Wednesday, September 22, 2004
The Reverend
We ran into "The Reverend" the other evening while stocking up for the hurricane. In case anyone's forgotten, "The Reverend" is the owner and head barber I met with a few friends of mine within that first week in town. After meeting this fellow, I was informed that I had the honors of being the first white guy to have visited his establishment in many many months. I can only assure you that if I had requested a haircut, he'd have sent me out with a mean looking fade.
Anyway, five of us from the apartment complex were milling about the grocery store when I split off from the group to track down a loaf of bread. While in the bakery section, I spotted "The Reverend" and smiled my hello. His reply was an uncomfortable and perplexed nod, leading me to realize that I hadn't been recognized. Rather than create an awkward situation, I left our exchange at that and went about my business. Later, "The Reverend" ran into another of our party and this time, recognized the greeting individual. When I rejoined the group, I was reintroduced to "The Reverend" and this time he laughed and laughed, remarking that he hadn't recognized me when I first smiled his way. "The Reverend" was shopping with his pops and introduced him to the three of us who happened to be in attendance. While everyone exchanged pleasantries of some sort, the exchanges between myself (the lone white guy) and both "The Reverend" and his pops was almost antiseptic by comparison.
This, at long last, brings me to the essential thrust of my post. After spending four years in a private school lauded for its international flavor and commitment to multiculturalism, I've managed to make twice as many meaningful friendships and acquaintances with folks of another ethnicity in the four brief weeks I've spent in Hattiesburg. I suppose pot shots directed at the ol' alma mater aren't exactly called for in this particular situation, as there were students at Macalester who managed to bridge the gap quite successfully. My closest friends here hail from Nigeria, Bolivia, Japan/Mexico, Conneticut, and Tanzania. The lone American is African-American and I've become the token white guy. Why is this all relevant? Well, those of you who know me well, have likely guessed what's coming.
For some time now, I've marvelled at the sense of community and brotherhood embodied in black culture. I say black culture, because it's the culture I'm most familiar with (unfortunately not through inclusion, just observation from a far off distance...y'all know my style,) but I'm fairly certain this same aura of community exists for other minority groups as well. Minorities share a commonality easily recognized and embraced, which lends itself well to community building. In America, minority has become virtually synonymous with poverty and discrimination. I understand this is hardly an ephiphany for those reading the post, but it still deserves mention. What better way to bind a group of forlorn individuals together than through persecution and poverty? With no money to speak of, folks are forced to rely more heavily on the kindness of neighbors. So I ask, WHO, in good faith, will deny the very same neighbor that helped you pay the electricity bill one short month ago a few hours of your precious time? Purely hypothetical, but you get my drift. Persecution and poverty force those alike to band together and find ways to persevere.
The point is, I wish I had that same sense of community in my day-to-day. I say "I" and not "we" (in reference to my white brethren) because I don't wish that white people had a better sense of community...at least not in the exclusive sense. Instead, and again, some of you have seen this coming from a mile off, I wish I were black. I can't honestly say I wish I was a part of just any minority, but to be black (especially African-American, although I'd take African) is to be a part of something exceedingly unique and profound. The propensity for regular black folks to become soulful black folks is so much higher than for regular white folks. The closest thing a white man can come to being soulful is backwards...the same recipe for turning regular black folks into soulful black folks, churns out backwards white folks.
Now, clearly, my pining for mass quantities of melanin won't solve the problem we've got at hand, but I must say, my yearning for black skin is akin to most folks' yearning for cash money. If, on the other hand, someone can find a way to include me in the black posse that slaps and daps, pops and clutches; well, I'm cool with that too.
Anyway, five of us from the apartment complex were milling about the grocery store when I split off from the group to track down a loaf of bread. While in the bakery section, I spotted "The Reverend" and smiled my hello. His reply was an uncomfortable and perplexed nod, leading me to realize that I hadn't been recognized. Rather than create an awkward situation, I left our exchange at that and went about my business. Later, "The Reverend" ran into another of our party and this time, recognized the greeting individual. When I rejoined the group, I was reintroduced to "The Reverend" and this time he laughed and laughed, remarking that he hadn't recognized me when I first smiled his way. "The Reverend" was shopping with his pops and introduced him to the three of us who happened to be in attendance. While everyone exchanged pleasantries of some sort, the exchanges between myself (the lone white guy) and both "The Reverend" and his pops was almost antiseptic by comparison.
