The Invention of Whiteness: The Long History of a Dangerous Idea

Introduction

• Stuff White People Like: A satirical blog by Christian Lander in 2008 highlighted racial and class issues.
• The blog's humor relied on the assumption of whiteness as a default, contentless identity.
• Over time, the cultural and political understanding of whiteness has evolved significantly.

Historical Context

• WEB Du Bois's Insight: Argued that whiteness is a modern concept, likened to a religious belief rather than a biological fact.
• Thomas Jefferson's View: Attempted to delineate racial distinctions as natural.
• The Bell Curve (1994): Suggested racial differences in IQ, a view increasingly discredited by genetic evidence.

Evolution of Whiteness

• 17th Century Developments: Legal privileges shifted from a religious to a racial basis, distinguishing 'whites' from 'non-whites'.
• Slavery Justification: Racial identity was used to justify African enslavement when religious identity was insufficient.

Spread and Impact

• The Religion of Whiteness: Spread globally, adapted locally, always implying superiority.
• White Supremacy: Whiteness was equated with white supremacy, driving colonialism, slavery, and systemic racism.

20th Century Shifts

• Post-WWII Rejection: White supremacy became less publicly endorsed, though systemic issues remained.
• Civil Rights Movement: Reduced public discussions on whiteness but didn't resolve its structural power.
• White Supremacy Redefined: Became associated with extreme racism, ignoring systemic issues.

Academic and Social Re-examinations

• Critical Race Theory: Examined legal and social systems' roles in maintaining racial hierarchy.
• Whiteness Studies: Investigated the historical and social constructions of white identity.

Contemporary Reflections

• Obama Era Backlash: Rising white identity politics led to political and social tensions.
• 2016 Political Shifts: Brexit and Trump highlighted the persistence of white identity politics.

The Future of Whiteness

• Ongoing Debates: Discussions about the role and meaning of whiteness in society continue.
• Potential for Change: While whiteness seems entrenched, it remains a social construct that can be reimagined.

Conclusion

• Moral Choices and Social Constructs: Whiteness, like climate change, requires collective action to address and dismantle its effects.