Racism is such a difficult issue to broach because those who bring it up are usually skewered for what they say. I have somehow managed to hold my tongue thus far, but I now prepare to be vilified. I have been told many times that I cannot truly understand racism because of the paleness of my skin. I disagree. My own experiences, observations and conclusions are not automatically discounted because I do not possess a certain skin color. To do so would be discrimination. If you think that I have nothing to add to the discussion because you have been discrimated against more than I have, then you are free to stop reading now. The rest of you are free to judge my opinions and conclusions by their content instead of by the race of their author.

Humans mentally classify people into different groups. There are people who are enjoyable to be around and those who are unpleasant. Some people are trustworthy while others are not. This classification is automatic and it is a matter of survival. Sharing secrets with the wrong person can leave to embarrassment or conflict. Asking someone who doesn't care about anyone but themselves for assistance is wasted breath. Spending time with someone who is a threat may result in injury or death.

There is an incredible quantity of people that each individual must interact with or at least form opinions about. To save time and effort, there is a tendency to bulk-categorize identifiable people groups. Although such groupings typically do use stereotypes, there are some reasonably accurate groupings that can be made. Used car salesmen in general are usually not trustworthy. People with kids of their own can usually be trusted with other children.

This kind of categorization is useful as long as there is the understanding that these stereotypes are only valid for a preliminary opinion and are not always correct. Any evidence that an individual does not fit the sterotype must superceed the preliminary categorization. There are used car salesmen who are honest, and there are parents who should not be trusted with even their own children.

Dividing people by racial lines is done primarily because it is easy. Different races are often easily identifiable by physical characteristics or mannerisms. It is also patently wrong because, unlike the generalizations above, race is so broad that it is not helpful in quantifying an individual. Judging a person by their race makes a much sense as judging them by the thickness of their glasses or the amount of hair on their back.

If a real estate agent told me the house next door was for sale and asked what kind of neighbor I wanted, my answer would not be a white neighbor or a black neighbor or a hispanic neighbor. If I could choose, I would want a neighbor who is responsible and trustworthy. Someone who doesn't play loud music at night and who takes care of their yard. The color of my neighbor's skin matters about as much as the color of my neighbor's car.

The whole point of this post is to look at a hot issue in a California high school. Lisa McClelland, a "Freedom" High School student, has stirred up a hornet's nest with her proposed new student club (per this Contra Coasta Times article):

The Caucasian Club is a ridiculous idea, but the reason why she is doing it is obvious. She recognizes the culture's approval of anything that would advance minority races. She also knows that anything which even hints at praising Caucasians is decried as racist. She states her intention is to "solve the issues of racial disparity" because she recognizes that discrimination against any race, even whites, is bigotry. The reaction to her proposal is most likely exactly what she anticipated: According to Mr. Turner, black student organizations provide an identity for black students and a way for them to unify. Yet a white student organization is not acceptable because it will cause racial division. I take extreme offense to his statement that the words 'white' and 'Caucasian' have always been associated with racial bigotry. This is coming from a leader within the NAACP. He explains how non-bigoted his organization is and then in the same statement declares that even the name of another race has always been associated with bigotry. It almost appears as if he could be prejudiced against all Caucasians because of their race.

Mr. Darnell Turner, I refuse to judge you by the color of your skin, but the hypocrisy you proclaim does reduce my opinion of you. I have no problem with the advancements of blacks and applaud that part of your organization's purpose. I take no offence to the narrow focus of your organization trying to advance only the black race. What I take exception to is that you cannot tolerate anything that would advance people of another race.

Personally, I would never join a Caucasian club or even a Black Student Union, if I should qualify for that. I don't see people as members of a specific race but as individuals. They may have characteristics from the race to which they belong but it plays only a small role in defining who they are. What amazes me is that those who make the most noise about racial prejudice are also those who insist on being identified as a specific race.

The truth is that there is only one race that matters: the human race. Here in the United States, the advancement of individuals and even groups is not a zero-sum game. I don't gain when you lose, and vice-versa. A rising tide floats all boats...let us float together, people.