CBC to not allow white membership

[TeleportSandwich]

Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed

By: Josephine Hearn

As a white liberal running in a majority African American district, Tennessee Democrat Stephen I. Cohen made a novel pledge on the campaign trail last year: If elected, he would seek to become the first white member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now that he's a freshman in Congress, Cohen has changed his plans. He said he has dropped his bid after several current and former caucus members made it clear to him that whites need not apply.

"When I saw the reticence, I didn't want anyone to misunderstand my motives. Politically, it was the right thing to do," he said. "There are other ways to gain fellowship with people I respect."

Cohen won his seat in the 60 percent black district as the only white candidate in a crowded primary field. If he faces a primary challenge next year from a black candidate, as expected, some Black Caucus members may work to defeat him.

A similar situation arose in 2004 after redistricting added more black voters to the Houston district of former Rep. Chris Bell, D-Texas.

Although House tradition discourages members of the same party from working against each other, about a dozen black lawmakers contributed to Bell's opponent, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, the eventual victor. Even Bell's Houston neighbor, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, campaigned against him.

One black member who criticized his colleagues for sandbagging Bell was Cohen's predecessor, Harold Ford.

"You have an incumbent, and you don't support an incumbent? It was inappropriate," Ford told Congressional Quarterly in 2004.

Cohen has won high marks for hiring African Americans. A majority of his staff is African American, he said, including his chief of staff.

sauce: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2389.html

I'm was tempted to label it racism at first, but just because a white man was refused membership doesn't mean that he can't work together with them to improve race relations. Still a dick move on behalf of the CBC.

[Chris C]

If there was a CWC and they did not let blacks in, would it be rascism...?

[Natsu]

see shit like this pisses me the fuck off, does it really matter..dammit people. I hate being human at times.

[James_xeno]

The really sad part of all this shit is that this guy's going to be made out to look like "the bad guy," when you know they would be the first to call up the usual goons to bitch and cry, were the roles reversed.

You know what I mean....

[amy]

I think it's bullshit to say black-only or whatever-only groups are "racist" and shouldn't be allowed, "because white people don't do that." White people don't do that because there are millions of de facto white-only groups, or white-only schools or even states everywhere in America. I honestly bet if every anime club was 75% black people none of the white people here would ever have attended a meeting. (assuming they went in the first place)

[TeleportSandwich]

I honestly bet if every anime club was 75% black people none of the white people here would ever have attended a meeting. (assuming they went in the first place)

Are you implying that most white people are racist? Cuz' I don't understand the point you're trying to make

[amy]

It's not racist necessarily, it's just that (I think) everyone kind of seeks a place with people only of their own race sometimes - no matter how diverse the rest of their lives are. Kind of like a women's book club, or a men's sports team. And in our society white people can do that whenever they want. But when e.g. black people try to do it, everyone goes "OMG THEY'RE RACIST!!!"

[TeleportSandwich]

It's not racist necessarily, it's just that (I think) everyone kind of seeks a place with people only of their own race sometimes - no matter how diverse the rest of their lives are. Kind of like a women's book club, or a men's sports team. And in our society white people can do that whenever they want. But when e.g. black people try to do it, everyone goes "OMG THEY'RE RACIST!!!"

O rly? In my expireance, its been the other way around

[amy]

Ya rly! I'm in a suburb though. Is there seriously a non white majority in your anime club???

[TeleportSandwich]

Ya rly! I'm in a suburb though. Is there seriously a non white majority in your anime club???

What anime club? I'm just speaking in general from what I've heard in the news and such.

[amy]

What anime club? I'm just speaking in general from what I've heard in the news and such.

I'm talking about normal everyday organizations. If white people want to surround themselves with white people, they can do that by starting something like "equestrian club" and then being all cold to any non white people that try to join.

The above example is obviously racist. But it shows how easily whites can form an all-white group and have it be a normal accepted thing. This works on all social/political levels - the government is practically an equestrian club. So, white people already have their club. And people go on and on challenging the CBC but they don't see that white people already have this huge club of their own with like four or five token non-white people, that controls the country.

I don't think it's so horrible that black people for once don't want to be the minority. I see it as like a "task force" where they discuss issues that wouldn't be understood or relevant to white people.

They could let in white people but IMO it would just be like letting a traditional-but-curious guy into the old 60's feminist meetings. The women would be talking about burning bras, and he'd be sitting there like..."What!?? You mean it's SEXIST that I don't let my wife get a job?? OH GOD I NEVER KNEW"

There's definitely a time and a place for that but you have to respect the people who made group and ughh this Cohen guy is so dumb. X__X

[Satan]

Amy, i don't really understand where you're coming from.

