The Elephant in the Room

I had planned a different post, which I temporarily put aside after hearing news of Howard Dean's recent comment about the Republican Party. For those who may have missed it he said "If you look at folks of color, even women, they’re more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the Republican Party,” on NPR last week.

I recognize it wasn't the smartest political quip I've heard. But let's take a quick look at the Republican Party. It is safe to say it doesn't attract many minorities. Although I would be wary of implying no minorities because that would be discrediting the personal decision of some folks of color and women who choose the conservative side of politics even if it is counterintuitive. In congress there are actually 7 Latino, Asian and American Indian Republicans, but that pales in contrast to the 71 Democrat minorities. According to an article on ABC.com, African Americans are likely to vote Democrat over Republican by a margin of 9 to 1. This shouldn't be too surprising; most of the Republican presidential candidates couldn't even show up for a debate hosted by African American Tavis Smiley.

The reaction to Dean's comment has been everything from cheering to accusations of race baiting. Race baiting is not favorable, but what about an honest discussion about race. This seems to be harder to come by and maybe we can use situations like this to do just that. For instance, is a slip of the tongue about a 'white' party racist? I will leave you to decide, but the often unacknowledged truth is that Anglo America is the dominant race. White culture sets most of the norms in Western society.

White privilege is like the air around us. We don't often realize its there until we choose or are forced to think about it. In order to ensure equal rights we have to admit it exist and then work for a more just world for everyone. Any white person who doesn't think this privilege is real should ask yourself:
*Do people noticeably grab their bags tighter as you pass by?
*Are you ever asked to speak for your whole race?
*When you get a job, does anyone question your merit and/or assume you were employed to fill a race quota?
*If more people of your race move into a neighborhood does rent in that area go up or down?
These are just some way it plays a role in our lives, for more that may apply to your life check out this article by Peggy McIntosh.

Of course, there isn't just white privilege. Class and heterosexual privilege are two of the many examples that operates in the world. It can be scary for a privileged group to recognize and challenge it. They think it means they will lose something, but in reality giving privilege to more people brings up the value and quality of society for everyone.