05-09-2021, 12:00 PM
Analysis by John Blake, CNN
Updated 1207 GMT (2007 HKT) September 4, 2021
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Some political myths refuse to die despite all evidence the contrary. Here's another:
When White people are no longer a majority, racism will fade and the US "will never be a White country again."
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Don't ever underestimate White supremacy's ability to adapt.
The assumption that more racial diversity equals more racial equality is a dangerous myth. Racial diversity can function as a cloaking device, concealing the most powerful forms of White supremacy while giving the appearance of racial progress.
Racism will likely be just as entrenched in a browner America as it is now. It will still be White supremacy, with a tan.
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White supremacy isn't just more resilient than many assume. It's also elastic.
Consider how Whiteness has been defined. It's a prime example of how White supremacy adapts.
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In books like "How The Irish Became White" and "Working Toward Whiteness," scholars have argued that the definition of Whiteness has expanded to include Irish, Italian and Jewish people -- groups that once weren't considered fully White in the US.
The US has broadened its definition of White people throughout history enough to maintain power over Black, Asian and Latino people, writes political scientist Justin Gest in a recent essay, "What the 'Majority Minority' Shift Really Means for America."
"Through a historical lens, being white in America today is like belonging to a once-exclusive social club that had to loosen its membership criteria to stay afloat," Gest writes.
Why do so many racial groups gravitate toward Whiteness? The answer is both pragmatic and psychological.
It's due to a racial hierarchy that places Whiter-looking people at the top and darker-skinned people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.
Much much more at: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/04/us/ce...index.html
Updated 1207 GMT (2007 HKT) September 4, 2021
......
Some political myths refuse to die despite all evidence the contrary. Here's another:
When White people are no longer a majority, racism will fade and the US "will never be a White country again."
......
Don't ever underestimate White supremacy's ability to adapt.
The assumption that more racial diversity equals more racial equality is a dangerous myth. Racial diversity can function as a cloaking device, concealing the most powerful forms of White supremacy while giving the appearance of racial progress.
Racism will likely be just as entrenched in a browner America as it is now. It will still be White supremacy, with a tan.
......
White supremacy isn't just more resilient than many assume. It's also elastic.
Consider how Whiteness has been defined. It's a prime example of how White supremacy adapts.
......
In books like "How The Irish Became White" and "Working Toward Whiteness," scholars have argued that the definition of Whiteness has expanded to include Irish, Italian and Jewish people -- groups that once weren't considered fully White in the US.
The US has broadened its definition of White people throughout history enough to maintain power over Black, Asian and Latino people, writes political scientist Justin Gest in a recent essay, "What the 'Majority Minority' Shift Really Means for America."
"Through a historical lens, being white in America today is like belonging to a once-exclusive social club that had to loosen its membership criteria to stay afloat," Gest writes.
Why do so many racial groups gravitate toward Whiteness? The answer is both pragmatic and psychological.
It's due to a racial hierarchy that places Whiter-looking people at the top and darker-skinned people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.
Much much more at: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/04/us/ce...index.html