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Take this Imaginary Journey into White American Culture……
We
internalize it...silently, unconsciously, automatically
It
was here before we came
We
had nothing to do with creating it
Designed
many years ago we are born into it and live it without much thought
It
is what we consider “NORMAL”
The
media exports images and knowledge of our ways all over the world
Others
can delineate White American culture with greater ease and clarity than
we can. Allow
your minds eye to focus on the first image that comes to mind….just
notice it….UNCENSORED Give
thought to our Holidays Christmas,
Easter, fourth of July, thanksgiving, St Patrick’s day, Memorial Day,
President’s Day Who
is being celebrated? Religious
Institutions?
What
images do you see? Who
are the leaders? Who are
the Followers? What are the
major and minor religions Can
you see the icons? Who is
on the Christian cross? Schools
Who
are the chancellors, principals, leaders in education? What
is the CORE curriculum? Who
speaks English? Who doesn’t? Can
you imagine someone who cannot speak PROPER ENGLISH? Is s/he seen as
intelligent? Who
teaches? Who
cooks, cleans and protects at your school? Where
are the well funded schools located? Who are the students? The
under funded schools...What do these students
look like? Business
Now
go into one of those skyscrapers and into one of those boardrooms.
One of those fortune 500 companies…those fortune 500 who have
made a fortune. Who is in the room?
Who is not there? Who is at the boardroom table?
Making decisions? Now
go into the stores? Who
owns the stores? Who works
there? Bloomingdales, the local grocer? The local shoe store? Television
Who
are our star? Who
are our heroes? Who
are the bad guys? Who
are the experts on those news discussions?
Who is not there? What
about beautiful- who is beautiful?? What
do you see in the current magazines, TV images, models, runway.. Legal
System? Can
you see the supreme court…who is there? Who
are the Best attorneys? Who
owns the top Law firms Who
are the judges? The
police…imagine the local officer in your neighborhood? Who
are Prison guards? Inmates Military
and POLICE
When
you call for help…who do you want to appear? Someone
is running? Who is running
and who is chasing?? Medicine
We
have the best…… Who
would you want working on your heart? Best
hospitals where Best
doctors who Best
teaching institutions who are the students Where
do they work? CLASSICSWho
writes classical music? What
do they look like where are they from Who
writes the world’s best literature? Who are they? Where
are they from? Great
painters. Pictures. Where are they from? What
images come up for you when I say ….artifact?
Folk artwork? Primitive
art? Dress
for success? Now
picture someone dressed in bold colors and large prints…going off to
work? Is this dress for
success? Can
you see your county representative, your mayor? Envision
the senate? The congress of
the United States? Go
to the White House…see the rooms filled with pictures of past
presidents. Who
are they and what do they look like? Final
Question?? What
about the Office of the Presidency of the United States?
When
was it that you first realized that you could never be the President of
the United States?
In
this way the dominance- the supremacy of white culture is
silently-subtly and constantly reinforced If
you see yourself in those images you may not question the fairness Those
who are not included also
internalize the dominance and the supremacy of whiteness…in this way
….just maintaining the status quo is considered hostile for people of
color…
Revised: August 24, 2003 . |
