In Response to Frank's...

I think that song is very interesting. Also, the line that Frank pointed out was one that stuck out to me as well. I understand that all of our discussion about white privileged were not necessarily meant to be a personal on attack to white people as individuals, although sometimes the essays we read could be construed that way -- I mean we are human and are prone to take some things to heart. However I really identified with the line "It's human nature to want to be a part of something different especially when your ancestors are European Christians." It almost seems as though being white, leaves us with nothing to be a part of, and even a lack of identity. White shouldn't mean 'white' as this bland and colorless 'norm'. We are all different, have different backgrounds and heritages that everyone should be proud of, but after reading White Privilege, all of that gets thrown away (because white = evil) and suddenly the idea that my grandfather left Italy when he was nine to get out of a fascist state means nothing because it gets shoved in the category of "European Christians". The essay by Dyer in section one of the book stated how "variations on white ethnicity (though some are more securely white that others), and the examination of them tends to lead away from a consideration of whiteness itself." Well of course it does, because its breaking apart this large 'white' category into more individualized ethnic experience, which would equal individualized white identity. As pessimistic as this seems, this song, and a number of our class discussion, leave me with the confusion of a displaced person. I admit that I have had a number of privileges just for the mere fact that I am white. But, being white has also led to the whitewash of individuality, and the demeaning and diminishing of ancestor pride, which as been replaced with shame and guilt.

Meredith Cotter, Blog #18