Okay. I'll bite.

Everyone who mattered in that culture was White.
-Little Hawk (26 Sep 09 - 12:48 AM)


Think about what that "Everyone who mattered in that culture was White" might say to children who grew learning that in school, at church, in doctors' offices, in stores, when they saw policemen, and firemen, and any other man in a uniform (in those days there were very few women in those professions. And think of what Everyone who mattered in that culture was White" conveys to children who weren't White when that message was also reinforced at home via television shows, commercial advertisements/posters, radio, newspapers, books, magazines, movies, Halloween costumes etc etc etc. Then think of not just the absence of positive role models, and the absence of positive, self-affirming historical and current day information, but also the ubiquitous presence of mass media driven caricatures like Little Black Sambo, Tarzan, TinTin, golliwogs, StepInFetchit, racist cartoons, and so much more which-by design or otherwise-made it difficult for you to feel good about your self and your group. Then you tell me why it matters to a child who is not White (in whole or in part) that "everyone who mattered in that culture was White."

And yes, things have gotten a little bit better. But have things gotten much better? It's easy for White people to say "Yes". But living as I do everyday in my black skin, I know that unfortunately, the real answer is "No".