Challenging white male privilege

Posted

Have you ever heard of Garrett Morgan? All he did was invent the traffic light, an improved sewing machine and a respiratory device that would be used as the blueprint for World War I gas masks, among other things.

But like so many other black people who made significant contributions to this country, most people of all colors have never heard of him. Yet actress Stacey Dash, a black woman, wonders why this country needs a black history month.

Dash was asked by “Fox and Friends” host Steve Doocy if she meant there “shouldn’t be a black history month because there isn’t a white history month?” She answered, “Exactly. Exactly.” It never occurred to her that every year is a white history year.

As a 59-year-old white man, I remember that almost all the historical figures I was taught about when I went to school were white men. I suspect things have not changed enough since then.

As for the Academy Awards controversy, some whites complain that blacks should not automatically get X amount of nominations. But those criticizing the Academy are not asking for that. They cited numerous performances by black actors that they felt worthy of nominations. They also complained that those who nominate and vote are overwhelmingly white men.

So they are not asking for affirmative action. They simply want an end to the de-facto affirmative action for white males.

Dash stated that black award shows only award blacks. That is factually wrong. In fact, one white man who received an NAACP Image Award is the great actor-director Clint Eastwood. He was recognized for not limiting blacks to stereotypical roles in his movies.

Eastwood recognized the need for such award shows when he stated that he hopes that one day the award he received will no longer be necessary. Though he received that award many years ago, I suspect Eastwood realizes that day has not yet come.

Richard Warren is a retired transit worker and lifelong Van Cortlandt resident.

Richard Warren, Race, Academy Awards controversy

Comments