Print
Back to list
In the book, The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege, possibly one of the most significant statements that the author, Robert Jensen wrote, is The United States of America at the beginning of the twenty-first century-a century and a half after the end of slavery, four decades after the passage of the Civil Rights Act-is a white supremacist society. The statement, simply put, means that even if the period of slavery of blacks has long ended, the United States still remains a powerhouse not only economically, politically, and technologically, but also in race.
It basically meant that while there are people who believe that racism has ended and people who welcome diversity in race, it is still evident, although anonymously and discreetly, and there are systems that privilege white people more than black people. He said that that the non-white people continue to live substandard lives and are stereotyped. Jensen pointed out that the main problem in all issues regarding race are the white people themselves and also stressed that it is time for them to confront this reality.
His statements are well-supported by his own personal experiences. One example he used was when he attended an assembly in which the audience were mostly black people and in which he was a panel speaker along with black speakers. He recounted that as he approached the podium and saw one of the black speakers, he suddenly couldnt help but feel superior to him, even though he acknowledged the fact that the speaker was a smarter man than him and even though he knew of the speakers reputation.
In narrating actual his racism experiences, Jensen emphasized that the historical acts of against black men or non-white men, has somehow infused into the modern society, which is why white people have a tendency to still feel superior over their non-white counterparts. Personally, I believe that the statements and ideas of Jensen were factual. It was an eye-opener for me and I actually am seriously rethinking my views on non-white people.
References
Jensen, R. (2005). The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege. San Francisco: City Lights Books.
It basically meant that while there are people who believe that racism has ended and people who welcome diversity in race, it is still evident, although anonymously and discreetly, and there are systems that privilege white people more than black people. He said that that the non-white people continue to live substandard lives and are stereotyped. Jensen pointed out that the main problem in all issues regarding race are the white people themselves and also stressed that it is time for them to confront this reality.
His statements are well-supported by his own personal experiences. One example he used was when he attended an assembly in which the audience were mostly black people and in which he was a panel speaker along with black speakers. He recounted that as he approached the podium and saw one of the black speakers, he suddenly couldnt help but feel superior to him, even though he acknowledged the fact that the speaker was a smarter man than him and even though he knew of the speakers reputation.
In narrating actual his racism experiences, Jensen emphasized that the historical acts of against black men or non-white men, has somehow infused into the modern society, which is why white people have a tendency to still feel superior over their non-white counterparts. Personally, I believe that the statements and ideas of Jensen were factual. It was an eye-opener for me and I actually am seriously rethinking my views on non-white people.
References
Jensen, R. (2005). The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege. San Francisco: City Lights Books.