Has white guilt weakened America? has it prevented America from running an efficient nation?

Question

if this question is racist, then I am a racist and damn proud of it...

Answer 1

I greatly respect the thinking and writing of Shelby Steele, whom is African american so this is not bias or racist.
Steele was recently interviewed by American Enterprise. Here are some quotes from the interview--but I encourage you to read the whole thing in order to see the context and the fuller expression of these ideas and arguments:

". . . the goodwill of America finally did do to us what slavery and segregation failed to do. It destroyed our family, destroyed our character, and now black America is in a struggle."

"I think affirmative action is the worst cruelty blacks have endured since slavery."

"Political correctness is an outgrowth of white guilt. It’s a way for guilty-feeling whites to constantly indicate that they’re not racist, not colonialists, not imperialists, not warmongers, and so on."

"White guilt, which I think defines liberalism, is a response to the stigma that white Americans bear for practicing racism for four centuries. Whites live with this constant pressure of having to demonstrate to the world that they’re not bigots, and this manifests itself in many facets of American life."

"I’ll give you my bottom line: We’ve done worse in freedom than we did in segregation. It’s abominable that we made more advances between 1945 and 1965 than we have since, but it’s the truth."

"No one wants to say the problem with black America is a lack of responsibility for ourselves. If you say that and you’re white, you’re going to be called a racist. If you say that and you’re black, you’re going to be called an Uncle Tom. But that’s the truth."

Answer 2

We should not feel guilty for something that we had no part of that was our ancestors, America is doing what it should have done years ago and give what ever position it has to the most qualified man or woman regardless of their color. that should be any where. What is so bad is every time i turn around i hear some using the race card and that is getting a little old and played out so no white guilt ( if their is any ) is not weakened America. I hate that it happened and if I could change it I would but I can't it is done and over with so get over it already please. Iam far from racist My children are mixed.

Answer 3

Excellent question I never looked at that question as raw as you asked, I do not feel any White Guilt at all let me first try to explain #1 History, WE as mankind are the only animal that I am aware of that kills for pleasure if not for food it must be pleasure all through history it was the strong and the rest were second class.if you wern't a "Roman" you were nothing I picked that because it still is well known. Our Politicans had bills pass over the years and with the help of certain Black Leaders who like politics do not think about our welfare but his/her longevity at there cushy jobs.So White people over the last 40 years have been taught how bad this country is, by liberal teachers and professors [ 85-90% } are liberal so most White folk got to believing this crap and the Black community saw a chance to get a buck so there is another un-needed Debate in congress and millions of dollars spent to see, it is among many other things that are preventing the U.S. from doing its job "United we stand Dived we fall" If people would only see the other side.Or at least realize we ALL are at war with a foreign enemy and if we lose some may gain but we all would lose our parents, relatives see death but only us,,NO we have go band together as one then after we kick their *** we can kill each other again if we WANT>

Answer 4

It's time for everyone to accept the fact that slavery was a horrible thing that happened over a century ago. I did not own slaves nor did my parents or grandparents. I don't know of any blacks currently living who were slaves. Let's just get on with life, ok? No more talk about reparations. No more affirmative action. No more talk of desegrigation and shipping 31.2 black kids to another school and these 41.3 white kids to this school to equal out the races. Why not let's just try to be people living together accepting differences as they are.

Answer 5

I believe you are right on this one. Being politically correct seems to be the new thing. No one has the guts to say what they really feel anymore. I'm not sure the issue is guilt though. I feel no guilt. Me nor my family ever enslaved anyone. We came to this country long after that period. I did not fight in the Mexican-American war either. So I really feel no guilt toward any race.

Answer 6

I'm glad you asked that. I believe not. My ancestor's came from Norway in the 1840's. they were farmers in Minnesota. They did not nor would they ever own a slave. I am not guilty of any racism or crime against another race, nor will I ever. How can someone be guilty of something they did not do. It is time however for ALL people to get off this race bandwagon and realize that we are all human no matter what color. It is time to leave that horrible past behind us and move on TOGETHER.

Answer 7

In some ways, yes. However, I think political corrects has had a more detrimental effect than white guilt ever has.

Answer 8

I agree with rocknroll5 That IS a racist statment in itself
Do you feel guilty for asking such a question...you should!

Answer 9

NO!!! What white guilt and that is a racist statement!!!

Answer 10

Yes, i'm kinda hateing our ancesters for takeing land that's not rightfully theres but what's done is done, I say yes to both