1. "When is White History Month? If we had WHM they'd say we're racist. That's reverse racism!"
There is a whole Tumblr blog with idiots repeatedly asking this same question. They somehow conveniently ignore the fact that the contributions of Africans and African-Americans (as well as other minorities) are largely ignored when children are taught about world history and US history. If most public school books are to be taken at face value, one could easily conclude that Blacks disappeared after slavery and reappeared during the Civil Rights era. We learn of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks; occasionally the story of George Washington Carver making peanut butter is thrown in. That's it. If the full, rich history of all people were included in the education we receive, there would be no need for BHM. Instead, all we get is how Europeans "discovered" America (not how they raped and killed natives to steal their land), "brought" Africans to America (not the true brutality of the Atlantic Slave Trade or how they felt justified in doing so because of a false sense of superiority) and how they "built" America (conveniently leaving out the exploited minorities who actually did the hard labor).
By the way, while there is no "White History Month," there are several months celebrating those of European heritage. Irish American Heritage Month: March. Scots Heritage Month: April. Jewish American Heritage Month: May. German American Heritage Month: mid-September through mid-October. Italian American Heritage Month: October. Considering all of this, plus the fact that every month that school children learn history is "white history month," I consider it more than fair that African-Americans have 28 days to recognize our history.
2. They can have all-black schools and all-black organizations. Why can't we have all white schools and organizations? Reverse racism!
Hmmm, what is the history behind HBCUs and Black organizations? Oh yeah, it was the fact that African-Americans were being excluded from the then all-white institutions. So instead of just not receiving higher education, Blacks created their own colleges? Instead of bowing their heads and not trying to attain anything Blacks created unions, professional organizations, Greek-letter organizations? How dare we decide to create for ourselves what had been denied from us!
And point of clarity: show me one HBCU that is 100% black. There are plenty of white kids taking advantage of those diversity scholarships and affirmative action that so many White people hate. The same is true for many traditionally Black organizations.
3. You have BET but no WET? Racists!
Same as #2: Poor (or no) representation on mainstream channels. So while there is a channel that specifically have "Black" in the name, channels such as ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, etc. comprise WET. I know, not White-specific enough for you, but somehow I think you'll survive.
4. You can say "nigga" but I can't?! Even if I drop the -er? That's not fair!
Life really isn't fair, is it? There are so many double standards and inequity in this world. For example, I can't go into a nice department store and shop in peace. Instead I'm followed around suspiciously, even though 70% of people arrested for shoplifting are White. I'm more likely to be the victim of police brutality, false arrests and criminal conviction because of my skin, even though I am a law-abiding citizen. As a Black woman I am attacked in the media on a regular basis, for everything from my appearance to my attitude to my education to why apparently I can't get a man. If I climb the corporate ladder, it is assumed that I am only there because of some "Black quota" that needs to be filled, even though I have had to work twice as hard due to my race and my gender. And you can't say "nigga" without a Black person being offended. Yes, the world is unfair. Boo-fucking-hoo.
5. What's wrong with White Power/White Pride when they can say "Black Power" or "Black Pride"? I can't be proud to be White?
Of course you can be proud to be White. Everyone should be proud of whoever and whatever they are. (Unless they're like a pedophile or something; no one should be proud of that. But that's neither here nor there.) There is a very real, legitimate reason why people are leery when they hear "White Power" or "White Pride." When African-Americans (and other groups) speak of pride/power, they speak of recognizing their own self-worth. It is the affirmation that "I may not fit the 'standard' of beauty. The world may not acknowledge my talent or my intellect. I may be regarded as less than, but I know I am not. I come from a line of proud, resilient people and I won't let anyone shame me for who I am."
However, this is not the message that is conveyed with White pride/power. Instead cries of "White power" are often associated with violence towards anyone who doesn't fit a certain look or ethnicity. White pride is used as the basis to attack others, physically or otherwise. The phrase white pride is a euphemism for a false sense of superiority, the same pseudo-superiority that was used to justify raping, killing, enslaving and degrading "savages" that they did not even attempt to understand.
Even as I typed all of this, I know that the people who need to read this won't. After all, ignorance to the truth is the same as justification for those who want to remain bigoted.
Oh, one other thing. For those of you (Black and White alike) who believe the conspiracy theory that Blacks were "given the shortest month of the year," click here. You're welcome.
I heard my share of those in my life time. Although BET doesn't represent much of anything I'd watch, I always tell white people that they already have "WET." It's called NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and CW. Don't even get me started on cable channels.
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