Pros and Cons on ‘Being White’

As an Afro-American woman who has experienced sexism and other forms of oppression, I was offended by “Facing Up to Being White.” In the article, the term racism was tossed around as a social issue which, according to Roberto Chene can be reduced if Americans attempted to “undo history,” and if “minorities gave up their posture of victimization.”

To undo history means to forget about the hundreds of thousands of Africans who died as they were being brought to America on slave ships while in chains and being treated like wild animals below deck. To undo history means to forget how African women were raped by their Caucasian slave owners. To undo history means to forget how Africans were robbed of their tribal languages, culture, food, art, music and African history.

Realizing these facts, how dare Lillian Royal Rose state Caucasians have “lost their distinct language, music and food.” And why should society be concerned about white Americans trying to better themselves, when they have managed to construct a self-destructing society in which all minorities are made inferior to them?

To undo history means becoming a conformist in this white and overwhelmingly bigoted society which is pushing racism against blacks aside by attempting to equate it with oppression all races experience.

TAMARA WILLIS

La Jolla