White People = Racist, apparently

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'd not seen this mentioned on the board before, Link

Academic consciousness raising

Consider, for example, the way they were nattering on about such issues at the University of Delaware. As has been widely reported, a consciousness-raising program, orchestrated by the university and carried out by a cadre of Resident Assistants, aimed at (among other things) rooting out “racism” and other non-progressive attitudes about subjects like homosexuality, patriotism, the environment, capitalism, etc. Who or what is a racist? The training materials for those entrusted with overseeing the mandatory program in “diversity awareness” explain:

A racist is one who is both privileged and socialized on the basis of race by a white supremacist (racist) system. The term applies to all white people (i.e. people of European descent) living in the United States, regardless of class, gender, religion, culture, or sexuality.

This episode had a happy ending, due largely to the intervention of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (F.I.R.E.), the admirable Philadelphia-based organization that has done an immense amount to combat political correctness and preserve individual rights on campus. After protracted correspondence with university officials, F.I.R.E. managed to bring enough notoriety to Delaware’s outrageous program of politically correct indoctrination that the university’s new president, Patrick T. Harker, ended the program. What would be worth investigating is how many such programs of moral and political indoctrination are proceeding unimpeded at other colleges and universities?

In this issue, we are pleased to present our sixth annual special section on art. Regular readers know that The New Criterion has always paid close attention to the contemporary art world in all its multifariousness. But we’ve found that devoting a large portion of an issue to the subject results in illuminating synergies and observations. This year’s section on art, overseen by our Managing Editor James Panero, offers an exceptionally engaging series of reflections on the pulse of artistic life.

Holy crap, this sort of overly socialized politically correct madness has to stop. White people are racist because they're white? That logic is so circular, its fucking its own ass.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I've never seen a racist black or Asian person, so it must be true. Look at Hitler, he was white. I rest my case, your Honour.

[Darth Raptor]

No, I'm sorry. You have it backwards. Condemning an entire ethnic group based on their ethnicity makes you racist. In fact, it's the very definition of racism. I'm afraid you're going to have to repeat the course. F-

[Darth Raptor]

Edit: Assuming, of course, that this is even true, given the OP's extra legitimate-looking source.

[Durandal]

This is awesome. They actually came up with a racist definition of "racist".

[Siege]

So a racist can only be white, and all white folks living in the USA are racist. I can't believe someone wrote this down and seriously meant it, let alone that this person was capable of finding people who agreed. On a university no less. That's a fine standard of intellectual integrity the University of Delaware must maintain.

As an aside, I'd like to know what they meant with "non-progressive attitude toward the subject of pattriotism".

[Shroom Man 777]

With a term paper like that, maybe I could get a scholarship from the Negro College Fund!

[DPDarkPrimus]

You'd think it'd be a liberal arts college that came up with sort of tripe.

[Enforcer Talen]

I got told this in one of my high school classes, iirc.

I spent most of that year arguing with that prof over one thing or another.

[DavidEC]

16-inch AP round, meet 'foot'. And 'sensible education'.

Does anyone have any primary sources for it, though? The secondary sources all list Dr. Shakti Butler as the author:

http://www.thefire.org/pdfs/3d020892208 ... ab5f0f.pdf

However, a search of Google contradicts this:

site:www.udel.edu shakti butler

yields no results.

[SirNitram]

You know, that's the least substantive 'About' page I've seen in a long time. They're for everything good and against everything bad. That's about it. The central theme of railing against 'Political correctness' gone amuck strikes me as a red flag, though.

[Glocksman]

The passage from the guide real enough, as the university released a letter announing that the program will be terminated.

Nov. 1, 2007

The University of Delaware strives for an environment in which all people feel welcome to learn, and which supports intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, free inquiry and respect for the views and values of an increasingly diverse population. The University is committed to the education of students as citizens, scholars and professionals and their preparation to contribute creatively and with integrity to a global society. The purpose of the residence life educational program is to support these commitments.

While I believe that recent press accounts misrepresent the purpose of the residential life program at the University of Delaware, there are questions about its practices that must be addressed and there are reasons for concern that the actual purpose is not being fulfilled. It is not feasible to evaluate these issues without a full and broad-based review.

Upon the recommendation of Vice President for Student Life Michael Gilbert and Director of Residence Life Kathleen Kerr, I have directed that the program be stopped immediately. No further activities under the current framework will be conducted.

Vice President Gilbert will work with the University Faculty Senate and others to determine the proper means by which residence life programs may support the intellectual, cultural and ethical development of our students.

Patrick Harker

[ArmorPierce]

Well I do believe that people that white people that passively accepts the privilege of being white whilst trying to wash their hands off of racist guilt is part of the problem. That said, I think it would be dumb to call them all racist.

since people seem to continously forget this, yes, there is a lot difference for the most part between racism from between blacks against whites and whites against blacks due to the power differation. The only case it wouldn't be is if the power is reverse. For example, you are a middle school student in a primarily black school with black teachers and have teachers that are racist against you. That is actually an example that I pulled from my own life experience.

[Glocksman]

And if anyone's interested, here's Dr. Bulter's side.

Shakti Butler still is stunned. The Oakland, Calif., filmmaker's efforts to build bridges between people of vastly different backgrounds -- work that had been hailed on campuses and at offices around the nation -- sparked a war of words at the University of Delaware and suspension of the school's residence-hall diversity training program.

Hired to train the university's more than 200 resident assistants during a two-day August seminar, Butler did what she usually does. She challenged assumptions, offered differing views of the world, and urged everyone in attendance to leave the sessions asking different questions.

A few days later, though, when those resident assistants fanned out to their respective dormitories and started asking questions of incoming students, trying to help them get to know one another and accept their differences, something else emerged: Opposition.

Some students saw the residence-hall sessions as force-feedings of debatable social and environmental ideologies. Parents called UD with concerns when their children reported questions about their views on race relations and sexual identity. Some felt they were considered racist and oppressive because they had white skin, others objected to exercises in which they had to take a position without being able to explain their views.

On Nov. 1, UD President Patrick Harker suspended the program until a review board could examine the issues and make recommendations.

Two weeks later, the controversy still surprises Butler, who directs World Trust Educational Services and has made three films and presented scores of seminars and workshops since 1993. The accusations, hate mail, the way she has been characterized -- all have staggered her.

"I've never had this kind of reaction," she said. "I call this reaction totally reactionary and designed to create a deep divide among people, which is the antithesis of what I'm trying to do."

Butler's parents were of African, Arawak Indian and Russian-Jewish heritage, a background she believes enables her to cross cultural barriers with credibility. She deals with race relations -- past and present -- with a directness she hopes will shape the future in ways that bring people together.

"It's not to shove information down people's throats," she said. "It's not, 'This is what you need to believe. This is true.' But 'What is going on and why is that so?' It's a process of critical thinking."

Some of the sharpest criticisms of her training sessions focused on the reading materials distributed, which included a list of definitions that said all whites of European descent were racist and privileged. Butler said she distributed the material to expose participants to a broad range of perspectives.

She did not write them and they did not necessarily represent her views, she said. But she does believe that taking a hard look at history -- and different interpretations of it -- can be enlightening.

"Most of the definitions relate to prejudice and bigotry -- and all people have prejudice and bigotry," she said. "Racism is a system of prejudice that is enforced or enabled by a system of power. ... That was so totally taken out of context, that all white people are racists. That's ridiculous. There is a system of privilege that does happen for people who were born and represent what is considered to be normal. And that needs to be dismantled. But to break it all down into a single sentence that says all white people or all Western Europeans are racist is absurd."

Butler said her goal was to get people to question their assumptions.

"What I stand for is respect," she said. "What does it mean to respect someone whose views are completely different than yours and you may feel you have nothing in common with?"

Not everyone is comfortable with such questions, she said.

"There are a lot of people in this country who believe there are no racial problems here," she said. "And there are no problems with gays and lesbians -- they just need to learn to be straight. We have to be able to explore our weaknesses so they can become strengths. That way, we can create a society that is equitable for everybody."
Contact Beth Miller at 324-2784 or bmiller@delawareonline.com.

[DavidEC]

ArmorPierce what practically could you do to not accept these privileges?

The passage from the guide real enough, as the university released a letter announing that the program will be terminated.

Ah, cheers. Fair enough, at least they reversed the decision.

[DavidEC]

And if anyone's interested, here's Dr. Bulter's side

She definitely bla-blas the bla-bla - "I call this reaction totally reactionary," "It's a process of critical thinking," and such diversionary bullshit - but, fair enough if she didn't write the 'whites=racist' part. She did half-assedly justify it, distilling it to power without the colour. I wonder what she thinks about non-powerful racists.

[Darth Wong]

ArmorPierce what practically could you do to not accept these privileges?

