an all-white suburban gated community.
The fact is that most white people do not subscribe to your idiotic theories- do they all hate white people too? Since when were you elected to speak for the majority of us? I must have missed that one.
And as for the comment about Hitler, it’s no wonder you haven’t invented anything, seeing as you couldn’t even grasp a simple analogy. You mentioned a few texts by some whacked-out identity-politics-loving Latino advocates. I asked you what you would say if someone used the texts of Hitler for the purpose of smearing all white people. I’m guessing you’d be up in arms about it.
Lastly let’s get back to the founding fathers argument. Closely related means closely related. Being Anglo-Protestant does not make you any more related to the Founding Fathers than my half-Ukrainian heritage makes me related to the founder of Russia in 988 AD. For one thing, a good portion of American “whites” are Irish, Italian, and Slavic- all groups against whom the Anglo-Protestants once discriminated heavily. Apparently nobody told them that they were all “white” so they should get along.
The idea that you would compare yourself to the Founding Fathers simply due to the flimsiest connections is simply laughable, almost as laughable as you thinking that any of those European inventions somehow reflect on you.
on February 8th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
LOL! Did anyone not see that one coming? “I’m White therefore I can’t be racist against Whites.” That’s right up there with your reductio ad Hitlerum (look up Godwin’s Law, Rus, you’re a walking Liberal stereotype) and your frothing, angry rehash of “the Irish didn’t used to be White” silliness. (Hint: Most of the “Whiteness Studies” bigots are considered White, too.) So if the Irish faced discrimination, don’t they have as much claim to reparations as any of the groups crying for payments now? Congressman Conyers, where are you?
So, Rus, you’re in favor of canceling Black History Month because it’s silly to tell black kids about black inventors and other heroes, right?
“Darryl, it’s ridiculous for you to take pride in George Crum’s invention of the potato chip because you have only the flimsiest connection with him.”
(For my part, I can’t see the point in telling black children that their forebears and fellow blacks invented items they did not, such as the cell phone, elevator, cotton gin, internet and etc.)
But for you, it’s just another case where there’s going to be one standard for Whites and a far more advantageous standard for non-Whites. It’s ok to tell black kids to be proud of their heritage, but not White kids. I’m far more closely related–in that I’m ACTUALLY related–to the Founding Fathers than any African-American is related to the great Pharaohs (we’ll leave aside the brief period of Nubian rule) but we can’t say that, can we? Race is an expression of extended family, and all of the Founding Fathers would be in mine: cousins several times removed, but with shared ancestors not too far back in time, similar phenotype, common cultural background.
How hilarious that your traipse down the halls of Islamic innovation really gets going with a falsehood: the claim that Muslims invented chemistry. They did not. The claims about al-Zahrawi are also inflated: WHITE Romans had scalpels in essentially modern form, as verifiable by googling ‘scalpel Pompei’. Roman physician Galen describes gut sutures hundreds of years before Islam existed. As for China, this is one civilization that rivals Europeans (that’s right, Rus: WHITES) for innovation. But virtually every invention central to the modern world was invented by WHITES, Rus. Computer. Light bulb. Internet. Airplane. Car. FACTS, not your feel-good revisionist history.
Your racist statement was the demonstrably false one to the effect that Muslims blew away Europeans in terms of innovation. Still waiting for some evidence of that, and the fact that Moors introduced cotton doesn’t impress me on quite the same level as European-Americans putting a man on the Moon does (if their space drawers were made of cotton, we better give this one to the Islamic World, right?). You think nothing of viciously attacking Whites while propping up half-truths to burnish the image of other races. You bitterly assail the very concept of a White race at the same time you lavish praise on the Chinese and the “Islamic World.” If that doesn’t make you a racist, I’m not sure there is anyone who qualifies for the term. Perhaps you can use your royal heritage and return to the Ukraine and establish a Caliphate there: seems like you’d be more comfortable in such an arrangement than in this Anglo-Protestant nation.
on February 8th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
“LOL! Did anyone not see that one coming? “I’m White therefore I can’t be racist against Whites.” That’s right up there with your reductio ad Hitlerum (look up Godwin’s Law, Rus, you’re a walking Liberal stereotype) and your frothing, angry rehash of “the Irish didn’t used to be White” silliness.”
