CNN news story commentary:

It is difficult to write a blog about this subject without becoming overly emotional and straying from data and applied theory to opinion and rant, but I do promise to do my best.

(Photo Credit: luxexmartin)

This article explains a phenomena current Americans feel they are faced with, something I have heard called "reverse racism" which the article tactfully renames "the racially oppressed majority" of white Americans. The article discusses Americans (primarily males) feeling discriminated against (there are no "affirmative action" benefits for them, they can become economically downtrodden and feel that equal aid is not available to them, etc.,) and their quest to "reclaim" the America that they see correct.

Of course this argument ignores the possibility that white is not always right, that it is not a necessary part of being Caucasian to be the majority, to be "in control". This argument ignores the struggles that the 'previously' oppressed (women, people of color, and homosexuals) have faced; it ignores the fact that opportunities are not readily awarded to these people, that these people need a leg up even now half a century after the civil rights movement. Yes, America is changing. Yes, change can be unsettling, it can be scary and it can be hard. It is understandable that white Americans are having to come to grips with their 'whiteness' but that in itself is not grounds for labeling white Americans racially oppressed. If the number of white people in this country falls to minority status even still that is not grounds for the label of racial oppression.

This argument stems from values which have become outdated. The sociological framework of this nation is changing and the hesitation of previous generations to come to terms with the times is understandable, but not excusable.

Polygamy, slavery, ownership of women, child labor - these have been (and in countries which we label "underdeveloped" still are) social norms. To argue these practices are representative of values which have somehow been lost and must be "restored" would seem absurd and carry no validity to modern Americans. Most of us have been raised to believe these practices are wrong; our belief systems, our conceptions of right and wrong are socially constructed.  My generation and the generations which will succeed me are being brought up in a country that is racially conscious and although not free of racism (and I mean racism, of course, in the sense that the empowered majority [which is still white male Americans - women are still paid less money for doing the same jobs, homosexuals still cannot marry in most states] oppresses minorities) is making strides to become more equal, to celebrate rather than demean our diversity.

"'Like it or not, the country is going to look more like it should - more brown folks, more yellow folks, more gay folks, more mixed folks,' [Gallagher) says". I could not agree more.