This, at long last, brings me to the essential thrust of my post. After spending four years in a private school lauded for its international flavor and commitment to multiculturalism, I've managed to make twice as many meaningful friendships and acquaintances with folks of another ethnicity in the four brief weeks I've spent in Hattiesburg. I suppose pot shots directed at the ol' alma mater aren't exactly called for in this particular situation, as there were students at Macalester who managed to bridge the gap quite successfully. My closest friends here hail from Nigeria, Bolivia, Japan/Mexico, Conneticut, and Tanzania. The lone American is African-American and I've become the token white guy. Why is this all relevant? Well, those of you who know me well, have likely guessed what's coming.
For some time now, I've marvelled at the sense of community and brotherhood embodied in black culture. I say black culture, because it's the culture I'm most familiar with (unfortunately not through inclusion, just observation from a far off distance...y'all know my style,) but I'm fairly certain this same aura of community exists for other minority groups as well. Minorities share a commonality easily recognized and embraced, which lends itself well to community building. In America, minority has become virtually synonymous with poverty and discrimination. I understand this is hardly an ephiphany for those reading the post, but it still deserves mention. What better way to bind a group of forlorn individuals together than through persecution and poverty? With no money to speak of, folks are forced to rely more heavily on the kindness of neighbors. So I ask, WHO, in good faith, will deny the very same neighbor that helped you pay the electricity bill one short month ago a few hours of your precious time? Purely hypothetical, but you get my drift. Persecution and poverty force those alike to band together and find ways to persevere.
The point is, I wish I had that same sense of community in my day-to-day. I say "I" and not "we" (in reference to my white brethren) because I don't wish that white people had a better sense of community...at least not in the exclusive sense. Instead, and again, some of you have seen this coming from a mile off, I wish I were black. I can't honestly say I wish I was a part of just any minority, but to be black (especially African-American, although I'd take African) is to be a part of something exceedingly unique and profound. The propensity for regular black folks to become soulful black folks is so much higher than for regular white folks. The closest thing a white man can come to being soulful is backwards...the same recipe for turning regular black folks into soulful black folks, churns out backwards white folks.
Now, clearly, my pining for mass quantities of melanin won't solve the problem we've got at hand, but I must say, my yearning for black skin is akin to most folks' yearning for cash money. If, on the other hand, someone can find a way to include me in the black posse that slaps and daps, pops and clutches; well, I'm cool with that too.
# posted by Jude : 5:15 PM
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Hey, it's your brother, Per! We should really talk sometime soon, but in the meanwhile, I thought I'd initiate a little dialogue on your blog.
You write about the "propensity for regular black folks to become soulful black folks," due in large part to their experiences with persecution, poverty, and discrimination (if I follow your logic correctly). Furthermore, you state that a white person's experiences with these same factors (specifically poverty) is more likely to turn them "backwards" than "soulful" -- this is "white trash" you speak of, I believe.
But what about those situations in which "minorities" successfully avoid persecution, poverty, and discrimination? For example, many Asian Americans in this country are enjoying great prosperity and a level of discrimination that is comparatively (note: I said "comparatively") low. Do you suppose they still enjoy the feelings of community and brotherhood you mention? If so, is this because they have a commonality that is "easily recognized and embraced?" What if they lived in a community that is predominantly Asian-American? For that matter, what of communities in which "minorities" are the majority? Harlem would be a good example of this. If your commonality is the default, rather than what identifies you as "different" or "special," then does it still have the power to promote feelings of community and brotherhood? Clearly, this is the problem you identified in regards to "white culture."
