Reply #77: I'm going to stop after this

[superduperfarleft]

because you seem far more qualified on this issue because of the activist work you've referenced below, I am I'm totally getting in over my head.

I don't think we should necessarily encourage black families to "assimilate." I think the drive to assimilate everyone else is one of the biggest problems of the American attitude, that a culture can't exist on its own, it has to be assimilated into "American" culture (which is truly white culture, let's be honest.) If they choose to do so, that's fine, but as a white person, it's not my call, it is their's.

I read about Malcolm X realizing the futility of integration, because he tried, and failed, at being seen as an equal by white america. I read about Tim Wise, who's staunchly anti-racist grandmother began using the n-word as she descended into Alzheimers, proving that even the most vociferous anti-racist still has the virus of racism programmed into them by our eurocentric society. I think white people in our society have been so deeply infected with the sickness of racism that I don't blame black people at all for not trusting us, for just wanting to withdraw into their own communities, because it's been proven throughout history that white people make weak allies, and will withdraw into the comfortable blanket of white privilege as soon as they are required to make any real sacrifices.

I wish I did, but I don't have an answer, and it's just depressing to think about. I see on DU that whenever the subject of white privilege or the sordid history of Europeans in this country is met by mockery and a complete dismissal of the concerns of people of color. If this is the prevailing attitude on a self-described progressive forum, what hope do we really have in the world at large?

on edit: Thanks for this discussion though. It's nice to have a civil exchange of ideas after what I usually see around here.