I see you’re still having trouble figuring out that Hitler analogy, but I guess missing simple concepts is par for the course for you. You might be dismayed to find that I am not a liberal, and generally despise liberals.
And are you insisting that Irish people, among many other groups of immigrants from Europe- WERE considered white when they first arrived? Perhaps many considered the white but that didn’t matter- they were Irish. Take a trip to Europe some time and find out how far being “white” gets you.
“So if the Irish faced discrimination, don’t they have as much claim to reparations as any of the groups crying for payments now? Congressman Conyers, where are you? ”
Funny you mention that, because Irish boys and girls were in fact literally enslaved and sent to the West Indies by the British- but that would mean if they wanted to seek reparations from England, not the US. That being said, I am not for reparations for any group- so try to argue with me and not some fantasy “liberal” stereotype.
“So, Rus, you’re in favor of canceling Black History Month because it’s silly to tell black kids about black inventors and other heroes, right?
“Darryl, it’s ridiculous for you to take pride in George Crum’s invention of the potato chip because you have only the flimsiest connection with him.”
Talking about great inventors is one thing, acting like one’s “race” is so great simply because that group includes so many inventors is ridiculous. You were the one who brought up inventions in the first place.
“(For my part, I can’t see the point in telling black children that their forebears and fellow blacks invented items they did not, such as the cell phone, elevator, cotton gin, internet and etc.) ”
I have never seen blacks credited with any of those inventions.
”
But for you, it’s just another case where there’s going to be one standard for Whites and a far more advantageous standard for non-Whites. It’s ok to tell black kids to be proud of their heritage, but not White kids.”
Nonsense, everyone should be proud of their heritage- the difference is that “white” is not a heritage. There is no “white” nation, no “white” language, no “white” traditional dance. There are simply different European countries, many of them differing radically in culture, language, and history. People should be proud of that, within reason. When all one has in life to be proud of is membership in some group, it’s pretty pathetic. After all, you didn’t do anything to be born into that group.
“I’m far more closely related–in that I’m ACTUALLY related–to the Founding Fathers than any African-American is related to the great Pharaohs (we’ll leave aside the brief period of Nubian rule) but we can’t say that, can we?”
But if that were true….
” Race is an expression of extended family, and all of the Founding Fathers would be in mine: cousins several times removed, but with shared ancestors not too far back in time, similar phenotype, common cultural background.”
The culture you come from is far removed from that of the Founding Fathers. You’d be lucky to even communicate with them verbally given the vernacular of the era.
“How hilarious that your traipse down the halls of Islamic innovation really gets going with a falsehood: the claim that Muslims invented chemistry. They did not.”
Oh wow, that sure refutes that claim!! I notice you don’t provide any proof to back that up.
” The claims about al-Zahrawi are also inflated: WHITE Romans had scalpels in essentially modern form, as verifiable by googling ’scalpel Pompei’. Roman physician Galen describes gut sutures hundreds of years before Islam existed. ”
Google “dark ages” some time and find out how much of Roman and Greek medicine was lost to Europe until reintroduced by Islam.
“As for China, this is one civilization that rivals Europeans (that’s right, Rus: WHITES) for innovation. But virtually every invention central to the modern world was invented by WHITES, Rus. Computer. Light bulb. Internet. Airplane. Car. FACTS, not your feel-good revisionist history.”
“Whites” do not exist as a people. Europeans do. Moreover, every invention of the modern world is based on principles discovered centuries earlier. All science is built on top of previous work.
“Your racist statement was the demonstrably false one to the effect that Muslims blew away Europeans in terms of innovation.”
How is it “racist”? If you actually believe in race, then you would have to count the Kurdish and Persian scholars of the Islamic world as white. Ditto for the Greeks, Albanians, and Balkan Slavs who developed things under the Ottoman Empire.
“Still waiting for some evidence of that, and the fact that Moors introduced cotton doesn’t impress me on quite the same level as European-Americans putting a man on the Moon does (if their space drawers were made of cotton, we better give this one to the Islamic World, right?). ”
Wow, that’s a really great comparison there. Why COULDN’T Moorish Spain put a man on the moon? Those Moors must have been real idiots. Oh, I was wondering about your personal connection to the moon landing project.