You also mentioned the possibility of being African; would being black in Africa really increase your feelings of community and brotherhood? Is so, then would you say that it is the poverty Africans share that promotes these feelings? And why is this not the case for poor white people? I think that you are walking a fine (albeit, interesting and important) line when you make statements like this. I can imagine someone accusing you of being a bit of an "Orientalist" -- exoticizing a "foreign" culture. But then, one must also give you credit for actively questioning these sorts of issues in your everyday life; your pursuit of knowledge and experience, and your friendships with "minority" people (and not just in the "I've got a black friend" sense), are a testament to your good intentions. And, damnit, I like you, too!
The upswing of all this is that us "white folk" are forced to resort to other commonalities -- at least those of us who choose not to identify with "white power" movements. At Vassar, I found that many of my friends embraced Judaism for its ability to promote feelings of community and brotherhood among Jewish people; this was their "minority" community -- one that had experienced (and still does experience) persecution. In turn, I suspect I embraced my Midwestern (and specifically Minnesotan) roots. Us Midwesterners experience discrimination, too; it just comes in a different (albeit, less potent) form.
Wow, that was a bit long-winded. Sorry about that, and also sorry if I lapsed into a bit of "essay-writing Per"; he can be a pretty boring character. I guess I was just really excited to see you writing about these things. I suspect we've been out of regular contact for so many years now, that I wasn't really aware these thoughts were floating around in your brain. Certainly, all of the comments that were prefaced with "some of you have seen this coming from a mile off," came as a surprise to me. I look forward to hearing some sort of response from you; my ideas are only shots in the dark, after all, and I'd love to hear your reaction.
As they say in my neighborhood, "Go home, white devil!" Don't worry: I only heard it once, and the kid who said it to me was about fifteen years old. Still, it's something to think about....
You write about the "propensity for regular black folks to become soulful black folks," due in large part to their experiences with persecution, poverty, and discrimination (if I follow your logic correctly). Furthermore, you state that a white person's experiences with these same factors (specifically poverty) is more likely to turn them "backwards" than "soulful" -- this is "white trash" you speak of, I believe.
But what about those situations in which "minorities" successfully avoid persecution, poverty, and discrimination? For example, many Asian Americans in this country are enjoying great prosperity and a level of discrimination that is comparatively (note: I said "comparatively") low. Do you suppose they still enjoy the feelings of community and brotherhood you mention? If so, is this because they have a commonality that is "easily recognized and embraced?" What if they lived in a community that is predominantly Asian-American? For that matter, what of communities in which "minorities" are the majority? Harlem would be a good example of this. If your commonality is the default, rather than what identifies you as "different" or "special," then does it still have the power to promote feelings of community and brotherhood? Clearly, this is the problem you identified in regards to "white culture."
You also mentioned the possibility of being African; would being black in Africa really increase your feelings of community and brotherhood? Is so, then would you say that it is the poverty Africans share that promotes these feelings? And why is this not the case for poor white people? I think that you are walking a fine (albeit, interesting and important) line when you make statements like this. I can imagine someone accusing you of being a bit of an "Orientalist" -- exoticizing a "foreign" culture. But then, one must also give you credit for actively questioning these sorts of issues in your everyday life; your pursuit of knowledge and experience, and your friendships with "minority" people (and not just in the "I've got a black friend" sense), are a testament to your good intentions. And, damnit, I like you, too!
The upswing of all this is that us "white folk" are forced to resort to other commonalities -- at least those of us who choose not to identify with "white power" movements. At Vassar, I found that many of my friends embraced Judaism for its ability to promote feelings of community and brotherhood among Jewish people; this was their "minority" community -- one that had experienced (and still does experience) persecution. In turn, I suspect I embraced my Midwestern (and specifically Minnesotan) roots. Us Midwesterners experience discrimination, too; it just comes in a different (albeit, less potent) form.
Wow, that was a bit long-winded. Sorry about that, and also sorry if I lapsed into a bit of "essay-writing Per"; he can be a pretty boring character. I guess I was just really excited to see you writing about these things. I suspect we've been out of regular contact for so many years now, that I wasn't really aware these thoughts were floating around in your brain. Certainly, all of the comments that were prefaced with "some of you have seen this coming from a mile off," came as a surprise to me. I look forward to hearing some sort of response from you; my ideas are only shots in the dark, after all, and I'd love to hear your reaction.
