That would be nice, but it totally misses the wider context, both historical and present-day. Which is really why any kind of racial identification is relevant. I mean, you or I or khava can not notice someone's ethnicity, but that doesn't mean that the world at large doesn't notice it, and that it doesn't affect them in ways that us three completely miss.
Which is ultimately why I have a problem with the idea that Jews of European ancestry aren't white. My history and experience might be a bit different than your average WASP but the person on the street sees me as white, and treats me accordingly. This gives me a lot of privilege, likely a lot more than I realize. I don't treat being white as some kind of self-identification, but it is a powerful category that the world at large places me in and I think it's important to be aware of that.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-31 07:03 pm (UTC)Which is ultimately why I have a problem with the idea that Jews of European ancestry aren't white. My history and experience might be a bit different than your average WASP but the person on the street sees me as white, and treats me accordingly. This gives me a lot of privilege, likely a lot more than I realize. I don't treat being white as some kind of self-identification, but it is a powerful category that the world at large places me in and I think it's important to be aware of that.