Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Whites Swim in Racial Preference
AlterNet ^ | 02.20.03 | Tim Wise

Posted on 02/21/2003 9:33:36 AM PST by yankeedame

Home » Top Stories »

Whites Swim in Racial Preference

By Tim Wise, AlterNet February 20, 2003

Ask a fish what water is and you'll get no answer. Even if fish were capable of speech, they would likely have no explanation for the element they swim in every minute of every day of their lives. Water simply is. Fish take it for granted.

So too with this thing we hear so much about, "racial preference." While many whites seem to think the notion originated with affirmative action programs, intended to expand opportunities for historically marginalized people of color, racial preference has actually had a long and very white history.

Affirmative action for whites was embodied in the abolition of European indentured servitude, which left black (and occasionally indigenous) slaves as the only unfree labor in the colonies that would become the U.S.

Affirmative action for whites was the essence of the 1790 Naturalization Act, which allowed virtually any European immigrant to become a full citizen, even while blacks, Asians and American Indians could not.

Affirmative action for whites was the guiding principle of segregation, Asian exclusion laws, and the theft of half of Mexico for the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.

In recent history, affirmative action for whites motivated racially restrictive housing policies that helped 15 million white families procure homes with FHA loans from the 1930s to the '60s, while people of color were mostly excluded from the same programs.

In other words, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that white America is the biggest collective recipient of racial preference in the history of the cosmos. It has skewed our laws, shaped our public policy and helped create the glaring inequalities with which we still live.

(Excerpt) Read more at alternet.org ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: reverseracism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last
To: yankeedame; mhking; L.N. Smithee; Trueblackman; KLT; hellinahandcart
timjwise@msn.com

Posted as a public service...

21 posted on 02/21/2003 12:13:42 PM PST by sauropod (It's OK to drive an SUV if it helps you get babes.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rdb3; Khepera; elwoodp; MAKnight; condolinda; mafree; Trueblackman; FRlurker; Teacher317; ...
I'm sick of someone (i.e., the author of this tripe) trying to make excuses for me. I didn't stop to ask anybody for excuses...

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

22 posted on 02/21/2003 12:21:11 PM PST by mhking ("The word is no. I am therefore going anyway..." --Admiral J.T. Kirk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Texas_Jarhead
all you folks don't forget that we stole half of mexico too

Yes, after Mexico "stole" it from Spain. And after Spain "stole" it from...

23 posted on 02/21/2003 12:21:14 PM PST by judgeandjury (The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jjm2111; Poohbah; general_re; BlueLancer; hellinahandcart
Tell me where I can pick my "power elite" membership card.

Ask Poohbah about our February special.

24 posted on 02/21/2003 12:24:11 PM PST by dighton (Senior Vice President, International Power Elite.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: yankeedame
must be talking about white *women*
25 posted on 02/21/2003 12:26:32 PM PST by WriteOn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yankeedame
Barf
26 posted on 02/21/2003 12:46:44 PM PST by Michael2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yankeedame
Even if fish were capable of speech, they would likely have no explanation for the element they swim in every minute of every day of their lives.

Let me get this straight, all that's keeping us from finding out whether fish can define water is their inability to speak. Note to self: quit peeing in the ocean, otherwise sign-language enabled fish will be able to tell on me.

Along the same lines, what's air?
27 posted on 02/21/2003 12:50:24 PM PST by No Left Turn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jjm2111
I use my "Racial Preference" to enjoy a relaxing 50 or 60 hour week. When I've got time off I use it to bask in the satisfying knowledge that I've worked for the government for half the week. I give them my tax money joyfully, knowing that they will help some poor person who doesn't have the "Racial Preference" I enjoy. I feel good.
28 posted on 02/21/2003 1:04:15 PM PST by dljordan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: yankeedame
Affirmative action for whites was embodied in the abolition of European indentured servitude, which left black (and occasionally indigenous) slaves as the only unfree labor in the colonies that would become the U.S.

And even this is BS. Something technically true that is actually false. Here's another angle on that -- the history that most are ignorant of. Maybe we could have a White History Month to teach this.

In the 17th century the average life expectancy (in England) was around 35 years. More accurately however, if one lived to 15 then one had good odds of hitting 50. BUT! A large number of those "transported" were teenagers, and many died on the trip. Why?

