February 18, 2009

Why is it racist to have a white affinity club at school?

Because the literary magazine club, which is entirely white, is a white affinity club.
Because the GSA, which is entirely white, is a white affinity club.
Because many other clubs at this school are exactly like these two.
Because many churches, schools, workplaces, and government offices are white affinity clubs.
Because many towns and suburbs are white affinity clubs.
Because every country club or golf course for miles around is a white affinity club.
Because our entire society is one ginormous white affinity club.

We don't need another one.

6 comments:

  1. Lauren, this is the most honest blog I've ever read. God bless you. If you believe in that sort of thing...
    I'm proud to say that I'm following this blog.

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  2. I mean, yeah.
    Agreed.
    But think about our school...the percentage of different races is unrealistic. I don't think there are even enough black people in the high school to have at least two people per club.

    And yeah, its sad.

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  3. :D thanks. i'm not religious...but it's cool :)

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  4. forgot to respond to rachel! agh

    yeah, it is...i mean, we're really white. that's why it was so laughable when i first heard about it...like, really? we need to get a bunch of white people together to talk about stuff that affects white people as a community? hmm.

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  5. I think that we shouldn't have any sort of clubs that further seperate us. I think that we should have clubs that discuss issues that different groups face - that includes, if people want, a white club, Christian club, etc. I think that these clubs shouldn't be exclusively for one group of people, but should be open to talk about issues that face/issues that these groups cause.

    If we have an 'Asian club', it should be open to people of all ethnicities to discuss stereotypes of Asians, issues Asians face in America, etc.

    If people in this school want a white club, then power to them. Let it be open to all people, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, etc.

    And I don't agree that GSA and Literary Magazine and many other clubs are white affinity clubs. It's not like in those clubs, it's only open to white people and that the people in them talk about being white. It's a GSA club, or a Literary magazine.

    And I think you're also ignoring churches that are all black, or school that are all black...Central anybody?

    Though you have a point - it might be seen as racist to have a white affinity club - I don't think it is. I think that society is so quick to see a white person and think 'racist' or 'priveleged' that we couldn't handle a white affinity club. If the Asian affinity club started insulting white people and saying that Asians were a superior race, that would be racist, right? So if there was a white affinity club that didn't put themselves as superior to others, that didn't insult other races, but talked about white issues in America, is that racist?

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  6. i'm not sure...not being a racial minority, i don't know which is better: having a group open only to people with more or less your racial experiences, or having a group open to people who don't have them. I can see the appeal of having a safe space that's just for members of a minority, without any of the majority there. at the same time, i get why it's important not to discriminate.

    basically, even though certain clubs aren't "WHITES ONLY," they still consist of white people. one facet of white privilege is not having to interact with members of racial minorities, the fact that you can walk into this club (or whatever) and see people "like you." but that kind of reminds me of rachel's point, that there aren't enough minorities to really have mostly-nonwhite clubs.

    yeah, there are definitely all- (or mostly-)black schools/churches, but they're not the norm. at least not in our part of the country, they're not.

    I hope the Asian Club doesn't do that, but if they did, yeah, that would be racist. But I still think a white affinity club, while not inherently racist, becomes so given the context of a white-majority school and nation.

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