I worked for a city government for about a decade and it was fascinating to watch the race, diversity, etc. arc. When I started we were required to take a day training which included watching "Race: The Power of Illusion" (which I still think about a lot) to in the year before I left creating affinity groups for people of color that disc…
I worked for a city government for about a decade and it was fascinating to watch the race, diversity, etc. arc. When I started we were required to take a day training which included watching "Race: The Power of Illusion" (which I still think about a lot) to in the year before I left creating affinity groups for people of color that discouraged white people from joining. Since it was government they technically couldn't forbid white people to join a POC affinity group but we would have been judged had we done so.
It was fascinating. The more you actually learn about the history of racial classification the more it seems so obvious we have to somehow move past it. Anyway, that's my contribution for today. I encourage people to at least listen to the book discussion if not pick up the book for themselves.
And as always, thanks for your thoughtful commentary on these subjects. I always leave the reading with a new talking point.
Yeah, racial attitudes (and race "science") have largely been post hoc justifications or rationalizations to reinforce existing hierarchies. When a group has something valuable, they get to move up the ladder. Except for black/Africans, who wind up stuck at the bottom, no matter where.
I worked for a city government for about a decade and it was fascinating to watch the race, diversity, etc. arc. When I started we were required to take a day training which included watching "Race: The Power of Illusion" (which I still think about a lot) to in the year before I left creating affinity groups for people of color that discouraged white people from joining. Since it was government they technically couldn't forbid white people to join a POC affinity group but we would have been judged had we done so.
I recently listened to a Michael Shermer interview with a man named David Bernstein who put out a book this year about the history of racial classification. (Link to the interview https://www.skeptic.com/michael-shermer-show/david-bernstein-untold-story-of-racial-classification-in-america/)
It was fascinating. The more you actually learn about the history of racial classification the more it seems so obvious we have to somehow move past it. Anyway, that's my contribution for today. I encourage people to at least listen to the book discussion if not pick up the book for themselves.
And as always, thanks for your thoughtful commentary on these subjects. I always leave the reading with a new talking point.
Yeah, racial attitudes (and race "science") have largely been post hoc justifications or rationalizations to reinforce existing hierarchies. When a group has something valuable, they get to move up the ladder. Except for black/Africans, who wind up stuck at the bottom, no matter where.
When you say "no matter where" do you mean globally or what?
And why do you think that is?