Whites as racist?

Due to our debate on Tuesday over the wording of bell hook’s “Representations of Whiteness in the Black Imagination,” I was wondering how the class perceived the quote “The perpetuation of white supremacy is racist. All whites are racist in this use of the term, because we benefit from systematic white privilege” (Wildman 115). The idea that racism is involuntary; thus, all whites are racist is a hard pill to swallow. While I understand the point Wildman and Davis are trying to make, I am not sure “racist” is the right term. Wildman and Davis are trying to convey the idea that by being privileged whites are thus racist? I am not sure. There has definitely been a tradition of racism and discrimination towards minorities among whites but I do not think the lingering effects of such discrimination which has resulted in privileged makes whites today (as a whole) racist. This book definitely makes some uncomfortable statements, and I think it is important that while we are reading that we keep in mind the tradition of racism in the United States that led to such inequality and then the formation of this book. Unfortunately, I do not think all the ideas of this novel are portrayed as effectively as they can be. I think that more facts and less bold statements would convey a better message; however, the language is attention grabbing…which could be the point. Either way, this novel makes some good points, yet it should definitely be taken with a grain of salt.