“You think nothing of viciously attacking Whites while propping up half-truths to burnish the image of other races.”
Where have I “viciously” attacked “Whites”? You have failed to show anything I said is a half-truth.
“You bitterly assail the very concept of a White race at the same time you lavish praise on the Chinese and the “Islamic World.”
Actually most Europeans bitterly assail the very concept of a White race, because most of them don’t give a damn if you’re white. Since you seem to be an extreme case, I recommend you go to the Baltics, Balkans, or Poland and find out the hard way. Go tell them they should all get along with their historical rivals because they are all “white” to you. Good luck. On the second point- YOU brought up inventions, not me.
“If that doesn’t make you a racist, I’m not sure there is anyone who qualifies for the term. Perhaps you can use your royal heritage and return to the Ukraine and establish a Caliphate there: seems like you’d be more comfortable in such an arrangement than in this Anglo-Protestant nation.”
Wait a minute now John, Ukrainians are WHITE, are they not? So sometimes it’s a white nation, and sometimes it’s all about the Anglo-Protestants? Hmmm…very suspicious indeed.
on February 9th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Hey Rus-
What you said about not taking pride in Vladimir’s “baptism of Russia” is interesting on a few counts – First, I am actually of Ukrainian descent, and in the Ukranian Church they make a BIG deal about this. It is definitely played up much more than it is in other Eastern Churches such as the Greek Church or the Antiochian Church – do you want to guess why????? Go ahead, tell me why? Second, I have often heard blacks talk about how they “built the pyramids” which of course is highly questionable anyway, Indians talk about their ancient history with pride, as do the Greeks…this is natural – Now I think you and I are actually in agreement on this issue – I think it is kind of silly, I of course had nothing to do with Vladimir either. But I think what John pointed out is that you quickly fault white people for making these types of connections, and taking pride in them or whatever, but what about all the minorities that are doing the exact same thing? I wound venture to say that they do it far more often as well. Again, I see a double standard. And actually in John’s case, being related to founding fathers is a big deal. We are talking about the founder’s of our nation, and going back only a couple hundred years, not like thousands of years across civilizations and such. This is a little different.
on February 9th, 2010 at 10:36 am
I don’t want be part of the group that is piling on, but I must take exception to something Ruslan said on 2/5 where he notes that MacDonald doesn’t advocate violence but provides a rationalization for those that might.
Ruslan has fallen into one of the basic logical fallacies…..that if A agrees with B, but B believes something else that is in error, then A is in error.
Let us be clear……..there is a huge difference between doing the wrong thing and providing an academic argument that someone else might use, or extend, to do the wrong thing.
People are responsible for what they say, not for what someone else says.
For instance, society may have a law that says that murder deserves the death penalty. That would be an argument that someone who commits a murder deserves death. Using that argument, a vigilante, or a mob, might lynch someone. By Ruslan’s logic, this would mean that society was wrong for passing the law calling for the death penalty……because that law provided a rationalization for the vigilantes or the mob.
Folks, we need to be careful about preserving our freedoms of thought. MacDonald points out data and offers conclusions which others might use to criticize some minorities.
Because the use of his conclusions makes some people uncomfortable, they take the approach that his research should be banned. But, this is censorship.
The right approach is to argue with those who wrongly use his data, not to attack MacDonald for offering the data.
As an analogy, it has been revealed that Martin Luther King, Jr. had a series of extra-marital affairs. There are some who would use that data to argue that MLK was wrong on other things. By Ruslan’s approach, we should then censor the data on the extra-marital affairs. But, the right approach would be to point out that MLK’s affairs have nothing to do with his views on civil rights.
Mike Lasche
on February 9th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
You answer your own questions when you speak of Greeks taking pride(actually Greeks go way overboard with this but that’s another story altogether), Indians taking pride, Ukrainians, etc. You see these are actual ethnic groups. “White” is not an ethnic group, no matter how much Anglo-Protestant boy(guess white’s not good enough for him anymore) over there.
On the subject of Afrocentrism, this is a discredited theory and it is rejected by the mainstream. I’m not calling you a liar but personally I did not frequently hear blacks brag about founding ancient Egypt. That’s not to say that I didn’t constantly hear about it from certain sources- right wing talk radio show hosts and white nationalist writers. Hmmm…that’s curious isn’t it?
