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OpinionMaryHelen Swanson, editorLetís play a simple Sesame Street game. One of these is different than the others, which one doesnít belong: African-American, American Indian, Asian-American, Latino, Hispanic, White? There have been times in the long history of the world when everyone at one time didnít belong somewhere. Itís true, it doesnít matter who you are. More recently, our history has labeled as ìdifferentî the first five names on the above list, and more. But, if you carefully consider the list, the one that would be picked as not belonging by Sesame Street standards is ìwhite.î I was moved to do some research when I was putting together the item on the Childrenís Defense fund report and realized that I have been put into a category with no real meaning. Whether they know it or not, our brothers and sisters with skin of darker hues who are now called by names depicting their familyís country of origin have more identity than I. Whether a black personís family came from Africa or not, they are given the African-American title. If your eyes slant, youíre called Asian-American even if youíve lived here all your life. Family has roots in the Dakotas? Could be American Indian. It seems today, if you are not ìwhiteî you are some one. Being white means what? More and more Iím becoming aware that my classification is positively generic and so I called on my friend Webster to do a background check. Race is a description of a division of mankind possessing traits that are transmissible by descent and sufficient to characterize it as a distinct human type. I think Iím a human type. Nationality is a people having a common origin, tradition and language and capable of actually constituting a nation-state. Sometimes Iím in a state in the nation. A family is a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation or a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters. Iím commonly affiliated. Parameter is an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system. Iíve been know to be constant and occasionally arbitrary. A community is a unified body of individuals, people with common interests living in a particular area. White is a person belonging to a light-skinned race, period. Race, once again, being characterized as a distinct human type . . . Whether our skin is black, brown, or golden, or covered with hair, scars, birthmarks, or lesions, we should stop worrying about the one who doesnít belong and focus on belonging. Iím eagerly waiting for the day when we wonít have to check off a box at all. Letís get rid of all this name calling and labeling and just be people. Wait a minute, let me check Webster for the definition of people, maybe Iím a person. ©ECM Post Review |