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LETTER: Bell should acknowledge privilege

Editor,

In response to Autumn Bell's March 8 letter, I am neither affronted nor offended by Professor Allen's words. Why are you?

Let me make a few educated guesses:

1. You are white. 2. You are middle class. 3. You are racist, but think you are not because you are colorblind. You see all people as human beings, regardless of their color.

Welcome to white oblivion! We white people are trained and taught and indoctrinated not to see our own white privilege or to even realize we are members of a particular race.

Who would want to? Who would want to entertain any thought that we - white people - might somehow be complicitous with the genocide of tens of millions of indigenous inhabitants of this country over the course of several hundred years?

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Or that we - white people - might be the ultimate beneficiaries in a dominant global economy built on the backs of chattel slavery?

Or that we - white people - still maintain notions of white superiority, even as we loudly and passionately proclaim that we do not. It is quite a conundrum, I will agree.

And not easily understood through a limited forum such as this. However, if you conducted any of your own research, Ms. Bell, you would discover that what Professor Allen discussed in his letter is disturbingly true; it is part of American history - the ignoble part we do not like to discuss.

Perhaps if you were more familiar with the genuine history of America - or of the world, for that matter - you would make a decision to rail against global white supremacy and racism, rather than rail against the one who brought the message or against the department where this important, vital subject is researched and taught.

Susan Callaway

Doctoral student in College of Education focusing on educational thought and socio-cultural studies

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