As they say in my neighborhood, "Go home, white devil!" Don't worry: I only heard it once, and the kid who said it to me was about fifteen years old. Still, it's something to think about....
# posted by 
: 4:27 PM
: 4:27 PM
jude, you've left me begging for more depth. why african american. detail the allure. be specific. is it hip-hop, blues, r&b, style, fashion, the walk, rhythm, slang, humor, greetings, pimped rides, women with nice big round asses, fast twitch muscles, beautiful skin, voice quality, being cool without being a thug.
there is no such thing as white culture?! that’s bullshit. talk about a fucking pigeonhole. white culture is:
farming corn and soybeans, raising livestock, milking dairy cows. it is football, basketball, and baseball. it is band, orchestra, and choir. it is christianity. it is meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. it is casseroles and potlucks. it is demure behavior. it is hunting pheasants, deer, and ducks. it is rock and roll, country, and folk music. it is innovation and enterprise. it is FM radio, transistors, air conditioners, the airplane, vulcanized rubber, the light bulb, the telegraph, the sewing machine, the cotton gin, vaccinations making life better.
rebuttals
a. these are not uniquely white
b. others were denied the opportunity for such creation
then how exclusive is culture. how do you define culture. how do you assign cultural ownership of something. do people claim culture or does culture claim people.
sometimes it seems the only culture accorded to whites is the culture of oppression. this oppressive, colonial, imperial, racist past of whiteness has prevented or nullified any possible claims of white culture. the one most exclusive commonality of whites was the advantage of white skin. there was an affinity in whiteness. welcome racists to my hotel, my restaurant, my restroom, my drinking fountain.
what happens when a part 1 of a culture A is adopted by culture B.
is part 1 no longer part of culture A.
and if culture A + culture B = culture C
then is part 1 only a part of culture C.
-ben
farming corn and soybeans, raising livestock, milking dairy cows. it is football, basketball, and baseball. it is band, orchestra, and choir. it is christianity. it is meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. it is casseroles and potlucks. it is demure behavior. it is hunting pheasants, deer, and ducks. it is rock and roll, country, and folk music. it is innovation and enterprise. it is FM radio, transistors, air conditioners, the airplane, vulcanized rubber, the light bulb, the telegraph, the sewing machine, the cotton gin, vaccinations making life better.
rebuttals
a. these are not uniquely white
b. others were denied the opportunity for such creation
then how exclusive is culture. how do you define culture. how do you assign cultural ownership of something. do people claim culture or does culture claim people.
sometimes it seems the only culture accorded to whites is the culture of oppression. this oppressive, colonial, imperial, racist past of whiteness has prevented or nullified any possible claims of white culture. the one most exclusive commonality of whites was the advantage of white skin. there was an affinity in whiteness. welcome racists to my hotel, my restaurant, my restroom, my drinking fountain.
what happens when a part 1 of a culture A is adopted by culture B.
is part 1 no longer part of culture A.
and if culture A + culture B = culture C
then is part 1 only a part of culture C.
-ben
# posted by : 3:07 PM
: 3:07 PM
does invention equal cultural ownership. whites invented basketball. blacks have made significant contributions to the game and have elevated the game to its current state. who's culture is it. did whites' patent on basketball run out. can culture not be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed without the prior written consent of the cultural owner. how do we decide cultural ownership. through culture battles. whoever is better at the culture owns it.
i am white and i have my own culture. how are these two reconciled. i really don't give a shit. i don't feel any need or longing for white culture. yet, when someone says there is no such thing as white culture, i feel compelled to remonstrate. i don't know why. maybe i feel that denying the existence of white culture obfuscates the complexity and evolution of white culture. "there is no white culture" has negative undertones. it hints that white people don't have culture. look at all those desultory white people living manque lives. poor jude. (just kidding jude. i figure if i occasionally throw a jab, you might put down that stats book and comment)
klinker posted some good comments on my site on this topic. i can post them here too, if you would like. i'm enjoying all the comments. you can organize your thoughts much better than i can, giving voice to things that are bouncing around in my head too.
