From: HF.GTD@forsythe.stanford.edu (Gabrielle Daniels)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Gabrielle's empty basket (of raspberries!)
Date: 27 Jan 93 03:23:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: morrow.1k6nelINNaph
Organization: Stanford University
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

Someone privately E-mailed me a couple of days ago as to whether I
believed in what I call _biological determinism_ when
I refer to whites.  In other words, there is something in white
folks genes which makes them racist, etc.  The answer is no.  I do
not believe that whites are inherently racist in their genes.
(Shades of the NOI.) However, their self-aggrandizing culture IS,
making even the most anti-racist white react in strange ways at
certain times.  This is why I always insist that people should
examine and check out their behavior instead of constantly reacting
at a hair trigger.
.
Furthermore, fear is at the one of the roots of racism.  Fear of
being subsumed, fear at being overwhelmed, especially by the dark
and the unknown.  Psychology had it right about superiority
complexes, too.  Its a mental mechanism based on fear.
Unfortunately, fear has been used to justify superiority of one race
over anothers culture, technology and etc.  There is just a great
array of scholars, books and other information supporting the side
and premises of Western Civilization.  There is also just as
fabulous and impressive an array of scholars, scholarship and books,
etc., on an alternative view of Western Civilization.  Ive read
sources from both sides.  There is the possibility of bogus
scholarship in each genre, but to promulgate the idea that because
one has alternative sources that they are not as important or
valuable as the plethora of Western thought is really yanking
it...hard.  Even Marx is suspect!  Thats why Im put off by those who
snappishly aver they dont need to read any old book by Walter
Rodney, or Ivan Van Sertima, or St.  Clair Drake, or Lerone Bennett,
or Martin Bernal or Robert Farris Thompson.  This is a fear reflex.
One does not have _the word_ all the time.  I wish I did!  This is
where supporting Western Civilization as the only game in town gets
one:  it puts people squarely into supporting white supremacy.
.
I put to you also that guilt is also at one of the roots of racism.
Guilt makes white folks cling to Western Civilization all the
harder, knowing that all the negatives:  exploring, enslaving etc.
was done in their name, and their childrens childrens children.
Instead of seriously working to expiate that guilt, which would mean
transforming themselves and fighting against racism and white skin
privilege, and leaving that wonderful legacy to their children, they
retreat behind walls, separate neighborhoods, accusations of reverse
racism and the like.  Its like the settlers behind the wagons, or
the Boers against the Natives.
.
Paraphrasing my late idol, Audre Lorde, guilt gives people an excuse
to DO NOTHING.  This is exactly what is happening, and has happened.
.
Arthur Johnson said, hold it, Gabrielle.  Most people are
Westerners.  I submit that this is true.  Some of my cultural and
intellectual training has been at the reluctant behest of whites.
So I am a Westerner.  Afro-Americans are, unfortunately, Westernized
(sounds like a drycleaning process!) as well as Africanized.  But I
also question Western thought and Western actions and how it does
and does not pertain to me and my folks.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american