Racial Identity, Research Paper Example

On Wednesday, June 9^th, 2010, I interviewed a friend to ascertain his perspective regarding white racial identity.  The person I interviewed asked to remain anonymous, thus I will identify him as “John.”  John is a white male, 50 years of age, has an MBA and works as an operations manager for a large corporation.  John has been divorced for eight years and is currently dating an African-American woman.  The interview was conducted in a his office and lasted about 90 minutes.

I began the interview by explaining the impetus for the conversation.  I explained that I was doing a school project on cultural diversity and wanted to get his perspective on the issue of cultural bias and how he felt about any advantages that white people might have over people of color.  John started by telling me that he had strong feelings about this issue that were “probably not too PC” and definitely not congruent with how most people feel.  I asked John what the greatest influence was regarding his cultural identity.

John was raised in a military family and moved around the country a lot.  He explained that his parents always lived off-base and immersed themselves in the local culture.  As an adult, John also spent one tour in the Air Force.  He explained that the military has always been a diverse group and that moving around a lot exposed him to a wide variety of cultures.  He was raised to embrace diverse cultures not only with words but with action.  Apparently, his parents were very gregarious and frequently entertained in their home.  John remarked; “There were always people in our house – and not just military people.  My folks always made friends with the neighbors and people in the community.  My parents didn’t see people as black or white – just as people.”

John describes himself as “color-blind” and insisted that the world would be a better place if more people shared his perspective.  He then went on with a passionate explanation of his views on cultural identity.

John used the word “separatist” quite a bit.  He contended that people who define themselves primarily in terms of race are “separatists.”  He asked; “Why would a fifth generation black person call himself an “African-American” when he has never been to Africa?  Why can’t he just be a Californian, or a New Yorker?”  John said that “most so-called African Americans don’t know the first thing about African culture.”  “A black person raised in Texas is a Texan.  His culture involves boots, bar b cues, and cowboy hats – not dashikis and wat.”  John felt that people who separate themselves from others based on race, perpetuate an unnecessary divide between people.

I asked John about how his girlfriend felt about this issue.  He said that they had had some “pretty intense conversations” about his views and when they first started going out his “color-blindness” was almost a deal-breaker.  “She thought I was culturally insensitive” he said, “but I think she has come around to seeing my point.”  They have been dating for two years.

I asked John if he felt there was any advantage to being white.  He responded “I might be idealistic in how I would like the world to be, but I’m not stupid.”  John said that he recognized that social bias exists in many areas and that people tend to judge others on appearance.  He cited bias against short people, fat people, old people and gays as well as people of color.  He called this behavior “reprehensible” yet all too common.

John agreed that there is a social advantage to being a white male, although he wished there was not.  He also admitted to having witnessed “the occasional glare” from (as he put it) “some moron” when he is out with his girlfriend.  I asked how he responded to such behavior.  He said “I ignore it.  It’s a battle I can’t win.  I would rather make sure that we are treating people right here at (company).  At least I can do something about it here.”

John’s story was certainly interesting.  As I reviewed his remarks in light of Helm’s Model, I struggle to put him in the right category.  The first level of Helm’s model includes people who might call themselves “color-blind” and tend to consider cultural differences as being unimportant (Helm, 2010).  John certainly fits that bill.

On the other hand, the sixth level (autonomy) includes people who are knowledgeable about cultural differences and are not intimidated or uncomfortable with the reality of race.  John also seems to fit into this category.  He was very realistic about the reality of racial bias and was knowledgeable about cross-cultural issues.  (I had to ask him to define dashiki and wat.  Apparently they are a type of dress and food found in Africa.  What middle-aged, white businessman knows that?)

I surmise that John is either incredibly idealistic and naive, or progressively enlightened.  Given the fact that he is dating an African American woman and (as I also found out during the conversation) volunteers at a LBGT community center, I would have a hard time believing that he is espousing equality while harboring some kind of repressed cultural bias.

As for myself, I am not altogether convinced that Helm’s model is either scientific or itself free from bias.  In their discussion, Chavez and Dibrito (2010) contend that Helm’s model is flawed in that she asserts that racial identity for whites is based on their feelings and perceptions about blacks rather than about the “development and consciousness of an actual white racial identity.”

Helm’s model tends to imply that all white people are pre-disposed to racism and must travel through six stages before reaching cultural enlightenment.  In the case of John, I am not sure that “reduced feelings of guilt and acceptance of one’s own role in perpetuating racism” (Helm, 2010) is applicable, as I doubt that he has ever contributed to perpetuating racism.

I was at first taken aback by John’s bluntness and apparent lack of cultural sensitivity.  I would define his stance as a bit extreme, but would hardly categorize him as indifferent to racial issues including his own “whiteness.”  As I listened to him talk about his perspective, I was challenged to think more deeply about my own cultural beliefs.

References

(Chavez A Dibrito F 2010 Racial and ethnic identity and development)Chavez, A., & Dibrito, F. (2010). Racial and ethnic identity and development. Retrieved from the Harvard website: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic551690.files/Chavez%20and%20Guido%20Debrito.pdf

(Helm 2010 Helm’s white racial identity model)Helm. (2010). Helm’s white racial identity model. Retrieved from the California State University Sacramento website  http://edweb.csus.edu/edc/class_downloads/senna/edc171_white_id.pdf