Why are some White people ashamed of their racial identity?

Question

Why do some White people always take a minority's side side on an issue? Why do some White people feel like they have to prove that they're not racist? Why do some White people defend Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson? Why do some White people support race based affirmative action? Why do some White Americans feel guilty about America's racist past?
Why does White guilt exist?

Answer 1

I can only speak for myself and I'll answer one question at a time:

1. I don't see things as taking a racial side. I see things as right or wrong and the race of the individuals involved are of little consequence to me. I don't find it productive to say well they did this and that was reported but what about this? We don't report the news, the media does and the media is a for profit industry that presents what sells and works hand-in-hand, not with the government because the gov't doesn't run anything, but corporate America. That's why they present stories that are designed to inspire fear and promote outrage to direct our habits and spending patterns.
2. I don't feel that I have to prove that I'm not racist. Anyone who knows me can see that without any particular effort on my part. Those who do put me into this category are not worth my time.
3. I don't defend Al and Jesse and I don't personally like them but I think it's dangerous for all of us as we are all Americans living here together to make the argument that racism and division wouldn't exist if they would shut up. Yes, they're self-serving idiots but making that argument, in my opinion, is no different than a blk criminal making the argument that he's being arrested because he's blk. He may have been pulled over because he's blk but he's being arrested because he's a criminal. Al and Jesse may be serving their own purposes when they call situations to attention but if the situations never happened in the first place there wouldn't have been anything to bring attention to.
4. At this point, I don't support race based AA. I support class based AA.
5. I don't feel "guilty" about our past per se but I do think that it needs to be acknowleged and not just pushed aside as something that doesn't signify any longer. Many of the perpetrators of horrific atrocities are still alive, well and free. Never spent a day in jail and they're murderers and terrorists. Denying this fact fuels a lot of hatred and is ignorant. We don't have anything to feel guilty about but we certainly have to admit that it happened, it shaped society and socialization processes and that 40 years is not enough time to erase hundreds of years of history.
6. It exists because people go too far in the other direction. There is a world of difference between acceptance and guilt. The ones who are feeling guilty as just as misguided as the ones who are in denial.

Answer 2

It's probably because they are convinced that they somehow share a responsibility with their ancestors for what they did to blacks and other minorities, which is completely illogical if you think about. No white person should have to feel that they are responsible for what other white people might do to minorities. Individual's make individual choices. It's the same illogic behind racism itself. It relies on a reification fallacy...treating race as a single concrete entity that can be used to generalize and represent people as a whole, even though genetic attributes still exist apart from the person's race.

Answer 3

are you one of these people? i don't believe it's guilt..more like the "new millennium". these days, race doesn't matter (or shouldnt)..and in many cases that occur with a minority versus a white, it's usually happening in the South (which was VERY racist in the older days) and it usually IS because of racism. Is it that bad that there are actually White people out there who show compassion for all??

Answer 4

I am white and I feel no shame or guilt whatsoever. I'm proud of who and what I am, although my race has nothing to do with who I am. Good luck. 2D

Answer 5

Because that is what they are taught. Everyday they are being told that it's not right to appreciate their own culture (let alone European culture). How bad whitey is etc. If the media tells people how awesome some celebrities are, they believe it. Same goes for hating their own race.
Sadly their parents have bought into it as well so no one is telling them anything different.

Answer 6

you have a very good question with an easy answer.It's pure and simple , It's stupidity. People who feel like they should be in a (mixed race) relationship or defend a race other than their own show's retardation in everyone involved. Many people will argue this , especially the retarded. You can't tell them they are retarded or connvince them of the fact. But when common sense don't kick in then you must be retarded.Regardless of your race , if you go outside of it then something should kick in and tell you it's wrong and when it don't then it's because of the retardation. Any person who has a problem with their own race is obviously retarded. If you can't stand up for your own race then your nothing but a coward sniffeling snot nosed punk. As an example , I see a lot of pretty white girls with black guys. Hell , He can have that retarded ***** , he's just as retarded as she is and both are too stupid for you to explain their retardation to them.. Both will argue with you and maybe even want to fight with you. But the fact remains , is that they are both retarded and have no respect for themselves or their race. As for the white guilt. That does not compute. I don't feel guilty for being white and neither should you. If you have to (prove) your not a racist then maybe you should stop hanging out with people outside of your race and then you don't have to prove anything.Black people are constantly accuseing white people of being racist when in fact it's really the other way around. Black people are cry babies and want what ever they can get free from the white man and they have learned from us that the louder they cry the more we give them. Black people have learned that all they have to do is yell racist or predudice or discrimmination and they get what they want. They use it as a crutch against white people. If you look around the country , you'll find hundreds of all black orginazations , other then the KKK you'll find no all white orginazation because the blacks have yelled so loud and sued so much that they just don't exist anymore.If you open a school for whites only , you'd be sued so fast and for so much you can't afford to open the school. But if you open a school for all blacks , then thats ok. Thats wrong and should be stopped , but our government protects them and shits on us in the process. Through this , because of our government and the laws they pass that allows them to yell racist at us and not the other way around , then we as white people feel like unless we want to be sued or accused of being a racist then we constantly are trying to prove that we are not. That in it's self is wrong. If a black yells predudice then everyone looks up . If a white person yells predudice then everyone laughs. It's what your govenrment teaches you. They teach you to kiss the blacks *** so he don't sue you.But don't you dare try to sue him for not kissing your ***. The government wont stand for that. It's your government dude.It's what they teach you. Open your own school and learn for your self and stop hangin out with people who you have to prove anything too. Especally outside of your race.

Answer 7

everyone should feel guilt, no matter what their race... because everyone has made some racist comment, in some way.

Answer 8

I love being white and I don't defend blacks or any other color for doing dumb things and getting caught.

Answer 9

why are worried about it?,anybody can feel guilty or defend anyone they choose to.

Answer 10

some whites must feel guilty, because this is all they talk about