Hi Dear Folks,

This is Elva here again.  I'm a little shy to write and post here, and I imagine some others from the group might have something to write about, but might feel shy too.  I want to encourage all of us to say what's on our minds about race and racism.  I have heard such great insights in the group, I feel a sense of responsibility to speak those things in a wider arena.

This morning, I read an article on Truthout, which described the current far-right's attack on social welfare services as basically racist.  While I agree with the general gist of the article (and not forgetting that the far-right agenda is directed against all poor people, as well as also being fundamentally racist) I am troubled by the author, Paul Krugman's, focus on immigration, and by his apparent belief that "assimilation" is totally desirable.

Krugman seems to focus on immigration as the main issue the far-right are concerned with.  Of course, this is a huge thing, but it ignores all the people of color who are here already in the United States, including those whose families have been here forever, those brought here by force, and those who lived on the United States side of a border decided on by war, as well as those who immigrated by choice generations ago, and all of the particular historical traumas those experiences involve.

Krugman also makes a particular comment that really worries me.  He explains that the far-right are afraid of how continued immigration (and I would add, work on healing the wounds of history) will change US culture.  He explains this away, saying there is no threat to US culture, using this example:  "I believe that today's immigrants will be incorporated into the fabric of our society, just as Italian and Jewish immigrants - once regarded as fundamentally incompatible with American ways - became "white" by the middle of the 20th century."

I am all for different cultures becoming acceptable to the mainstream, and honestly, every culture that comes in contact with it does change the mainstream.  What is frightening to me here is that "became 'white'".

What does that mean?  Does Krugman mean his ideal is one where everyone who finds her or himself in white Christian Protestant US culture should become whitewashed?  The word "assimilation" bothers me because it can mean abandoning one's own culture; changing oneself to fit in.  Is Krugman saying, mainstream white people shouldn't feel threatened by people of color because those people of color will change themselves to become less different?  This is a whole other level of racism.

And it's yet another way that everyone loses out.  Mainstream US Christian Protestant white culture is one way of being in the world.  There are many other ways of expressing ourselves and our natures.  One of the great things about this country, the many cultures who already live here, and more who continue to come, is we get to meet and share with each other. 

Addressing racism as well as anti-immigrationism is about welcoming and celebrating the different ways we are human, enriching all of our experiences by allowing all of us to be changed by the interaction.  It is not about apologetically explaining to the far-right; you don't need to feel threatened because the immigrants will all become white, like you.


Thanks for reading.  I appreciate any comments, and fridaynightdialogue group members, please write posts too!

Elva Redwood

Hello and welcome!

At last month's meeting, there were so many passionate voices saying such insightful and thoughtful things, and there was an undercurrent of wishing to do more to influence the wider dialogue on race and racism.

So I offered to make a blog for the group, that anyone who comes to the group can contribute to.

I personally, as a white woman living in mostly white NW Portland, have begun to look forward to last Fridays, where I've been so warmly welcomed into the group and the discussion.  Where I feel supported to inquire into myself about my own prejudices and how they influence my behavior toward others.  Where I can listen to others share personally as well.

I hope we all feel inspired to bring some of our discussions to this blog, and I'm looking forward to reading what all of us will write here.

Thank you, Elva