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In reply to the discussion: Dear White America: Its time to get the message [View all]IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)Mind if I ruminate a little on the historical context front?
'White' has classically (oh my, a pun!) meant the same as 'dominant' or 'superior', not really a skin color. Hardly a hundred years ago many melanin-challenged immigrants from western Europe were not socially much less legally considered 'white'. That designation was reserved for melanin-challenged members of the RULING CLASS. For instance a lot of people don't seem to know about (at least not understand) the 'No Irish Need Apply' signs and attitudes, much of the latter persisting even today. I won't go into exhaustive detail here, but just in my own personal experience I can verify that truth. I could also recommend viewing of an excellent documentary, 'The Irish in America'.
Circling back to the OP's original point: Yes, 'white America' does need to be reminded that others matter. I've been so upset over this growing attitude that it's open season on blacks, especially the kids. What did Michael Dunn say? "He can't talk to me that way!" That was a class-based murderous rage.
Much as I generally loved the old b&w Perry Mason tv series, I cringed when one character complimented another by saying, "That's awfully white of you." Acceptable on tv in the '50s and still ingrained in what passes for heart and mind in much of the country. Not so long ago at the library, two women walked past me, obviously deep in a political conversation. One sympathized with the other; "I know, honey... he's not white like us, is he?" Gee, who could they have meant?
So anyone who doesn't think White America needs a wakeup call is living in a narcissistic fantasy world.