Lastly, I don’t know what you mean by I “fault white people”. John apparently wants a medal because folks he considers to be white invented a lot of things. Apparently nobody ever told him that the invention of things is never clear cut. At times things were invented but not put into use. Or in other cases the actual origin is lost to history. Gunpowder for example, is often thought to have been invented in China. Despite a lot of evidence for this, it is also possible that it developed independently in Europe and the Islamic world as well.
Honestly though it is ridiculous trying to argue history with ignorant people who take it exclusively from right-wing sources, the kind which attempt to discredit their opponents with cries of “political correctness”. Civilization is often overrated. For nearly 2000 years, civilization was continually menaced, and often conquered or enslaved by nomadic tribes of the Steppe- Iranians, Turks, and Mongols. The same steppe conditions which forged them into superior warriors also minimized the cultural differences between them. Historical witnesses, whether describing Scythians of antiquity or the Crimean Tatars of the 17th or 18th century might as well be talking about the same people, as any authoritative book on the subject will tell you.
And what great inventions allowed the steppe peoples to dominate the settled, regardless of how learned or advanced, for so many centuries? Simple- the domesticated horse, the composite bow, and at times, the stirrup. From those three simple inventions came a war machine which toppled settled civilizations with ease, including European ones. And keep in mind we are speaking of people whose existence was not far removed beyond the neolithic age in most cases. Anyway, that is a long digression.
Now that being said, I could care less if John has some distant relation to the Founding Fathers. HE hasn’t done anything noteworthy, so if there is an afterlife they will probably be pretty disappointed with him. Only a sad, pathetic individual, has to rely on some distant relation or even worse, their ethnicity to be proud.
on February 10th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Yeah, let’s get rid of everyone who presents a position we don’t agree with. Who are the racists here? You are dupes of the zionists. Maybe YOU should learn to adopt the American attitude of; ” I may disagree with what you say, but, I will defend to the death your right to say it”. Maybe, just maybe, you should be expelled from school, or fired from your job and livelyhood for your communist views.
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
It’s perfect that this is coming from CSLB, where Ron Karenga was a department head. Were there ever any student protests over a felon convicted of torturing two women heading up a department in the CS system? I don’t think so.
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Ruslan, I actually agree with you on that. But you are wrong to deny white Americans a heritage. As I said before, most white americans are not “italian, or German” rather they are a blend of various european ethinic groups. In that process they become white americans, creating a distinct ethnic group.
From dictionary.com:
ethnicity [(eth-nis-uh-tee)]
Identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group’s customs, beliefs, and language.
According to you, you can only take pride in your ethnic group if it is a single european nationality? Where did you come up with this? Isn’t that kind of arbitrary?
on February 10th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
ruslan,
why do u hate white people so much? was your father a racially concious white man who maybe used some derogatory speech in your presence? or just the leftist control of high learning institutions that u have no doubt be indoctrinated by. the funny thing is i like u ruslan. you’re smart, but foolish. why is it that you leftist/progressive/commies’ life work is to prove that it is righteous and beautifully humane to justify mass immigration of non-whites into previously white majority countries. Is it purely economical? is it because the white nations prosperity has been the envy of the world? i know your reaction there is no white race. and there are no races period. why is that in israel jews can’t legally marry gentiles? that seems racist coming from a group that is at the forefront of racial-blending (mass media control among jews is bragged by many of them outright). television shows straight out of hollywood showing the white women swooning for that ideal leading black man). if all the humans’ dna of the world are 99.9% the same isn’t that an overwhelming number proving we are all the same? then again we also have 94% the same dna as chimpanzees, 66% same dna as a fruitfliy, and 40% same dna as a bananna. ther must be a whole hell of a lot of differentaition in that .10% that separates humans.
on February 10th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
If Kevin MacDonald were the worst academic enemy of MY race, ethnic group, or religion, I would feel pretty relieved. The man seems close to the stereotype pipe-smoking tweed jacket professor who couldn’t fight his way out of a faculty meeting or organize much more than a group move to a smaller lecture room. I might not enjoy hearing him say uncomplimentary things about the many groups and persuasions of which I am a member. But, hey, discussions, even academic ones, about religion, race, and politics can become a contact sport. You should hear what gun owners were called when I was in college! I would be happy to mix it up with MacDonald in whatever forum he might agree to. Indeed, that is my suggestion: engage him in civil debate. If he refuses, you win!
