If we want to remove white nationalism from America, white people need to abolish white supremacy

[MrScorpio]

And I mean "white supremacy," not necessarily as a reference to nazis and Klan members... It's about THE system of race based stratification on which America has been founded on, that systemically makes whiteness the default standard that has relegated all non-whites to an inferior status. Although people of color can and have fought against white supremacy in this country, it's not going to be put on the scrapheap of history unless the white majority achieves self-awareness about what it has always meant to be white in this country and endeavor to bring forth true equality and justice, instead.

Here's a very good definition of what I mean about "white supremacy:"

By Nathan Palmer

White Supremacy: Not Just Neo Nazis

White supremacy is often mischaracterized as only a person or group of people (e.g. Neo Nazis & the KKK), but thinking of white supremacy in this way hides too many people who are affected by it. In this post Nathan Palmer will push us to think about white supremacy as an ideology and explore how each of us may personally believe it.

Every year we had a “multi-cultural day” at my elementary school. Usually in January (around Martin Luther King Day) or in February (to “celebrate” Black History Month). We’d eat foods from other cultures (there was always baklava), watch a movie about Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, and learn about how racism used to be a problem in the United States. The overall message was clear to all of us kids, “racism is something mean people used to do and if you do anything racist today, you’re a big meanie”.

I can still remember the befuddled look on my teacher’s face when I walked up to her and asked, “If today is multicultural day, then what are the rest of the days?” Her face scrunched together, she folded her arms, and told me, “Oh, just go back to your seat this instant!”

I was thinking about my multicultural day experience recently because last week was the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martine Luther King. The message I learned at these multicultural days (that racism is only a problem at the individual level) I think is largely still present in our society. But in many ways the issue of racism is as much about acts of discrimination as it is about the ideas and ideologies that support prejudice.

The Ideology of White Supremacy
To fully understand white supremacy we have to separate it from the people who identify as white. White supremacy is not a person or group of people, it’s an ideology. Ideology is fancy-sociology-speak for a collection of ideas that work together to affect how we see and understand the world around us. As an ideology, white supremacy encourages us to value white people, white culture, and everything associated with whiteness above the people, culture, and everything associated with people of color. We can encapsulate all of that by using the common white supremacist tagline, “white is right.”

We also have to separate white supremacy from white supremacists. Too often when we hear the word white supremacy we immediately think of men in white pointy hats standing around a burning cross. There’s no argument that the Kl Klux Klan and Neo Nazis subscribe to the white supremacist ideology, but they’re not the only ones. Anyone and everyone can adopt the ideology and white supremacy is reinforced by a wide variety of actions both big/small and intentional/unintentional.

Everyday White Supremacy

Everyday people of color are the targets of discrimination and stereotypes in ways that are overt and intentional, but this is only half the story. Microaggressions, which we’ve discussed here at SIF a number of times, are subtle and unconscious affirmations of white supremacy. For example, a Hispanic American woman is told, “you’re daughter is so beautiful for a Mexican baby.” Or a woman clutches her purse when a Black man enters an elevator. Everyday there are countless examples of people who say and do things that reflect and reinforce white supremacy. The point here is that any of us can reaffirm white supremacy even if we are unaware that we are doing so.

http://sociologyinfocus.com/2013/04/white-supremacy-not-just-neo-nazis/

In spite of how reprehensible it is for these white nationals to proclaim that America is a "white country," in a sick way, historically, they're right:

Yes, when presented with the face of white supremacy as white nationalists groups are marching through the streets of Charlottesville, VA, anti-racist whites have put their own lives on the line to oppose them. But it's like closing the barn door after the cows have escaped. If we want to stunt the growth of white nationalism in this country, we need to do two things:

1. Abolish endemic and systematic white supremacy and...

2. Support and create economic and social just for all.

A society that makes a priority of creating "winners" out of the wealthy and whites automatically creates violent outcomes for those who get the short end of the stick. Whites who have been indoctrinated to believe that they are entitled to be "winners" don't lash out at the rich whites who are oppressing and exploiting everyone, they lash out at people that they refuse of identify with, non-whites, non-Christians, immigrants and so on.

Although I keep hearing that what's happening in Virginia is "not America," it's not the time to close our ears and eyes to what America has always been about... A nation founded on the ideal of a white racial utopia, watered with the blood of black people, native Americans and Latinos, but has been spending its entire existence trying to erase that original stain. In spite of the fact that the white nationalists believe that they have an entitled right to defend white supremacy, it's incumbent on the rest of America, the majority of Americans of ALL races, creeds and colors to tell these racist ass motherfuckers to go fuck themselves.

America is for everyone.

[guillaumeb]

1. The theory of equality versus the reality of rich white Christian dominance.

And the reality wins every time.

Recommended.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. That's really the heart of the problem, isn't it?

The notion that being white is the norm, and all other races or ethnicities are "other." So there's Black History Month and other acknowledgments of diversity, which are good and well-intended, I think; but they also have the unintended effect of pointing out the "otherness" of POC. You're a normal, regular American if you're white but something that isn't normal or regular if you're not. I don't know how to get past this, but racism and white supremacy can't be defeated as long as white Americans believe this, subconsciously or otherwise. I wish I knew how to fix it.

[Spider Jerusalem]

3. You'd need to get white people to acknowledge it, first

most seem to be fairly ignorant of its existence. "But we had the Civil Rights Act, racism isn't a problem anymore!" "But that's only in the South, (Northern/Midwestern/Western state) is fine!"

[Lanius]

4. We also need the GOP to stop pandering to the racists for votes

and denounce the Far Right nutjobs on right-wing radio.

[MrScorpio]

5. That's just a drop in the bucket...

I'm talking about the fact that white supremacy has always been at the core of American existence. Sure, the GOPrs are now a white nationalist party... But they can only be one because there really aren't any consequences for it. White nationalism has been normalized outside of the political parties, and the GOPrs are only working with something that already exists in order to recruit the ignorant and disaffected white vote.

GOP's would never pander to whites if there isn't a white supremacist vote to pander for.

[ismnotwasm]

6. K&R

[brer cat]

7. *Truth*

And the pandering, including by some on the left, to those whose feelings are hurt by being called racist. White people must call it out every time, every day. F@#$ their tender "feelings."

[JI7]

8. Not going to happen anytime soon

Too much denial even among those who claim to be the left.