I recently saw this embarrassment of a video on Facebook:
http://youtu.be/XGeMy-6hnr0
There are so many things wrong with the video, it’s hard to know where to start. I cringed when I saw the guy dressing up in black face, but I admit that I laughed at some of the students’ stupid responses–for example, the person who named “Martin Luther” as an example of a famous African American historical figure. It reminded me of Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking” bit. Of course, it’s truly sad that the only people the respondents could come up with were Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. My son Stuart (who’s in 3rd grade) was shocked that the one guy couldn’t remember Rosa Parks’s name. Wow. What does that say about our society? our history curriculum?
During the spring semester, I like to engage my students in a debate/discussion about whether we should continue having Black History Month (which, for the record, is in February). They are usually quite surprised to learn that there is a “Women’s History Month” (March), a Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), and an Asian-Pacific Heritage Month (May). I guess that leaves the rest of the months for, well, the “regular curriculum” where “regular” = “white” + Western + Christian + middle-class.
I have mixed feelings about it, to be honest. Designating one month as “Black History Month” might be letting us off the hook too easily. We can put up our bulletin boards and talk about MLK and Harriet Tubman and then get back to the “regular curriculum” for the rest of the year. But I also see that we might need to continue doing it because we have seriously dropped the ball. And I’ve read intelligent arguments on both sides. And boy, my students listen and participate in that class discussion more than any other class discussion (save perhaps the conversations about separation about church and state, those take the cake).
And then there’s the question of whether BYU students (almost all of whom are Mormons) are more racist and more ignorant than other white students at other undergraduate institutions. As a Mormon, I hope that this video could have been made at many universities with similar levels of ignorance and cringe-inducing comments AND that the video editor picked out the absolute worst student comments to make a point. I really hope that.
So after I posted the video clip, a hearty discussion ensued on my Facebook wall and on the wall of another person who snagged it from me. The gist of the conversation was this assertion (and I’m summarizing a lengthy discussion):
The video confirms that all whites are racist.
I objected to that sweeping generalization and was accused of providing further proof of the original assertion.
Are all whites racist?
I hope not. I don’t think it’s reasonable to say that all white people are, by definition, racist.
But even more important than settling that issue, in my opinion, is the question of whether making statements like this helps us move towards greater understanding or whether it helps us identify ways to move forward in terms of creating a more just and equal society. We fall back on these sweeping generalizations all the time:
Muslims are terrorists.
Mormons/Scientologists are religious nut jobs.
FoxNews watchers are morons (this may or may not have been said in my house a teeny weeny time or two).
What say ye, oh wise Doves and Serpents readers? Are all whites racist?
;
Sometimes, I really dislike the idea of racism being a *thing* that some people *have* or that some people *are*. Because then, people get concerned and very defensive about whether they *are* racists or not, and so they try to come up with all these justifications for why they can’t be racists.
When really, it’s not like there’s a category of people who are “racists” and a category of people who are not racists. Racism can be institutional as well; it doesn’t require racists to be perpetuated.
I think it’s more an issue of privilege — with racial (and probably also socio-economic privilege…I mean, you can be white OR black OR any race, really but not have a lot of interaction because of the communities you grew up in…) privilege, you really don’t HAVE to know about ‘other cultures,’ because you can consider them wholly ‘other’ while considering yours the ‘default.’
And you’re right, Heather, Black History Month (or any other ethnic or gender or other minority history month) lets people off the hook too easily. It’s because it continues the othering of these minority groups. “Black” history month is a thing specifically about black people, separate from “regular” history. Why isn’t black history part of “regular” history? Why isn’t women’s history part of “regular” history?
I think where privilege shows most is when people are often utterly UNAWARE of it. So, when people say, “Where’s white history month?” they don’t realize that embedded in our culture is the assumption that “white history” is assumed to be default. It is *invisible*, so people think that it is underemphasized.
That being said, ALL videos of this kind tend to be ones where the videographer picked the worst examples to keep for Youtube. Basically, the entire “Sh*t (Insert Group) Says” phenomenon is an exercise in confirmation bias.
Nevertheless, I do think that many Mormons tend to be racially, socially, or economically privileged. It’s really a shame…because Mormons could really use the religion’s vocabulary on *religious oppression* to try to be more aware of privilege and oppression elsewhere. But this tends not to be the case — hell, how many people can make the jump from “religious oppression” to “sexual oppression” or to “gender oppression” in the church? (Especially when their religion kinda depends upon them not making such a leap because Feminists R Bad.)
As Mormons, we have zero margin for error. That’s what makes this video so cringe-worthy.
Amen Andrew, really well stated. As I was reading Heather’s piece I was thinking along similar lines — no, all white people are not racist, but, yes, whiteness is privileged in such a way that we do have a different experience of the world, especially when coupled with socio-economic privileges.
Additionally, I think the insular nature of Mormon culture and our (in reality very recent) history of racist policies does create an environment in which people can continue to hold racist and uninformed ideas without being challenged or giving them much thought.
