ANY PERSON OF ANY RACE CAN BE RACIST

ANY PERSON OF ANY RACE CAN BE RACIST

By Domenick J./ Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

The scientific definition of race is nonexistent. It is arbitrary. In the colonies a southerner with one-quarter Negro blood was termed “quadroon,” one-eighth ”octoroon” with the rest European blood. If the family had risen to a significant level of social distinction many would continue to be recognized as “white.” A person with one white parent and one black parent was labeled as “mulatto.” President Obama, whose mother was white and father was a black African from Kenya, was considered as our first black president. For political reasons he chose to totally belong to the black race.

With the emergence of curiosity about our ancestry many people have joined Internet searches and joined genealogy businesses such as Ancestry.com to determine their “supposed racial and ethnic” roots. As these family history searches become more refined and substantiated we are finding many surprises. Many family tree branches extend into countries, ethic and racial areas people did not expect. 

There are individuals who hate anyone in a particular ethic or racial group according to their perverted perspective. People develop their appraisal of beauty vs. ugliness or smart vs. dumb, pleasant vs. obnoxious, appropriate vs. inappropriate or other traits in our “Cultural Civil War.” The assessment of others is becoming more contentious. Progressives have somehow concluded that minorities cannot be prejudiced, as they have had no power in the political establishment. Only whites can be and are racist. In fact any white, no matter their ethnic background, financial and social status and family history, will be assumed to be racist. On the other hand any minority no matter how wealthy, politically connected, famous, and formally educated does not have the possibility of being racist.

This racist notion that is being sold to the American public, especially to our youth, is preposterous. Nevertheless through repetitive indoctrination of “White Privilege” in progressive media and universities it has gained credibility with progressive audiences. Many whites believe their parent’s success is not based on their work ethic or merit but on their “white privilege.”  The lack of time families spend together talking about the parent’s struggles through difficult periods of their life has allowed their children to accept the absurd concept of “white privilege” for all whites. Many white families started their lives in poor rural communities, urban ethnic ghettos, and impoverished suburban neighborhoods. Some higher socioeconomic families who lost their wealth had to adjust to a lower lifestyle. For almost all, “white privilege” had nothing to do with their success.

Another fallacy in this narrative is that plenty of people in our culture have had prejudice against their own subculture and racial background. An Asian, Indian, black, Jew or any group might shun their own members of their racial heritage. This subtle form of prejudice is not unusual for at least part of someone’s life. Rampant racism has significantly decreased with increased mobility, education, and naturally integrated neighborhoods throughout our country. Prejudice against any group is a sad and stupid excuse to put strangers down to feel better about one. Demeaning others is not a way to advance oneself or a group.

Privilege in American culture has been mostly based on the power of money, not race. Money buys entry into country clubs, universities, legitimate businesses,

political and social events. It even purchases fame and the power of notoriety. Many rich, admired and famous families came up from the lower class doing unethical and at times criminal behavior. These now powerful people from racial and ethnic backgrounds have their own set of prejudices against other people.

We should remember all humans of all races, ethnicities or classes, are imperfect. There is no group that is all good or all bad. Attempting to label one racial group, “whites,” as the only cause of racism is ignorant and false. All types of groups have members with varying ability, production and character.

Any person from any racial group can decide to hate all others of a particular race or ethnic group. There is no rational justification for this hatred. There is an incredible difference amongst members that allows any person to find someone who has similar views. This logical realization should prevent any person from thinking that all people of a particular race or group can be classified negatively.

Once people realize people are people, as Martin Luther King said, it is all about a person’s character not the color of their skin. Racism is a mental illness where anyone from any race or group can be a racist or not.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.