Throughout history, those who have possessed ‘superior’
characteristics (white, male) have always constructed the ‘inferior other’, whether
it be the other gender (female), the other race (African American, Native
American), etc. Although these assignments have been justified on the basis of biology
through pseudo-scientific reasoning, many (myself included) would argue that
these assignments are mainly social constructs. Perhaps we have reached the point
where we no longer have to legitimize these distinctions that play into power
structures. Now that we are finally enlightened, we can deem ourselves
colorblind and forget about these arbitrary distinctions. Right?
Wrong.
Harris argues,
quite convincingly, that there presently exist disparate material and
non-material (i.e. value of whiteness) inequalities between
races. Furthermore, these gross inequalities are the product of systematic racial
subordination. Our current political system is not ‘neutral’ nor just, as many
suppose that it is in cases of opposition to affirmative action (and everyday life). The dissonance
between reality (a state of gross inequality) and society’s constructed view of
itself (as neutral or fair) is a product of expectations of white privilege
that have been reinforced by our legislative and judicial branches.
I find it
difficult not to relate this to the recent demonstrations that have occurred at
CMC. Though it is difficult to gauge how many ‘dissent’, I believe that there
are an overwhelming number of people who feel at odds with those who call for
serious administrative/institutional reforms. This reading evoked one significant
problem that I have with dissenters: they don’t see the need for an ethnic/racial/sexuality-centered
GE.
To many
white people (certainly not all), the idea that POC at CMC have serious
grievances with their quality of life may disrupt their expectations of the CMC
community or society. Perhaps they become defensive and feel, as many ‘victims’
of affirmative action feel, that the burden to correct injustices does not lie
on any one of them individually.
A class that
includes material on power structures and systematic oppression of the races/genders
may serve to inform those who are disillusioned—white supremacy exists in society.
The United States has a history of subordinating races/genders domestically as
well as through imperial endeavors. Furthermore, it may convince them that
these systematic injustices can (and should) be corrected through programs that serve to
balance the playing field/fix existing inequalities such as affirmative action in hiring faculty (like Harris says, affirmative action is meant to address institutional
inequalities on a broad level—it is not meant to ‘victimize’ innocent white people.)
The
addition of a GE is, in itself, an structural change that may balance out a sea
of white, male voices that dominate other GE fields such as Philosophy,
Government, the Sciences, and, of course, Economics.
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