You don't have to reject them, nor would this be practical. You could be cognizant of them, however. Something that the average right-winger (and most people who rail vociferously against "political correctness") refuse to do, often even going so far as to severely whitewash the past. There's a concurrent thread about this very kind of behaviour:

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=116334

Having said that, blacks in America are fucking whiners, and they're the ones most responsible for this kind of "constantly whinge about the white man" movement. I'm sick and tired of hearing about "black history" or "black achievements" or "black culture" or "the black experience".

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'm suspicious of anyone who goes around 'efforting' things, whether they're a part of my company or at a liberal college. I'd previously seen (but now can't find) an article with some example questions from the program. Such gems as:

*How old were you when you considered you might be homosexual?
*What in your upbringing instilled a sense of racial entitlement in you?
*Why do you feel your race oppresses minorities?

This lady isn't quite a moonbat, but she's definitely stretching her wings.

[DavidEC]

You don't have to reject them, nor would this be practical.

If I get a job and have reasonable suspicion to suspect it was because I was white versus some non-white applicant, should I turn it down? I might be wrong, and it would certainly help with me putting food on the table. However, it is de facto taking advantage of racism for my own benefit.

You could be cognizant of them, however. Something that the average right-winger (and most people who rail vociferously against "political correctness") refuse to do, often even going so far as to severely whitewash the past. There's a concurrent thread about this very kind of behaviour:

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=116334
Having said that, blacks in America are fucking whiners, and they're the ones most responsible for this kind of "constantly whinge about the white man" movement. I'm sick and tired of hearing about "black history" or "black achievements" or "black culture" or "the black experience".

So am I, but when I say that, someone might shoot back, "what, you want a white history month or something?" I want history, culture or everyone's experience, full stop, without taking race as some special moral consideration. But then someone else would say "ah but you've never experienced racism! Race is a factor, like it or not." (I haven't experienced violence or serious discrimination beyond joshing, admittedly, but being Eastern European isn't exactly a WASPily entrenched position in British society.)

I've never been challenged on these issues much but I try to take an intellectually colourblind judgment on the world. I'm not sure that's enough without translation to the practical (i.e. refusing that job).

[DavidEC]

*How old were you when you considered you might be homosexual?
*What in your upbringing instilled a sense of racial entitlement in you?
*Why do you feel your race oppresses minorities?

Those should be used as examples of 'the loaded question fallacy', ha.

[Glocksman]

This tidbit from her workshop handout makes me wonder just what the University asked her to teach in that seminar.

Introductions:
1. Please say your name and something about yourself that you want to share.
2. In what ways do you believe that understanding racism can help make you a more effective grassroots social justice activist?

Either it's a generic handout template and she forgot to change that bit of text, or the Uni asked her to do a little more than she let on in that interview.

[Spin Echo]

Discombubulated was venting about this a while back, as it is where she attends university. Good to see it was finallt dealt with.

[RIPP_n_WIPE]

ArmorPierce what practically could you do to not accept these privileges?

You don't have to reject them, nor would this be practical. You could be cognizant of them, however. Something that the average right-winger (and most people who rail vociferously against "political correctness") refuse to do, often even going so far as to severely whitewash the past. There's a concurrent thread about this very kind of behaviour:

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=116334

Having said that, blacks in America are fucking whiners, and they're the ones most responsible for this kind of "constantly whinge about the white man" movement. I'm sick and tired of hearing about "black history" or "black achievements" or "black culture" or "the black experience".

I would suggest that you lessen the scope of your statement as all black people in America do not complain about racism. I most certainly do not "whine" about the "white man". I recognize that racism exists and I experience it. However I do not whine about it, I accept it as what I have to deal with and try to work around it. I do enjoy hearing about the struggles of people who fought against racism. It's a big mark of pride for people of color here. I don't know why Canadian TV stations would be blaring it though since it's mostly an American issue, at least from your perspective.

[FSTargetDrone]

I don't know why Canadian TV stations would be blaring it though since it's mostly an American issue, at least from your perspective.

I would assume that they probably get a good deal of our TV up there?

[RIPP_n_WIPE]

I don't know why Canadian TV stations would be blaring it though since it's mostly an American issue, at least from your perspective.

I would assume that they probably get a good deal of our TV up there?

I know that but shows specifically geared to American issues wouldn't make sense. Most American shows that come over on Canadian cable (at least from what I've seen) are those required by syndication (News, sitcoms, etc) local stuff or non syndicated shows (which I would assume a part on black history month or something to that effect would be lumped into) aren't don't usually come through. Same deal goes with commercials.