Questionnable Special Treatment
I read a couple of things in yesterday’s Washington Post Metro section that gave me pause. “African American Families Celebrate with Day at the Zoo.” And “The White House allocated some tickets [to the Easter Egg Roll] for gay and lesbian parents.”
I wondered if this was yet another manifestation of affirmative action. I wondered if families in these two demographic groups felt special because of this accommodation or whether many of them would have preferred not to be singled out in this way.
If we really want to move toward equality of all people regardless of their race, sexual preference, age, country of origin, etc., why in the world would we continue to do things like this?
I’m sure the African American families enjoyed their day at the zoo, but if I were a Caucasian with children, I wondered if I would have felt unwelcome at the zoo or even been denied entrance on Monday. I wondered where the biracial family fit into this picture.
I wondered how the White House screened for the sexual preference of those applying for tickets to the Easter Egg Roll. Did they have to check a box that said “Gay/Lesbian”? If so, did they think up front this might improve their chances of getting in when it could just as easily been used to keep them out?
When I worked for the Federal Government, I always had problems with all the special weeks (Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and practically enough others to fill the year it seemed) when most of them did not address the white person born in this county, still the predominant group of people.
Issues like this are always tricky. We walk a fine line between discrimination and going overboard in the opposite direction.
Any thoughts on this?
posted by Barbara at 3:45 PM
23 Comments:
The context for all of this is the many years where minority groups were deliberately excluded from special events and celebrations. Thus, other events grew up to fill that gap. I have no doubt that the Zoo Easter Egg event was open to everyone but it was created because the White House event wasn't always open.
Also, no one had to identify themselves as gay/lesbian to participate in the Easter Egg Roll. Invitations were sent to advocacy groups to be distributed to their memberships. In years past, open participation by gays and lesbians was discouraged--now, this administration is taking proactive steps to correct that exclusion. Also known as: affirmative action. It is a good thing.
"...when most of them did not address the white person born in this county, still the predominant group of people."
The white, heterosexual norm is celebrated every day in this country. We are given prominent place in television and movies, books and magazines. If there's a here or heroine, they're likely to be portrayed as white and hetero. If you read a public school history textbook, it tells the history and culture of the white, hetero establishment.
Whites don't need special attention shined on them. They get special treatment every single day in this country. They make more money, have better schools, are treated more politely, and are better protected.
Were white parents uncomfortable at being the minority at the zoo? Probably. But then, African Americans experience that same sensation almost every day. And lets remember, for many, many, many years, it was likely that an African American wouldn't have even been allowed to take their family to a public place like that. So if you feel a little uncomfortable being in a location where minority identity is being celebrated, remember that minority person is probably uncomfortable every day of the year being surrounded by the celebration of white culture everywhere they look.
This makes me think of the film White Man's Burden, a flick in which whites are the minority. It definitely made me think.
I, too, get the notices of all of the weeks celebrating different cultures. I'm not sure how well attended or noticed they are but it's probably better to do it than not.
I don't feel particularly celebrated during women's history month or on international women's day, but so much of history leaves out women's roles. We have to start somewhere.
The first three comments made me think some more about this. It seems like the usual intent of affirmative action is much the same as a golf handicap -- to level the playing field. I have bought into this for purposes of supporting diversity in educational facilities and in the workplace. However, in the case of the zoo, everyone already has an equal chance to enjoy it because it is free and there are no other requirements. The same thing might be said for the WH Egg Roll, where anyone in the country could request tickets. So why these particular minorities when there are so many from which to choose?
As for the "special" weeks at the workplace, most people, including those being celebrated, seemed to view them as an opportunity to get some ethnic food better than that served in the cafeteria (which wasn't hard to beat) and perhaps some entertainment at lunch time. They always seemed somewhat forced and pro forma, not really all that educational. Did anyone have a different experience?
I'm "European-American" (mostly Scot, some English and a smidgen of German and French). I've gratefully lived my entire life to date in one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the US. I think it's a bit hypocritical to not have "Irish-American" week or "Caribbean-American Week" and so forth, if other cultural/ethnic groups are given special attention...it's very tricky, because where do you draw the line? I guess it's partly a combination of sheer numbers, guilt/attempt to redress, and political power that determines who gets "singled out."