If you're trying to talk about how white have their own club, look at blacks. I know that most of the black people i know tend to hang around other black people. I think most people here see this and say that either its rascist when blacks do it as well as when blacks do it, or it isn't rascist even if whites also do it.

[amy]

Satan I'm trying to "come from" an understanding of white power and privilege - to see how much you have try checking yourself on the numbered list here

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

My position is basically

It's okay to have unofficial segregated groups, AS LONG AS they do not have any special kind of power.

The CBC I don't think has much special "power". it's just a group of Black congresspeople meeting to discuss some issues, the way any congresspeople would, only these are different issues.

Racism = power + privilege.

I had a lot more but I'm trying not to be too confusing here.

[Samurai Drifter]

I don't get what this is about sorry. D=

But I think it's bullshit to say black-only or whatever-only groups are "racist" and shouldn't be allowed, "because white people don't do that." White people don't do that because there are millions of de facto white-only groups, or white-only schools or even states everywhere in America. I honestly bet if every anime club was 75% black people none of the white people here would ever have attended a meeting. (assuming they went in the first place)

Yeah... and everyone else labels them racist. This is no different. If you consider white-only groups racist, the reverse must be true.

[amy]

As I said in the previous post, I do not think white only groups are racist, as long as they don't have any special power.

[Samurai Drifter]

You specified them as de-facto white-only groups, which is a consequence of the majority of the population being white. Would you seriously not consider any political group that specified "whites only!" racist? If I went and started "SD's Club for Cool People: Whites only!!!" would that make me a racist in your mind? I suspect it would.

[amy]

Well, it depends. There is actually some really interesting discussion going on at a livejournal community I am a member of on "whites-only" discussion/education groups about race. These groups would do things that are only applicable to white people. I am actually in favor of them because the purpose is absolutely not racist and there is no power involved in the segregation. http://community.livejournal.com/debunkingwhite/449649.html

You have to be really conscious of power and privilege through the whole thing though. None of the white groups in the news like, "If black people get a scholarship white people do too" are conscious of that.

When I was talking about de facto segregation: I was referring to the fact that:

- White people join de facto white-only groups and it's no big deal to them.

- Because other races are the minority, they have to specify the race of their group. It's their disadvantage that it's not already "de facto"

- AND guys like Cohen multiply the disadvantage by going, "YOU'RE RACIST FOR TRYING TO CREATE A ONE RACE GROUP!!!" While ours just happen naturally and we accept it. So by that logic, white people are more racist!

[amy]

Regarding SD's Club for Cool People, er....you've got a special power and privilege conferred by "cool", so yeah, racist.

[Samurai Drifter]

- AND guys like Cohen multiply the disadvantage by going, "YOU'RE RACIST FOR TRYING TO CREATE A ONE RACE GROUP!!!" While ours just happen naturally and we accept it. So by that logic, white people are more racist!

What, should we go around looking for black people to join any groups we make? They're free to join if they so desire, there just happen to be less of them around. When a group is created specifically for the purpose of excluding one race and benefiting another, I think most people would consider that racist (I'm not sure I would myself, though).

That's clearly what this group is attempting- they have made it clear that Cohen's not allowed to join and will execute the special power granted by their majority to prevent him from getting re-elected simply because he's white. Now that I consider decidedly racist.

[Natsu]

As I said in the previous post, I do not think white only groups are racist, as long as they don't have any special power.

umm no.. and the same things goes for black groups also, if they remain white or black only even if they don't have special powers, its considered racist to me.

[amy]

What, should we go around looking for black people to join any groups we make? They're free to join if they so desire, there just happen to be less of them around. When a group is created specifically for the purpose of excluding one race and benefiting another, I think most people would consider that racist (I'm not sure I would myself, though).

I don't agree with the idea I explained in your quote!

When a group is created only to benefit a racial group: Racist if it's already a privileged/majority group. Not racist if it isn't.

When a group is created only to exclude another: Always racist.

Brian - how is a discussion group on "What it's like to be (insert race here)" racist?

[Samurai Drifter]

When a group is created only to benefit a racial group: Racist if it's already a privileged/majority group. Not racist if it isn't.

What about one that works to benefit a racial group AND explicity excludes other races? (Which is what the CBC appears to be).

[amy]

Why? The rules should apply to all.

I think you're thinking about this as if all people are the "average" group, like the way humans start in this RPG i played, +0 and -0 racial modifiers to all stats.

That's not the case. I'm going to repost the list of white privileges.

http://community.livejournal.com/debunkingwhite/449649.html

If white people get all that without trying (AND THEY DO) I think there should definitely be an effort to fight against that!

[Samurai Drifter]

What about one that works to benefit a racial group AND explicity excludes other races? (Which is what the CBC appears to be). Whites can help blacks overcome the inherent difficulties that arise as a result of their minority.

[Natsu]

oh god I'm so mixed up wit that statement.