'Ethnia' is the elevator
"A victim of racism can also be a perpetrator of sexism. And indeed, a victim of racism can be a perpetrator of racism as well. Victimization can no longer be permitted to function as a halo of innocence." — Angela Davis
In this column on January 24, I presented a scenario in which a lone white woman entered an elevator of which a lone black man was the occupant. I asked readers to tell me if they thought that the white woman was a racist because she felt the need to clutch her purse just a little bit tighter while alone in the presence of a black man. I got a lot of letters, pro and con.
Wendy Joseph, of South Australia, speaks well to us all, so let me share her letter with you. Her experiences and insights are very revealing. I was reminded once again that this world is little more than a big elevator, on which we must all ride.
"Dear Mr Jones,
"Yes, I believe the woman is a racist, but unfortunately she is also a victim of that type of racism which is (obviously) covert as opposed to overt. She is probably ignorant of her racism.
"Many white folk who would never consider themselves to be racist fall into this position. I don't believe — no matter how large the awareness, the intellect, the education, etc — that many white people honestly consider their position of privilege as other than birthright. It is something that they tend to take for granted ...
"And those of us who criticise the system [and] attempt to speak out [and] work against it are only able to do this via the security of white privilege — whether we know it or not; whether we like it or not. Very convoluted [and] disheartening too, I would suspect, particularly for those who are overly romantic/egotistic about exactly what constitutes their personal ability to make change.
"I am New Zealand born, the grand-daughter of migrants. My connection with Africa comes via my Arab forebears. I grew up in a ghetto known to the local Scots/Presbyterian hierarchy as 'the devil's half acre' ('full of black Syrians', they said.)
"I have been spat upon in the streets for walking hand in hand with a black (African) man. I have been looked at askance by both Maori [and] Pakeha (white) for walking hand in hand with an Asian man.
"I have been insulted by black (African-American) men for 'trying to look black', on account of my naturally curly/nappy dark hair. Too pale for the blacks [and] too dark for the whites ...
"I know I am only one of the hundreds of thousands [and] the purpose of this letter is not to tell you my life story, but I will add that I too am among those women whose children (black) have been stolen for the adoption industry. And I know that had I been of good AngloSaxon stock, I would never have been stolen from my own family (aged 8½) and systematically institutionalised ...
"One other thing ... in Australia there is much noise made about our multicultural society, etc. (Multi-Ethnic, I call it.) Whenever there are ads pertaining to this on TV, the only blacks represented are migrants, either African or African-Americans. Not a sight of an Aboriginal who, after all, are Australia's indigenous black people! While I don't judge those black migrants at all (everybody has to live and one doesn't turn down a modelling gig which will get national TV coverage), I often wonder if any of those black models ever stop to ask themselves why they are being chosen in preference over indigenous black models.
"When the British first 'discovered' Australia they described it as 'Terra Nullius', — an empty land. We know this to be a lie, but in that covert racist way, it appears that nothing much has changed as far as the attitudes of those who hold the power are concerned. Australia's Aboriginal people are still regarded generally as null [and] void, so in an attempt to appear to be a non-racist, "exotic" blacks are given work, preference, exposure, etc at the expense of indigenous blacks who are not encouraged to do anything except to accept 'sit down money' in the form of government handouts.
"Australia thrives on the artificially created invisibility of its Aboriginal peoples ...
"A friend of mine (white) stopped someone at a party who was attempting to tell a racist joke. His remark was: 'Don't tell ethnic jokes. I'm from Ethnia.'
"The bottom line is that ultimately, everybody's from Ethnia. Disrespect for difference is something that we, as individuals, all have to look to ourselves for in order to curb [and] cure.
"Cheers,
"Wendy Joseph"
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He is happy to answer letters commenting on his columns. He can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G2-51, GD&CC, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA. Brandon's childhood autobiography is available in booklet form for $16, including postage. Every cent raised will go towards defending his life. Please make cheques payable to the Brandon Astor Jones Defence Account and post to 10 Palara Place, Dee Why NSW 2099. Donations to the Brandon Astor Jones Defence Account may be made at any Commonwealth Bank, account No. 2127 1003 7638.]