Because the exact same kind of ships, and sometimes the exact same ships that were used in the slave trade were used to transport criminals from England to the colonies. And criminals could be transported (or hanged) for a variety of things that today would be considered misdemeanors. The magistrates were paid money by the ship owners to assign petty criminals for transport (in preference to hanging.) "Trials" were often held in the magistrates living rooms or a private office, where 12 year old kids were convicted of the crime of petty theft - stealing so they wouldn't starve to death. The local "watch" or cops would get a kickback from the magistrate. The ship captains would then sell their "indentures" when they got over here.

The death rate on the transport ships was similar to the slave ships. The conditions were the same - the transportees were chained down and packed into the holds. Where the African slave ships were hot, the Northern route was COLD (and wet.) Many died of lung congestion and fevers. While fewer transportees died on a ship that made it compared to the slave ships, because of storms in the North Atlantic more ships were lost entirely, which tended to balance out the total losses as being about the same.

When a transportee had their indenture sold, it was normally for a period of seven years. The men were often used for clearing land and other hazardous activities, women were often used for prostitution, although many were used for house servants. However, in many cases the indentured servant had to pay for extra clothes, meals, etc. Thus their length of service was added on to the original seven years.

While the children of indentured servants could not be "sold", their parents could be charged for their childrens food, clothing, and housing, thus adding to the length of the parents indenture. Thus many indentured servants had many years added to their terms of indenture. The lucky childern would be apprenticed off around the age of 6 - 8. This was a good deal for them, because they could learn a trade and would be free. For those who weren't apprenticed, they would go on to be servants or laborers themselves.

Many transportees who were indentured never became free.

The above notwithstanding, the significant difference between the indenture system and slavery is that the children of the indentured servants could be free, and most were.

29 posted on 02/21/2003 1:35:38 PM PST by dark_lord
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Left Turn
Air is an association of all the free gases on the planet.
30 posted on 02/21/2003 1:35:53 PM PST by Old Professer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Old Professer
You are smarter than a fish.
31 posted on 02/21/2003 1:38:39 PM PST by No Left Turn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

I wonder if we will ever get back to discriminating against incompetence, get back to preference for exemplary work done to support the effort at commerce, take affirmative action when excellence in education has more focus than 'get them through the diploma phase, with or without proving competence'...?

It's hard to focus on advancing our collective interest as fellow Americans when so many want to loiter about, complaining.

32 posted on 02/21/2003 1:48:43 PM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote Life Support for others.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: sauropod
Sounds like an e-mail is comin from me.....
33 posted on 02/21/2003 2:14:53 PM PST by KLT (NY NEEDS TO BE CLINTONFREE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: jjm2111
be sure to pass that info along... I WANT my BACK DUES!
34 posted on 02/21/2003 3:48:08 PM PST by demosthenes the elder (i say it again: ALL WEAPONS ARE ASSAULT WEAPONS IF USED FOR THAT PURPOSE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dark_lord
thanks - as a fella with a couple of indentured in my woodpile, I am glad to see these facts made publicly available.
35 posted on 02/21/2003 3:52:41 PM PST by demosthenes the elder (i say it again: ALL WEAPONS ARE ASSAULT WEAPONS IF USED FOR THAT PURPOSE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Texas_Jarhead
...which them durned Mexies dun stolt frum th'Injuns inna fust place.
the whining never ceases, does it?
Be true, Lone Star.
36 posted on 02/21/2003 3:59:50 PM PST by demosthenes the elder (i say it again: ALL WEAPONS ARE ASSAULT WEAPONS IF USED FOR THAT PURPOSE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: yankeedame
"How bout a little more California, and a little less Mexico"

Tim Calhoun
37 posted on 02/21/2003 4:01:25 PM PST by johnb838 (Are we at RED yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
H*ll, drive on the East side of Telegraph and see how you fit in.
38 posted on 02/21/2003 4:21:33 PM PST by netmilsmom (Bush/Rice 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom
H*ll, drive on the East side of Telegraph and see how you fit in.

Or Lasher and Grand River...........

39 posted on 02/21/2003 4:24:28 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("Yippee Kai Aye......")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
Hey, when I first moved here with my blonde curly haired daughter, a greek lady at a car repair shop that my husband found, told me never go past Telegraph on Joy Road except escorted. Many a blonde woman has gone where the street signs are in Arabic and never returned. My baby would never be seen again. Now I know that this is an Urban Legend meant to spook newcomers, but actually a white woman feels out of place in Dearborn as well.
In Cleveland, where I'm from, the closer one gets to the Lake the more run down the neighborhood is. It was so frightening to just be driving in the greater Detroit area and suddenly be in a war zone. Like the first time I was in Pontiac!!!!!!!!
40 posted on 02/21/2003 5:10:56 PM PST by netmilsmom (Bush/Rice 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson