From A Distance...

My mom participates in online discussion groups all the time. She's particularly attracted to the ones that discuss issues of poverty and race. Over the Labor Day weekend, she witnessed the first tide of backlash against the victims of the New Orleans flood.

I didn't think I'd see this kind of backlash in the context of the worst natural disaster in U.S. History. The current death toll estimates are 10,000. That's 10,000 souls. That's five 9/11's. 10,000 brothers and sisters, mom's and dads, students, workers and professionals. 10,000 Whites, Blacks, Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and tourists from overseas. 10,000 dreams... gone... forever.

In my work over the past 6 years as an ethnic & racial reconciler, I've come to expect the spirits of self-actualization and rugged independence to rear their heads in discussions of race and racism. The comments usually come from those who have benefitted from affirmative action on behalf of America's ethnic majority and they sound something like this:

"Well, they just need to get off welfare and get a job."

or

"My grandfather pulled himself up by his own bootstraps. He was poor and didn't have a dime to his name during the depression. He started his own business. He taught us that we could do anything we put our minds to."

or

"They have such a victim mentality. When are they going to take personal responsibility for their position in the world."

When discussing poverty and class, these comments seem logical and even wise at first glance. I mean, shouldn't everyone be responsibile for his or her own fortune and future? Isn't it degrading to have to depend on the government for one's livelihood. This seems like good sense. Yet, this line of thinking reveals something else far more insidious and pervasive in our country today.

It reveals a view of the world as seen through eyes of privilege. These privileged eyes usually have no idea they are privileged. They have all but forgotten their own the privileged majority's dependence on the government sponsored "welfare" programs of yesteryear designed specifically to benefit White Americans.

[via Peace Prayers]