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In part one I talked about the American value of individualism, and how it is a helpful value in talking about prejudice and in urging people to be anti-prejudice. The idea of judging someone based on something other than their own merit is very anti-cultural here. The problem arises when we try to talk about being anti-racist (or anti- other -isms, racism is not the only problem here, but I’ll use it for the purposes of this post).

The first place where the culture and the problem clash is in the fact that racism is a systemic problem. It is not caused by the sins of the present day individuals(for the most part), and does not have individual victims (for the most part). This is problematic in two ways. Firstly, it requires me, the individual, to shoulder responsibility for a problem I did not create. This is unacceptable in American culture. I should not have to be held responsible for, or gain benefit from things that were not my doing. America is the country of the self made man. Television documentaries speak glowingly of artists who, instead of using the reputation and connections of their parents to help them succeed, change their name so that they are not given a helping hand or held back. Why should I have to sacrifice to destroy a racism I didn’t create.

Secondly, it requires me to take into consideration something other than a particular individual’s action when determining how to treat them. It’s one of the major problems with embracing things like affirmative action, clubs, celebrations or other things designed to assist minorities. Because this assistance is offered not necessarily because of their individual needs, but because of their membership in a group that has needs, it is seen as unfair.

It is very easy for us and for others to have our vision restricted by the cultural value of individualism such that we ignore the problems and the solutions that are not individualistic, or worse reject the very existence of such problems and reject the idea of non-individualistic solutions. However, in some ways this is what we need to do to combat this kind of problem.

A couple weeks earlier I mentioned “Diversity Fatigue” and was going to write a post on it, but I realized that this may work better as a series of posts. So in this series I’m going to be thinking out loud about things that make trying to “teach” about diversity/multi-culturalism hard in the United States. The disclaimer is that I am not an expert, I’m not even particularly good at history. I can speak from what I’ve seen/learned and I welcome feedback. Anyway, without further ado.

If you had asked me to state the one value that I think is the strongest value driving American culture, it’s the value of individualism. The American ideal is that a person should be able to reach whatever levels of success, and determine their own path in life in spite of one’s history, social class, family, ethnicity, but instead their success should only be determined by one’s motivation, talent, and effort. It’s not a bad value, in many ways it is a very good value, and makes talking about prejudice easier.

This is probably a good place to talk definition of terms, and in particular the difference between racism(and other isms) and prejudice, the way that I will use them here (and if this becomes a series, in this series). Prejudice, as I use it, is an individuals choice or preference for one thing over another. Racism, sexism, etc., includes that, but also includes the systemic, self-perpetuating inequalities based on race, gender, etc. in our society.

It is easy to talk about prejudice because it fits very well with this value. The “average” American is mortified if one suggests that they are judging this person not on his or her individual merits, but based on something they cannot control. Look at any discussion, online or off, the insult that will most reliably cause someone to react strongly is to implicitly or explicitly accuse someone of bigotry. That discussion will go downhill very, very quickly. Yet, the same value that causes people to be so anti-prejudice prevents people from being anti-racist.

More on this later.

Alright, this one came to me in the shower this morning and I had to post it.

Pirouette, kick, plié, danced the beggar.

I got tagged by Ariah to do a six word story, so here it is.

Found himself, finally, in his son.

I think I shall tag Matthew, Miranda, Wendy (if I can find her), Asif and Jennifer

Now you each have to write one.

So I was able to go back to Jamaica and think a bit about how my life has been going, and here are some thoughts about some ways that I want my life to change.

• I need to actually work out, especially during winter. During spring and summer I can bike or walk or do other things. Winter is harder because one doesn’t particularly want to leave one’s apartment, and now it’s even worse now that one has a car. One of the motivating factors is that there is diabetes on both sides of my family.
• I need to rest more, be less stressed. This is at the center of many things. I basically came to the recognition that when I am overworked or otherwise stretched too thin, I become way to self-centered. I don’t become vain, but I become so focused on my workload and getting my stuff done that I don’t listen to God, to other people, I don’t read, nor do I watch movies or TV.
• Work !=  life. (For the non-geeks among you that reads Work does not equal life). And I mean work in all respects.
• Create more. Sing, draw, write. I enjoy doing creative things, and some of them I’m good at and some of them I’m good enough at to help others. And they are just plain fun.

So those are my pseudo-resolutions in brief. Hopefully I can follow through on one or two of them.

For those of you who read and don’t (or maybe rarely) comment, this week is for you. I would love to know who you are (even if only in the most superficial way). So leave a comment on this post, let me know who you are (and/or how I know you), how long have you been reading, and, if you remember, how you found this blog in the first place.
I just wanted to say that I appreciate all of my readers (both lurkers and the regular commenters). For those who lurk, thanks for reading I hope that somehow the things I’ve posted have entertained, informed and/or motivated you in some way. For my regular commenters, I’m glad to have you here. I appreciate your feedback, advice and support.

Next up in posting:-

• I’m definitely going to write about the “Diversity Fatigue” issue. I think it may be a part of a bigger post on some problems with teaching/encouraging/creating multi-culturalism
• Thoughts after going back home/New Year’s Resolutions: Just general things about my recent vacation and reconsidering my lifestyle over the next year.