F.
Seeing as Mother's Day and Father's Day are coming up in the next couple of months, I am reminded of what my dad told me when I used to ask, "if there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, why isn't there a Children's Day?" He replied, "because every day is children's day."
Being a European, I cannot really comment on your question if it will help these minority groups to feel better to have a special invitation. I don`t know if they are being treated less well on normal days. I know they used to, but how is it today?
What I miss here on my island in eastern Germany is the cultural diversity I had in Hamburg. In Hamburg you can see groups of little boys, one Black, one Chinese, one freckled White, all talking the local dialect, and getting along greatly. And there are large communities of Japanese, Portuguese, British, Turkish, African, anything, each one with their wonderful restaurants and colours and smells.
Here everybody is White, German, period. A few Polish neighbours are visiting or working here, coming from the near border towns, maybe one or two tourists from France or England or Sweden, but that`s IT. Poor I consider it! So that`s why I am teaching my pupils as much Persian and Indonesian and Chinyanja as I know! To at least broaden their outlook on life!
Anon -- I think the real issue is WHY particular groups are being singled out. It could have the effect of making those minorities who are not "chosen" feel even more obscure!
MC -- I would gladly give up Mother's Day if it could be celebrated every day!
Angela -- I'm thinking this probably sounds silly to a European. The truth is both of these groups of people have suffered during the course of our history. I'm not sure declaring a "day" or a "special event" for them really goes very far in addressing the past wrongs.
I often wonder the same. How would I feel if a day or event was dedicated to me simply because of my ethnicity? Not sure.
I do know that we were a bit miffed that Columbus day was taken away ("we" being my Italian family) to make room for Martin Luther King's birthday holiday. But, that is the course of history.
If we celebrated every historical figure's birthday or event we would never work or go to school. But, we would have some great department store sales, wouldn't we?
Gewels -- This was exactly the thought process that took me down this path. I tried to imagine myself as one of "them" and thought about how I might feel. I think I would always prefer just to blend in instead of sticking out because someone was calling attention to me and mine. But that's just my opinion. I'll probably never know unless they offer Jews or Norwegian-Americans a special day, which is unlikely to happen.
I let a kid from my NA group stay with me for a few weeks back during black history month.
He was miffed that Black folks had their own Historical Month and didn't understand at all why they deserved to have their history highlighted and celebrated.
Thats really all I'll say about that.
Yikes, Bulletholes. I cannot decide whether that is a good thing or frightening. Good perhaps because the student does not distinguish others by color. Scary if the student has no clue about American history.
Kate, in this case it was a bad thing.
Personally, I think Black History really defines this country, both te good and the bad, moreso than any other group. Its been a long and slow but magnificent progress that we have made, with many dollars and lives spent towards the cause of Equality.
You cannot tell the American story weithout telling the story of Black America.
We can't just pretend that there was never slavery, never segregation never a huge chasm between our cultures.
They should have a day at the Zoo.
But I'm getting out of my league now...
Bulletholes -- What I want to know is how in the world giving African Americans a day at the zoo in any way atones for the fact that they were once slaves? I think it just perpetuates the idea that they are different from other people, when in fact we're basically all the same, just shades on a palette. But that's just my opinion.
I don't particularly mind such events, because some people legitimately feel their ethnicities or races aren't treated fairly or equally on a day-to-day basis, and maybe this helps. I, meanwhile, have no such gripe, so it's no skin off my back.
Hahaha!
We have a Zoo here in rot Worth, but its not free. they promote things like this from time to time, and I just realized that its really less about the group and more about the Zoo just wanting to be busy!
Its all about the Zoo!
I suppose these things are a way to reach out and also to involve specific groups.
Perhaps black families do not historically visit the zoo and this was intended to introduce them in a comfortable way.
In my town, our main school district has outreach programs for Hispanic families, despite being comprised of 75% Hispanic students.
People usually mean well.
The dominant culture gets it's special treatment "up front". At first I didn't understand this, but when I heard about my friend's television experiences growing up, I began to understand. When there was an Asian face on the screen, it was a "happening". That one person (usually killed first, if it was a murder mystery) was unusual. I tease my husband that every Persian face on television face on the t.v. screen is a terrorist, but really it is no laughing matter.
