A little while ago; probably week before last, an interview on NPR caught my attention. Alas, it wasn’t because it was the interview was enjoyable and informative, but because it showcased one of the more obscure sides of the racism conversation: racism against white people.
The interview was with Kathrine Paul, the driving force behind the radical Native American musical project known as Black Belt Eagle Scout. In that interview, Ms. Paul stated that the songs she writes are meant for “her people”, and if she had her way, she’d only allow Native Americans admittance to her concerts and shows. Seemingly noticing the interviewer’s surprise, she laughed and shrugged off her suggestion as no big deal; saying white people are too sensitive about such things.
Hm.
On the one hand, I understand where Ms. Paul comes from. She weighs all the injustices white people have heaped on Native Americans ever since they discovered these golden shores against her desire to preserve and love what’s left of her culture, and in that light, sees nothing wrong with excluding white people from her shows. After all, they probably ‘won’t get it’ anyway.
And that’s exactly the sticking point. There are those, including my best friend, who don’t believe whites can be discriminated against, simply because they make up the majority. Racism only goes one way, these people say; from the majority onto the minority, and the minority can use as many racist tropes against the majority with absolute impunity.
But wait a second!
Does the race of the racial offender change the meaning of the term ‘racism’? Does it hurt the person at whom it’s aimed any less, simply because there are more people like him/her? Or does it foster hate where there wasn’t any, and deepens any existing hatred?
Seriously, do we really need any more racial tension, discriminate hate, and open animosity in this world?
Perhaps we should include everyone, even those who may not ‘get it’; especially them, I’d say, and in doing so perhaps open a mind or two and teach them something. We should be the bigger ones and stop our generalized blanket hatred of those who, generations ago, wronged our people deeply, and begin attempting to make friends, to heal old deep wounds, and maybe, just maybe, begin to make the world a tiny bit better place to live
After all, it all has to start somewhere.