When the topic came up on your wall what I noticed first from the comment was “The legacy of Civil Rights is fact that white folk hate to be called racist” – this evolved into a discussion of whether all white people are racist, which is an extremely uncomfortable prospect to consider. The fact of the matter is, despite any good intentions I may have of not holding pre-judges about people for their color, their dress, their gender, their sexual orientation, I am continually having to fight those pre-judgements consciously. If I open myself up to admitting that I am not beyond that, I will probably learn more about another’s experience. What is it that makes us uncomfortable about the statement that “all white people are racist?” is it that it dismisses our particular individual experience? I think realizing that place of discomfort with being misrepresented can help put us in a place of understanding and empathy for another group that has been misrepresented and misunderstood for generations. In that way, a sweeping generalization like that can be productive, if we let ourselves absorb the feelings, really dig into the pain and remorse. We as Mormons have a complicated history with absorbing pain and feeling remorse for past behavior and judgements. And as much as I want to leaders of the church to come out and apologize for the racial bans in our past, I know I’m not past feeling defensive and ashamed and totally scared about my possible biases and glaring privileges in my life. In short, if we let ourselves feel ashamed for being white and possibly racist, that shame can maybe help build a bridge. I don’t know. Plus everything Andrew said!
There is a lot of truth to this, but there are just as many who do not talk, act, or feel the way those in this video do. There were many interviews done, and only the most disturbing and shocking portrayed in this video. It warrants discussion, but this video really proves nothing but the ability to point out the worst in people and not highlight any of the good. That is just as damaging as the issue the video is trying to point out. Obviously there is plenty of ignorance out there, but there are just as many good hearted and intelligent people who are knowledgeable on every topic shown on this video. I find this video to be a shame not only for what it shows, but also for what it omits.
Well, since all Germans are racist, and have already proven that “fact”, I guess I can’t add much to the discussion…
Ok, really though. To be honest, I had a hard time thinking of many black “American” people. Martin Luther King, Malcom X and Rosa Parks were actually the only ones that popped into my head at that moment. I could think of a bunch of famous colored people, but they weren’t Americans.
So, does that mean I’m a racist? I think lacking historic knowledge is sad. But equating it with racism to me is wrong. I’d imagine a lot of us might struggle in other areas as well. Maybe it’s more reflective of our level of education, or ability to retain information than our racists natures.
However, I can also see some of the racist elements in the clip (the stereotypes of what blacks are like etc.). Does that mean we’re racist. Probably more so to me than not remembering a whole lot of historic figures. I really think though that we all ARE racist, to some degree. And I think everyone is (all cultures, nations, etc.). We all to some degree probably incorporate or respond to the race of someone else whether it’s in positive or negative ways.
Maybe the question should be how we define racism…
I think the biggest problem we face is when people feel really sure that they aren’t racist.
Is it possible to not be a racist when our founding text describes god punishing sinners with dark skin, then revoking that punishment when their ancestors become righteous by giving them white skin?
Also, Provo is the whitest place on earth. In every sense.
To answer Colin’s question: I think the continuing Mormon race problem–and there is one—is not so much a function of LDS scripture as it is a function of an authoritarian and rigid concept of prophetic leadership.
If the Church officially and loudly rejected the passages of “the most correct book on earth” (LOL) where sin yields dark skin, and the statements of prior leaders endorsing and spouting such crap (e.g., most recently SWK) were also officially repudiated, Mormon culture could become more sensitive and progressive on matters of race. There is much in our scripture and history that we could point to in painting a more progressive and inclusive narrative. Joseph Smith had no problem re-writing scripture.
The problem is that in practice we don’t tolerate dissent and a plurality of opinion on matters of doctrine and history. Mormon leaders won’t (can’t?) call out previous leaders even after the previous leaders are long dead, nor will they permit those in the pews to do so. As a result, we are institutionally always two generations behind. (Is there any other way to explain the official hostility to feminism (think ERA), the civil rights movement and now LGBT equality?) It is not just that the institution is run by octogenarians. It is run by octogenarians with an oligopoly in the market place of ideas and discussion.
(As an aside, this is also why many find online Mormonism so much more intellectually vibrant and authentic than the brick and mortar Church experience. Three cheers for D&S).
Pardon all the broad strokes here. Bottom line answer: Yes, if the Church would repent. But don’t hold your breath.
Huzzah, sir.
@Fran “I think the biggest problem we face is when people feel really sure that they aren’t racist.”
Great comment. Half the battle is getting people to see racisim in institutional terms. Racism is not just a trait or belief of individuals–it subtly pervades across all kinds of social structures. Good luck absolutely extricating yourself from it.
I like how Americans have divided the world into four basic racial/ethnic categories: White, Black, Hispanic and Asian. Doesn’t anyone find that offensive? If American Mormons are racist, it stands to reason its because its a product of American culture and not because of a few passages in a book.
Whenever I have to fill out a form that asks for my ethnicity, I always have to check “Other” because Scots-Irish Brazilian is not an option. Ha!
I totally agree that racism in the Mormon church is a reflection of the racism in American culture. Mormonism is in many ways the most American of religions, and the Book of Mormon, wherever you stand on it’s authenticity, was not written in a cultural vacuum.
I think the dissonance happens, for me, when that history is contrasted with the squeaky clean image the Mormon church advertises today. I don’t feel that the color of my skin is a gift or a punishment. It just is.
I really do not know whether this video was really taken at BYU. But, if it was, I would have to say that all those white females are lying. Their parents will skin them alive if they even brought home a multi millionaire mormon Asian, let alone a black!
As a young black trans boy, life is really hard. It seems like hate never ends. I can’t help what skin color I was born as. I wish I could change my race to avoid being me sometimes. I always thought life for me would be so much better if I weren’t black.
You cannot be mad at somebody who makes you laugh – it’s as simple as that.