Teaching alongside African-American educators, I learned a wealth of American History that was simply left out of the history books, for example, who was the FIRST American killed in the Revolutionary War?
Sure, I could go back to a time when the Irish were discriminated against ("No dogs or Irishmen allowed"), but the fact is that we have been folded into the American fabric and I have had opportunities available to me because of my race including where I lived, my education, events and situations.
When there is something like "African-American Day at the Zoo", I usually think, "so little, so late".
One side note: I used to think that I was pretty diverse in my thinking, but did hold a prejudice against Middle Eastern men. You know, I thought they would be rigid and was somewhat scared of them. I met Dr. R. on the internet and agreed to talk to him, because I thought that his last name was Italian. My fifteen years with him have taught me that we all hold prejudices and stereotypes that are pretty worthless in real life.
I'm starting to think of myself as a real bigot for writing this, when in fact I don't think that is the case. What I was trying to say was not that we shouldn't recognize the plight of minority groups in our country, but that we should find a more fitting way to do so, one that works to right the wrongs instead of simply paying lipservice to them, as I feel both of these things did. I think EVERYONE should go to the zoo with their children every chance they get and I think the WH Egg Roll should be a lottery as far as deciding who gets to attend. But that's just my 2 cents. Meanwhile I am fully behind working to honor and respect the rights of ALL PEOPLE in this country!
I agree that all children should go to the zoo...and the park, and the beach and...my goodness, we need to get these kiddos out and about in more appropriate places!
I made one of my twice-a-year pilgrimages to WalMart today and watched as parents took their very young children shopping, shopping and more shopping...yelling, yelling and more yelling (from the kids to the parents, from the parents to the kiddos... sheesh!)
Barbara said: I tried to imagine myself as one of "them" and thought about how I might feel. I think I would always prefer just to blend in instead of sticking out because someone was calling attention to me and mine.That's exactly the point. You can *never* really know what it's like to have these events for your race. Even if they had a Norwegian American day, you'd still be coming at it from a perspective of privilege. You can never know what it means to an African American because you have never been in the position of having to navigate the world of discrimination that these people deal with every single day of their lives, in almost every situation they face. You just can't do it. Neither can I.
I can tell you what it's like being a woman in a patriarchal society. To be fat in a thin-loving society. To have a disability in a society that only values the able-bodied. But I can never truly understand the thoughts and feelings of someone who is black in our society.
I don't think you are a racist for what you have posted here. I just think you are a good example of most of the white people in our society who just really don't comprehend the life of privilege they've lived. It was a real shock to me when I first started exploring my life from the perspective of the privileges I have. And it's still something I struggle with, not understanding that occasionally I may say something with the best of intentions that is actually very offensive, just because I don't view things with the same lenses as someone without my level of privilege.
Barbara said: I'm not sure declaring a "day" or a "special event" for them really goes very far in addressing the past wrongs.The purpose of these types of events aren't to make reparations for past injury so much as to mitigate the continuing injury of discrimination in our society. Racism isn't something of the past. Homophobia isn't something in the past. These attitudes are alive and well in our society today, and they must be dealt with. Playing fields must be leveled if there is to be continuing change. It's the only way to keep moving forward.
Events like these have the wonderful effect of discussions like these blossoming all over the place. Doesn't that alone make them worthwhile in the quest to end discrimination?
Maritzia -- Until we can equally recognize every disadvantaged minority in our society, I think it is unfair to single out these two. I totally agree they have suffered at the hand of privileged white people who in many cases don't care in the least what happens to them or even wish them harm. But so have Japanese Americans, American Indians, Hispanic illegal aliens, and many other groups of people.
So we should sit back and do nothing since we can't do everything?
In the DC Metro area, the single biggest minority is African American. So it makes sense that outreach to that group would take place in that area. Gay parenting has been under assault lately all over the country, so it makes sense to highlight their participation in a nationally watched family event.
The group targetted at any particular moment is going to have a lot to do with the particular event and the population surrounding that event. Both of these events make sense in the time and place they exist.
We can't do something for everyone at the same time. But we do what we can as we can. One step at a time is the only way to walk a mile. You can't jump the mile in one huge leap.
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