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We are hearing about "white supremacy," "white nationalism" and "racism." What are these? What do they mean? Am I a racist?
Again, your boys Jules and Vincent on board to help provide a few answers.
We are hearing about "white supremacy," "white nationalism" and "racism." What are these? What do they mean? Am I a racist?
Again, your boys Jules and Vincent on board to help provide a few answers.
1/The real Jules is a DC native, HBCU grad with a degree in African history, and worked as a Hill staffer 20+ years. Vince is a MD native, former Army officer and elected official, and is a real life doctor saving lives. We have loved each other 40 years.
2/I learned the definition of these terms as a student at Fisk University. "White Supremacy" = white people are superior, Black people are inferior. Period. The manifestation of white supremacy = the undervaluing, under appreciation and marginalizing of Black people.
3/White supremacy didn't begin in the United States. It began centuries before the first Africans came to the United States in 1526.
4/"Historians and academics agree the colonization of the New World saw extreme expressions of racism - massacres, forced-march relocation . . . death by starvation and disease. . . the subjugation of the native peoples of the New World was legally sanctioned."
5/"Pope Nicholas V . . . in 1452, declared war against all non-Christians throughout the world, and specifically sanctioned and promoted the conquest, colonization, and exploitation of non-Christian nations and their territories."
Source: https://www.un.org/WCAR/e-kit/indigenous.htm
Source: https://www.un.org/WCAR/e-kit/indigenous.htm
6/In 1526, the first enslaved Africans arrived in the United States, bolstered by the first colonialists who arrived earlier and apparently with the support of the church.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/09/07/before-there-was-mystery-first-enslaved-africans-what-became-us/
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/09/07/before-there-was-mystery-first-enslaved-africans-what-became-us/
7/"White nationalism" are those groups that push the ideology the white "race" is superior and must be preserved at all costs. Groups espousing these views are the "Proud Boys," the KKK, the Citizen's Council, and others.
Source: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/white-nationalist
Source: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/white-nationalist
8/"Race" is the idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences. Race is a political, not a biological, construct.
9/Of course, there are phenotypical differences - observable characteristics of people resulting from an interaction with their environment. For example, people who live in extreme cold may have shorter arms and legs, because it helps you to store heat. Among others.
10/The genotypes - what exists in our DNA, our genetic code?
NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.
As a matter of fact, it's LESS THAN TWO PERCENT.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/race-genetics-science-africa/
NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.
As a matter of fact, it's LESS THAN TWO PERCENT.
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/race-genetics-science-africa/
11/THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR RACE.
PERIOD.
Furthermore, we ALL hail from a single man and a woman . . . IN AFRICA.
PERIOD.
Furthermore, we ALL hail from a single man and a woman . . . IN AFRICA.
12/Let me repeat that. There is no scientific basis for race. Shortly after enslaved Africans arrived in the US, categories were created for the sheer purpose of legally or physically subjugating anyone who wasn't white.
Period.
Period.
13/So are you a racist?
Take a look at this great article and read for yourself
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/20/us/racist-google-question-blake/index.html
Take a look at this great article and read for yourself
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/20/us/racist-google-question-blake/index.html
14/The article goes in detail, and far better than I could in a thread, some of the answers to this question. Among other things, there's individual versus institutional racism.
Bottom line?
Bottom line?
15/
Racists can have sex with Black people.
Racists can have children with Black people.
Racists can work, live and play with Black people.
Racists can be friends with Black people.
Racists can eat with Black people.
That doesn't negate the fact they're racists.
Racists can have sex with Black people.
Racists can have children with Black people.
Racists can work, live and play with Black people.
Racists can be friends with Black people.
Racists can eat with Black people.
That doesn't negate the fact they're racists.
16/History is replete of these examples.
Thomas Jefferson who espoused freedom for all had over 300 enslaved people and at least five children with a Black woman, Sallie Hemings, who was enslaved by him also.
There's a Pulitzer Prize winning book on this.
Thomas Jefferson who espoused freedom for all had over 300 enslaved people and at least five children with a Black woman, Sallie Hemings, who was enslaved by him also.
There's a Pulitzer Prize winning book on this.
17/Virulent racist, who holds the longest record for filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957, Strom Thurmond? Had a Black child. Thurmond was 22, the Black woman was 16. I'd say that might be . . . oh well.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/05/strom-thurmonds-black-daughter-a-flesh-and-blood-symbol-of-americas-complicated-racial-history/
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/05/strom-thurmonds-black-daughter-a-flesh-and-blood-symbol-of-americas-complicated-racial-history/
18/Me and my boy Vince's goal today? Establish some ground rules on what these terms mean. That way, we can all understand what they mean.
19/If you don't understand white supremacy, if you don't understand white nationalism, if you don't understand racism, then EVERYTHING else you THINK you understand will never make sense.
FIN/Jules and Vince, OUT!