BTW, there is plenty of southern (and other) poverty, but very little of it is due to the likes of Kevin MacDonald.
on February 10th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
@Richard – just out of curiosity what did they call gun owners? And when was this?
on February 11th, 2010 at 4:53 am
If ever there was proof of how out of touch white nationalists are with basic reality, jjohnson would take the cake. Let’s examine this hilarity shall we?
“ruslan,
why do u hate white people so much? was your father a racially concious white man who maybe used some derogatory speech in your presence?”
This is the most bizarre statement ever. What the hell makes you think I “hate” white people, being a “white” person myself? Revulsion at white nationalist ideas does not equal hatred of “white people”. Most white people find your ideas abhorrent. Get over it.
Also, I never went to university so don’t try to pull the “liberal professors” nonsense.
” the funny thing is i like u ruslan. you’re smart, but foolish.”
This is more or less a contradiction but ok, I’ll run with it.
” why is it that you leftist/progressive/commies’ life work is to prove that it is righteous and beautifully humane to justify mass immigration of non-whites into previously white majority countries.”
First off I would be a commie and we don’t like being lumped in with groups we often consider ideological enemies, like liberals. Secondly, I do not endeavor to justify massive immigration, and most liberals and other progressives don’t specifically care where the immigrants come from. It is my concern that immigrant workers do not become scapegoats, regardless of their ethnicity.
” Is it purely economical? is it because the white nations prosperity has been the envy of the world?”
Pretty much anywhere you look in the world, you will see mass migration from poorer areas to areas which either have higher standards of living or more jobs. This is a natural result of capitalism. It has virtually nothing to do with liberalism.
” i know your reaction there is no white race. and there are no races period.”
There are various ethnic groups but the term “race” has always changed over time. For example, people once spoke of an Irish “race”, including the famous Irish Marxist James Connolly.
” why is that in israel jews can’t legally marry gentiles? ”
Yet Jews DO marry gentiles, very commonly in fact. They have one of the highest inter-marriage rates. What you are referring to is a religious restriction. For example, a Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman but not vice versa. You will find that many religions support groups which attempt to link people up based on faith.
“that seems racist coming from a group that is at the forefront of racial-blending (mass media control among jews is bragged by many of them outright).”
You are collectively blaming the Jews here. Like I said, Jews have one of the highest inter-marriage rates. And I know you’re going to hate this, but Jews are not a “race”. If Jews are a race you have pretty much shot your argument about race to pieces, because Jews may appear to be anything from a black African to a Nordic Swede.
“television shows straight out of hollywood showing the white women swooning for that ideal leading black man).”
Honestly, how prevalent is this? Or do you spend all your time dwelling on it?
“if all the humans’ dna of the world are 99.9% the same isn’t that an overwhelming number proving we are all the same? then again we also have 94% the same dna as chimpanzees, 66% same dna as a fruitfliy, and 40% same dna as a bananna. ther must be a whole hell of a lot of differentaition in that .10% that separates humans.”
Yes, thanks for another Stormfront Brand canned argument. First of all, there is a difference between saying we have very similar DNA structures(for example, people within the same “race” vary more than they do outside their “race”), and saying “everyone is the same”. Any child knows we are not the same. The question is how much of this genetic variation is useful in building an efficient or better society. Eastern European countries are often largely “white” based on appearance, yet prior to 1989 they were largely crime free and had good social safety nets. Then suddenly something happened and now they are often crime-ridden, extremely corrupt, and most of the population wants to emigrate.
What this tells us is “race” has little bearing on behavior and accomplishments. Yes, a great many useful inventions were created by men who you call “white”, but the collection of genes which made them appear white had absolutely nothing to do with their accomplishments.
on February 12th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Dear Ruslan,
Thank you for your highly intelligent and entertaining posts. Delightful to find out that you are half-Ukrainian too – my father (emigrated from the Ukraine) was the most intellectual and intelligent person I have ever known. He was an engineer, and in his prime, knew 8 languages, and being a voracious reader, was informed and knowledgeable on any topic you could imagine.