i am white and i have my own culture. how are these two reconciled. i really don't give a shit. i don't feel any need or longing for white culture. yet, when someone says there is no such thing as white culture, i feel compelled to remonstrate. i don't know why. maybe i feel that denying the existence of white culture obfuscates the complexity and evolution of white culture. "there is no white culture" has negative undertones. it hints that white people don't have culture. look at all those desultory white people living manque lives. poor jude. (just kidding jude. i figure if i occasionally throw a jab, you might put down that stats book and comment)
klinker posted some good comments on my site on this topic. i can post them here too, if you would like. i'm enjoying all the comments. you can organize your thoughts much better than i can, giving voice to things that are bouncing around in my head too.
This is from Bonnie. I'm going to apologize, first, that my writing skills are no longer on the same level as my fellow posters here.
I feel particularly compelled to post on the topic of black culture and what it all entails because my boyfriend Zak and I have talked about this quite a bit. Zak is half black/half white and grew up in affluence in Washington, DC. He is well-eduacted, incredibly cultured, well-traveled, eloquent of speech, doesn't listen to rap or hip-hop, and often finds himself the only black person amid a sea of whites here in Minneapolis.
When Zak goes out to bars and clubs, he encounters white suburban-gangsta-wannabees who want to cozy up to him to somehow demonstrate that they are "down" with real black people. Or white suburban-rasta-wannabees who want to cozy up to the guy with the shoulder-length natural dredlocks to prove that they are "down" with real rastafarians. (Jude, I'm not at all implying any of this about you.)
Zak's complaint is that too much of what white people think of as "black culture" does not come from reality, but instead comes from the MTV-glorified ghetto gangster image that is manufactured to sell records to white kids from the suburbs. And too often, black culture *is* associated with poverty. So because he did not grow up in poverty, does that mean that Zak is not in touch with black culture? I was in the room once when one of Zak's friends, who grew up kind of white-trashy just north of the Twin Cities, said, "You don't know what it's like Zak. I'm blacker than you are."
I don't really know where I'm headed with this post. Perhaps because a lot of people in Minnesota can grow up without knowing or meeting any black people it's different here than it is in Mississippi. Or different than Washington DC. But I am hesitant to buy into the idea the black culture and the black community are somehow identifiable by poverty.
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I feel particularly compelled to post on the topic of black culture and what it all entails because my boyfriend Zak and I have talked about this quite a bit. Zak is half black/half white and grew up in affluence in Washington, DC. He is well-eduacted, incredibly cultured, well-traveled, eloquent of speech, doesn't listen to rap or hip-hop, and often finds himself the only black person amid a sea of whites here in Minneapolis.
When Zak goes out to bars and clubs, he encounters white suburban-gangsta-wannabees who want to cozy up to him to somehow demonstrate that they are "down" with real black people. Or white suburban-rasta-wannabees who want to cozy up to the guy with the shoulder-length natural dredlocks to prove that they are "down" with real rastafarians. (Jude, I'm not at all implying any of this about you.)
Zak's complaint is that too much of what white people think of as "black culture" does not come from reality, but instead comes from the MTV-glorified ghetto gangster image that is manufactured to sell records to white kids from the suburbs. And too often, black culture *is* associated with poverty. So because he did not grow up in poverty, does that mean that Zak is not in touch with black culture? I was in the room once when one of Zak's friends, who grew up kind of white-trashy just north of the Twin Cities, said, "You don't know what it's like Zak. I'm blacker than you are."
I don't really know where I'm headed with this post. Perhaps because a lot of people in Minnesota can grow up without knowing or meeting any black people it's different here than it is in Mississippi. Or different than Washington DC. But I am hesitant to buy into the idea the black culture and the black community are somehow identifiable by poverty.
# posted by : 4:18 PM
: 4:18 PM<< Home
