“A company that provides translation services and cultural sensitivity training to other organizations is being accused of sex discrimination and racial insensitivity in its own ranks.”

“To bolster her discrimination complaint with the state, Kelly included photos allegedly showing the company’s top two human resources executives dressed up for the 2005 corporate Halloween party as a black pimp and a white prostitute. The “pimp,” a white woman wearing blackface and sporting a fake gold tooth, won the prize for best costume, the complaint said.”

http://ads.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8PMRCTO0.htm

btw, I enjoyed “Heart of Whiteness.” The others I mentioned in my previous post have written very insightful books, as well.

I’d love to hear Tim Wise, Robert Jensen, James W. Loewen, George Lipsitz, on ATR! Jen and Carmen, are you listening? *smile*

They’re antiracist who will always be aware of their privileged status in this society because the ideology of white supremacy never fails to enforce it.

Anyway, re: “Black. White” I guess the ladies of ATRs critique of the minstrel show was perhaps too good! I will be tuning that balderdash OUT!

I think this would show people of color that there are white people who care enough to lose their white privileges, and give other whites the courage to stand up against racism when they see it among their fellow white friends and colleagues.

‘Scuse me? I don’t think you can give up your White privilege. Don’t let B/W fool you — skin colour doesn’t wash off.

White allies are part of any large civil rights movement about oppressed minorities, but the jury’s still out on how effective that can be. It certainly isn’t necessary to validate my activism, and simultaneously, it doesn’t warm my heart to induct a White ally into my cause. White people should be down with a movement because they agree with it, and part of being an ally is to have your authenticity questioned — it sounds more like you’re shopping for a cookie to reward your “downness”.

I have a comment about your question on blackface. An excellent way of understanding blackface is by looking at how homosexuals are depicted in the media now. “Will & Grace” is an excellent example of entertainment predicated on the fictionalized life of gay men and women. Very similar to blackface, they are viewed by heterosexuals as entertaining, but in reality, many Americans would not DARE threaten their “heterosexual privileges”
to fight for gay civil rights.

Blackface is a way for white America to legitimize oppression through entertainment while simultaneously pride themselves that their racism is really not as bad as people think it is.

I think it would be interesting for you all to do a podcast about white people who do fight for minority rights and know where people of color come from. I think this would show people of color that there are white people who care enough to lose their white privileges, and give other whites the courage to stand up against racism when they see it among their fellow white friends and colleagues.

The reason why I am interested in communicating with you is because I have a lot of family members who try to simplify racial matters in a few words, or state that they feel they are offending everyone every time they open their mouths about race, so they’d rather state that they don’t want to deal with it. And I just want you to know that this is definitely a good path. Dialogue is the key to communication. But as I said before, and I say this to all readers, if you feel that you disagree with this radio show or someone’s post, please reply back with a clear point as to your disapproval. Give as many examples as you can, and maybe you will add a new dimension to others’ perspectives. Don, you are always welcome to this discussion.