He knew the value of education to combat false “information” such as supremacist theories. He knew the value of finding the facts, and of not getting caught up with inflammatory rhetoric and flimsy theories. Despite the anti-antisemitism and prejudice of others, he took the high road and believed in truth, justice and equality for everyone. I so admired that in him.
My mother, on the other hand, came from Madrid, a “proud race” – I liked the pride and dignity, but the concept of “purity” and being “better than” poisoned her mind and consequently, her relationships.
Those of you out there who think of any “race” as “pure” are sorely mistaken and are being led down the road as sheep to the slaughter – with that concept, anyone can manipulate you and “prove” things that make no sense.
Let it stand that the most moral, intelligent, dignified, self-controlled, and just people in the world can be and are originated from every “race”. Also let it be said that poverty, violence and warped pride are the cause of most of this world’s troubles. Let us “fight” the REAL enemies.
I would also like to comment on some of the ideas I’ve read about so far in this column about the Psych Prof. First of all, I have to say that I am astonished that any professor, would be so narrow-minded, obsessed, and defensive as to take his line of reasoning – there is no real “research” here. He is merely contorting words, events, and concepts like a spoiled selfish child attempts to sabotage and discredit siblings for his own gain. He cares not for the well-being of the family, and has no clue that he sabotages and discredits himself in the process. Poor guy needs more attention from someone I guess.
“In his academic works, MacDonald has suggested taxing Jews or restricting their access to university as ways of protecting white society.” Wow, sounds much like Hitler, or worse, like the Soviet Regime that decimated my family.
But then again, I have witnessed many who enter the field of Psychology with serious psychological problems, drawn to pursue that which plagues them, looking for answers.
My main thought on MacDonald is that any person who openly advocates hate groups should not occupy a position of respect in educating those not yet versed in world events and justice. No university worth its salt would employ such a caricature as a serious educator.
On its website, Cal State Psychology department issued a statement in 2008 expressing the majority of the Psych faculty’s concern regarding the use of MacDonald’s work and expressed serious reservations about its scientific validity and ethics. I don’t see a response yet to the current events. That will be interesting when it comes.
To all those swept up in their emotions and reacting to “right” and “wrong”, there is no good thing that comes from such a reaction – find peace and answers will come.
Peace to all,
Cathy
on February 13th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Cathy I thank you for your props, but the Soviet regime should not be compared to that of the Nazis. In fact it was the Soviets who gave millions access to education who never would have had the chance.
on February 15th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Ruslan,
Unfortunately, they “eliminated” all intellectuals – any highly educated individual who could think for themselves – including my grandfather, and the rest fled if they could. Their propaganda was not to be contradicted, nor did anyone dare to even appear to disagree. No, I don’t see too much difference between the two, except one lasted long enough to set up a system of education.
on February 15th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
So you are claiming that there were no intellectuals in the Soviet Union then? That is a rather extreme claim.
on February 15th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Of course not. But first, I am referring to the Ukraine – which as you must know is or was very nationalistic and independence-minded.
Second, I was sure you knew that when Russia invaded the Ukraine, that anyone with the intellectual equity to oppose was systematically eliminated. I don’t know what means were used to select the victims, but according to my family (from a village near Kiev) all intellectuals (including clergy) in the Ukraine were disposed of unless they managed to get out.
on February 16th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Ukraine was very independent minded, but it also had a large Communist movement and thanks to their work it became an SSR(Soviet Socialist Republic). There was of course Western Ukraine, which was annexed by Poland because the remaining nationalists sold them out. My own grandfather was from Western Ukraine and being familiar with the ideology common to nationalists there, I’m glad I never met him.
on February 26th, 2010 at 2:45 am
For all of the people who are speaking on such a separatist level, let me just say that I am a black woman and my husband is a white man. Maybe it’s because we’re relatively young (28), but we have a lot in common (hence the marraige). I know many blacks like myself who have grown to not only like hip-hop or r&b, but also love rock and I’m trying to listen to country but it hurts my ears.
The people that I find are the most separatist are those who don’t have quality friends of another race. Being black isn’t really an ethnicity in my opinion, just like being white isn’t. Just like Danny, being black in America, just like being white really means that you’re a big mixture of things. Both sides of my family descended from Africa, Native American, and White. Almost any black person (regardless of how dark they are) in the United States is descended from multiple races. I imagine that almost no one who descended from America during it’s founding and/or slavery days is just one race. Also, many white people are part Native American and some don’t even realize it.
Being married to a white person has been very interesting. I get to tune into things that I had never directly had any eperience with. My grandpa-in-law (who I love dearly) has NO clue about what black people are about, and actually he has at times sounded a lot like Danny and John Lawson. He has never met a non-stereotypical black person like myself, or my parents. He spends all of his time around white people and even calls his mixed grandsons white. I have learned that at his core, there is some racism and that’s only because my husband is honest. I would doubt that Danny or John Lawson spend a lot of time with any intellectual blacks.
It makes me so sad to see things so divided after all that the country has been through. After my grandfather, my uncles and my brother have spent their time in the military fighting for this country, I should be able to tell my mixed race children that they are an American and that they live in the land of the free. I should be able to tell them that people won’t hate you based on the color of your skin, just be a good person and you’ll be treated like everyone else. The fact is that I cannot say that to them, but I will tell them that despite the ignorance of others, they can achieve anything that they want to in life.
One last thing, I work in a call center. I know that racism still exists. I get calls from people all over the country, and I sound like a “white” girl as some people have said. If people would listen to my name in the beginning of the call, they would probably realize that I’m black, but they usually don’t. What I get to hear are rants about how Mexicans are taking over in the U.S. and what we should do with them, or I hear about how ” the last girl I talked to was black and I couldn’t understand her.” One lady actually asked me at the end of our call (actually, this happens pretty often) and I told her “Rasheada”, then she asked my race and I told her “black”, and she proceeded to tell me how I didn’t sound black because most black people have a certain voice and that I was very “articulate (which is code for “I think blacks are stupid)” I sound EXACTLY like my mother, who was born in 1960, so I don’t sound “white”, I sound like my mother.
Love you all, even if you’re not friendly.
P.S. get more black friends! and pleasedon’t comment on false racism until you stand in that person’s shoes.
on February 26th, 2010 at 2:49 am
I mis-spoke on one part. I will tell my children that they are American, and more importantly, part of the human race. The rest is correct on my above statement.
on February 26th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Dear Rasheada,
What a pleasure to make your acquaintance and to hear from someone who has “crossed the line”. My heart warms every time I see a black woman who has dared to defy convention for the sake of love – partly because strong black women were an amazing blessing and source of personal courage for me when I was a naive and painfully shy young woman, and partly because it means that American society is progressing.
Like you, I have confounded many people in life who have wanted to put me in a slot. And you are a distinct minority, even moreso than I am – a white woman who married a black man. I tired quickly of all the stares from white people, especially while traveling – some even showed express hatred and spat on the ground while glaring at us (I specifically recall an older man from Illinois whose belly seemed like it was about to pop – he’s probably long gone by now from heart disease).
No matter what, remember that “what goes around comes around” and that people who work to make others miserable make their own misery 100 fold – it really all does settle equitably eventually if we keep our peace inside and seek justice.
At any rate, I’m in my 50′s now, and have learned so much more about the world (thank God). It was a tough road. But now I am in a more secure position – my children have grown into amazing and brilliant individuals who are making an indelible mark in the world. They also change the perspective of others. We come from lower middle class, but my eldest is pursuing a doctorate and teaching, my youngest is pursuing a career in medicine, both at top universities. My son graduated from a top school and is making beaucoup bucks – he is a “computer genius”. They all cross racial and cultural boundaries with ease, and they surprise many with their wisdom and maturity in so many ways.
YOU’RE RIGHT!!!!!
I have worked so hard over the years, writing, observing, and studying, to figure out why some are overtly prejudiced and why others are not, or are less so. I came to the conclusion that it is the lack of quality experiences with people in “other” groups that keeps us in the dark. Those who have had quality experiences with those in “other” groups have crossed a line to where they cannot even consider inexperienced views because they now know the truth first hand.
From my current position of security, I can see that the nay-sayers were, and are, all wrong. Yes, it’s been a challenge for us all. But look at the children – they are in an amazing place and they are the ones who will continue to change the world. Just you wait – you’ll see. I have learned to view those whose minds are warped by separatism with… amusement. Let your light shine and never succumb to emotional immaturity and defensive insecurity of others – keep your own peace.
