Can't we all just get along?: Part 4 - Pull them up by their bootstraps

Even with a president of color, it is still the case that whites generally do better economically than people of color. This economic disparity can allow whites to feel superior to people of color. It can spur people of color to feel jealous of whites and to resent them. No wonder research has suggested that racial animosity is less in communities where there is less racially based economic inequality.
Given this reality some people have suggested that the key to racial harmony is to help people of color gain economic and educational success. Helping people of color to create intact families and to gain the training necessary to get good paying jobs should serve to increase their economic opportunities. When racial minorities succeed then we will lower the economic imbalances and create a more harmonious racial situation.
Advocates of this perspective point to the success of Asian-Americans and European ethnic groups that once faced discrimination. The success of these groups indicate that other minority groups can overcome discrimination if they work hard enough. Perhaps there is a need for whites to help teach those groups how to succeed, but in reality racial minorities are seen as having their own fate in their hands.
This sounds good but such an attitude produces serious problems. First, the advocates of this perspective are endorsing a Eurocentric approach suggesting that whites and their culture are superior to other racial groups. The individualistic "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" approach has worked for some groups, but not for all of them. Ironically, the Asian groups that some of these individuals extol as successful often use a more communal approach where everyone works with each other to create success. Whites may not always be the best "teachers" for helping people of color to achieve success.
Second, while the opportunities for people of color has increased over the last several decades there are still barriers that inhibit their opportunity for success. They face stereotypes and expectations whites still do not have to deal with. It is not realistic to believe that the same methods whites used to gain success will work as well for people of color. Furthermore, the implications that they are not succeeding because they are not working hard enough is unfair in light of the extra challenges they face.
Finally, this approach can seem quite paternalistic to people of color. It seems to keep whites in positions of power rather than helping us to find ways to share that power. Any solution to our racialized society must not put one group beneath other groups. This approach does not seem to be a permanent solution. I am confident that we can do better than this.



Sincerely,



Trouble-Maker