RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: white smoke, white pope

Culture marks difference but it more importantly imbibes values and resultantly informs thought and attitude, both of which help to shape perception of and behavior toward others. Power and wealth may be important but it is not all the time that they advance social status. In Great Britain for example, breeding thumps wealth as a proximate determinant of social status. A "poor" aristocrat has higher society standing than a wealthy commoner. Old money is more prestigious than new money. Poor white people in the deep south of the U.S. believe themselves to be superior to more affluent minorities. In many cases, the system continues to encourage them to continue to so believe.
Slavery and colonization have taken a heavy toll on the darker skinned people of the world. Together they helped to infuse cultural arrogance, superiority, and entitlement in minds of enslavers and colonialists. Skin color became synonymous with racial difference, consequent superiority or inferiority, and collateral advantage or disadvantage. History has not been kind enough to darker skinned people. It was said in 2007/8 for example that the U.S. was not ready for a black president. While one may only imagine what was meant by that statement, we now know that the statement was a ruse and untrue.
Times indeed are changing but not quickly enough to undo the many damages that dark skinned people of the world have endured and in many cases continue to endure.

oa
-----Original Message-----
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of kenneth harrow
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 10:07 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: white smoke, white pope

it isn't the color that is the issue: obviously this has changed over time, like tan as the marker for beauty and whiteness with the rise of the bourgeoisie in the 18th century, and will continue to change. it is the association between black people and their status. the link to slavery and race, both in the arab world and the west, make black a synonym for race, even when it wasn't really the color. so, as black status changes in a community, so too does this color marker of status.
but it makes little sense to limit this issue of markers of high status and low only to race or racial markers. class functions there as well, and the markers of class, in speech and dress and education, also create superior and inferior capitol. it is easy enough to see this within our lifetimes as the status of blacks in america has changed and attitudes conveying that status have changed enormously. not that the prejudice is gone, but it is enormously different from what it was say 60 years ago.
i don't see culture then as the determinant of status; culture marks difference, and with difference values of superior or inferior can be created. but the status linked to power and wealth seems to me more relevant.

ken

On 3/13/13 9:13 PM, Emeagwali, Gloria (History) wrote:
> 'was there ever a time when one group did not think it was superior to
> another?'
>
>
>
> I am assuming that this is a real question and not a diversionary
> tactic -
>
> so let me give it a shot.
>
>
>
> A theoretical distinction should be made between sentiments of
> superiority
>
> based on culture and those based on race, whiteness and the absence
>
> of melanin. On the average, over time and space, the crucial
> determinant
>
> for many groups seemed to have been culture.
>
>
>
> A shift to 'tanner' is not a sign of progress. It is an insult to
>
> people of ebony/ dark skin tones. The implication is that they have
> to 'lighten up' to
>
> 'catch up' with the "brown latinos". If this is not pigmentational
> eugenics,
>
> what is?
>
>
>
>
>
> Professor Gloria Emeagwali
> Prof. of History & African Studies
> History Department
> Central Connecticut State University
> New Britain
> CT 06050
> africahistory.net
> vimeo.com/user5946750/videos
> Documentaries on Africa and the African Diaspora
> ________________________________________
> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of kenneth harrow
> [harrow@msu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 7:36 PM
> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: white smoke, white pope
>
> was there ever a time when one group did not think it was superior to
> another?
> as for whiteness, and female beauty, hasn't there been a shift in the
> direction of tanner, closer to darker? don't you think that trend will
> continue as the u.s. gets more hispanic/latino? as the global north
> yields more to the global south?
> ken
>
> On 3/13/13 6:56 PM, Emeagwali, Gloria (History) wrote:
>> ..."it seems axiomatic since 1800 that the lighter the skin color,
>> regardless of region and heritage, the more acceptable and
>> comfortable ....."Kissi
>>
>>
>> It's all about white supremacist megalomania and pigmentational eugenics-
>> mental disorders and symptoms of the psychologically depraved.
>>
>> But why 1800?
>>
>> I would go back to 1492.
>>
>> Gloria
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
>> [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kissi,
>> Edward
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 4:39 PM
>> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
>> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: white smoke, white pope
>>
>> I would add, Gloria, that it seems axiomatic since 1800 that the lighter the skin color, regardless of region and heritage, the more acceptable and comfortable; the darker the skin hue, however, the more visually unpleasant and internally uncomfortable.... Even this is true to men of faith. Behold, the verities of Blackness! We will be back to this discussion again, the next time a Pope is needed. Until then, Adieu!!
>>
>> Edward Kissi
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
>> [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Emeagwali,
>> Gloria (History)
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 3:16 PM
>> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
>> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - white smoke, white pope
>>
>>
>> white smoke, white pope
>> black smoke, no deal.
>>
>> Welcome to the new pope:
>> Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina
>>
>>
>>
>> Professor Gloria Emeagwali
>> Prof. of History & African Studies
>> History Department
>> Central Connecticut State University
>> New Britain
>> CT 06050
>> www.africahistory.net<http://www.africahistory.net/>
>> www.vimeo.com/user5946750/videos<http://www.vimeo.com/user5946750/vid
>> eos> Documentaries on Africa and the African Diaspora
>>
> --
> kenneth w. harrow
> faculty excellence advocate
> distinguished professor of english
> michigan state university
> department of english
> 619 red cedar road
> room C-614 wells hall
> east lansing, mi 48824
> ph. 517 803 8839
> harrow@msu.edu
>
> --
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--
kenneth w. harrow
faculty excellence advocate
distinguished professor of english
michigan state university
department of english
619 red cedar road
room C-614 wells hall
east lansing, mi 48824
ph. 517 803 8839
harrow@msu.edu

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