I was reading an article in TIME Magazine that was part of the cover story (Ten Big Ideas for the Next Ten Years). The article is entitled "The White Anxiety Crisis", and discusses how whites will be the minority in America by 2050.
By that time, we may not be here because of 2012 (hey I'm excited, no loans to pay off), or dialogue and ideas about race and stereotypes might heavily progress. But by that time we also might have aliens to worry about, like in District 9.
Think about it though, what would be so bad about a white minority? If I read the article correctly, there will be no demographic over 50% in the country by that time either. It might make for a very interesting country.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"Not to be racist, but..."
I went home to Berks County this past weekend only to be rudely reminded of why I like Philadelphia so much better, at least where race is concerned. Not everyone in Berks County, PA is like this, but unfortunately I've met enough people that are to make a stereotype of white suburbia mentality, and for that I apologize in advance.
I was speaking to a parent about March Madness and Temple's basketball team. (For those of you that don't know, Temple lost to Cornell in the first round of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.) This parent asked me how school was going, and I said it was absolutely great, I was just bummed because Temple had lost so early in the tournament. So we begin to talk a bit about college basketball (of which I know next to nothing, nor do I really pay attention until March), and he says "Not to be racist, but..." And I'm thinking oh boy, can't wait to see where this is going. Then he continues to say how every team has great players but it's the white ones that seem to have a great combination of point-guard, and something else I forget what positions he listed. He said that those were the teams that really do the best and have the most team work. Slightly infuriated, I had to make the decision to just nod my head and smile or politely say something.
I chose to nod and smile. Now, had this been a friend, I probably would have politely gone ape-shit. (Apologies, politely would have said that 1- they were wrong if you look at previous championship winners, 2- race is a social construction blah blah blah and the whole speal the usually hear from me anyway). This is the issue I see myself running into in the future...do I correct those people or say something? Or do I let it go? My intention isn't to intentionally begin a conflict, but I find it more and more difficult to keep my mouth shut because I believe that there's no reason for dialogue or assumptions like that.
UNC, 2009 Champs...looks pretty white to me...
Kansas, 2008 Champs...hey look everyone's white...
Florida, 2007 Champs...seeing a pattern here?
I was speaking to a parent about March Madness and Temple's basketball team. (For those of you that don't know, Temple lost to Cornell in the first round of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.) This parent asked me how school was going, and I said it was absolutely great, I was just bummed because Temple had lost so early in the tournament. So we begin to talk a bit about college basketball (of which I know next to nothing, nor do I really pay attention until March), and he says "Not to be racist, but..." And I'm thinking oh boy, can't wait to see where this is going. Then he continues to say how every team has great players but it's the white ones that seem to have a great combination of point-guard, and something else I forget what positions he listed. He said that those were the teams that really do the best and have the most team work. Slightly infuriated, I had to make the decision to just nod my head and smile or politely say something.
I chose to nod and smile. Now, had this been a friend, I probably would have politely gone ape-shit. (Apologies, politely would have said that 1- they were wrong if you look at previous championship winners, 2- race is a social construction blah blah blah and the whole speal the usually hear from me anyway). This is the issue I see myself running into in the future...do I correct those people or say something? Or do I let it go? My intention isn't to intentionally begin a conflict, but I find it more and more difficult to keep my mouth shut because I believe that there's no reason for dialogue or assumptions like that.
UNC, 2009 Champs...looks pretty white to me...
Kansas, 2008 Champs...hey look everyone's white...
Florida, 2007 Champs...seeing a pattern here?
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