My blessings to you, your husband, your children, your entire family – those with a foot in more than one camp are poised for greatness – no matter what anyone else thinks – because they know multiple cultures and see the value in them all.
Respectfully,
Cathy
PS – Check out Rascal Flatts if you get a chance!
PPS – Regarding your voice, please don’t take it personally. I’m sure there are ignorant ones who mean it wrongly, but I am sure that they are not the majority. Most are probably like me – I find it hard to understand and connect with what others say to me unless I know their general background. Having lived in a black neighborhood half my adult life, I know subtle cues, pronunciations, rhythms, and tones in “black” speech. I can tell about 99% of the time – and it helps me understand where an individual is coming from. If I can’t tell, that person probably has a foot in multiple worlds, which speaks volumes.
on March 1st, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Rasheeda-
You have invoked my name several times in your postings and it reads as if you assume that I am somehow against black people? Why do you automatically assume that b/c I don’t want my country to be overrun with 3rd world immigrants who by the way often are not telling their children that “they are american” as you said you would (kudos to you on that), but rather cultivate foreign ethnic identities and loyalties in their “American” offspring, that I am somehow against black people? This is the double standard that exists against whites – if whites stand up for their own interests then they are called “haters” and “racists” while at the same time every other group is permitted and in fact encouraged to stand up for their interests. Why can’t you recognize this fact without assuming that I am against black people. If you actually knew me, you would know that I actually have black friends! And while I disagree in turning America into a ployglot boarding house for displaced people (Theodore Roosevelt also warned us about this) I feel that blacks (the descendants of slaves) are thoroughly American and that we all have a responsibility to ensure that they are treated justly in this country.
on March 2nd, 2010 at 11:16 am
Cathy- you are awesome! And I will definitely snag my husband’s rascal flatts CD. Thank you!
Danny, you don’t seem to even begin to understand the main problem that I have with your postings. 1. You can have black friends and still be racist, either against other races or against everyone nonwhite especially if non of your black friends are your best friends.
2. History in the US shows that Whites as a whole have a reputation for domination, and abuse of power. Minorities have in most cases been oppressed and still are in places where no one is fully accountable.
3. Whites as a whole do not have the problems of being discriminated against. Its a fact in 9.9 out of ten cases, and perhaps when minorities have a rate that equals the white rate, maybe anti hate and protective groups wont be as necessary.
4. MY MAIN PROBLEM WITH YOU DANNY IS THAT WE ARE ON AN ANTIHATE WEBSITE, WHICH IS ABOUT EDUCATION AND UNITY, AND YOU’RE POSTING WHAT SEEMS TO BE DEFENSES FOR A LONG BEACH PROFESSOR THAT IS NOW HANGING WITH NEO-NAZIS. THAT IS SCARY MOST TO ME THAT ANYONE COULD POST ANYHING THAT SOUNDS EVEN SLIGHTLY DEFENSIVE ABOUT WHAT THE ABOVE ARTICLE IS ABOUT.
One other fact to consider, why do people get crazy about white groups that are simply established to address white interests? Answer- aryan brotherhood, the many neo-nazi groups, and the many kkk groups of modern day that continue to intimidate, vandalize, terrorize, physically harm and/or kill minorities in the US. I don’t believe in any offensive race group. This is why people freak out, there aren’t peaceful, white groups that are harmonious win other races, and if you’ve ever bothered checking, there are minority groups that do promote tolerance of all races and would let all races join and learn. Now, for groups like the nation of Islam and the NEW black panthers, I don’t agree with their separatist beliefs, but don’t try to compare these modern groups to kkk, etc because you can research and find that there record for violence is slim to none (as far as I remember, its none). And I’m not talking about he old black panther movement.
I keep remembering things I wanted to say. On a broad view, there are good and bad people of every race. There are dirty and clean people of every race. Nice and mean of every race. Law abiding a.d law breaking of every race. The great thing about the united states is that it’s United with some of everything. People can avoid religious persecution, cultural persecution, and live peacefully in this great country as long as they’re following the laws of this country. That is how it should be at least.
on March 2nd, 2010 at 11:22 am
Sorry, I have some mistakes on my last post in terms of spelling or word use. I’m using my phone, which is pretty difficult.