“White Cultural Club” Will Deepen Divides
The “White Cultural Club” (WCC) is a new group that has emerged during the recent rejuvenation of ethnic and racial solidarity on our campus. Though they are not yet formally recognized by the University, the WCC is seeking approval and setting up secret meetings to promote its agenda.
One of the points highlighted in its mission statement is to change the public “misconceptions” of white culture in the Americas. Their main argument is that – in spite of the near global colonization of the world, and mass genocides, and enslavement of indigenous populations, “White Culture ain’t all that bad.”
We must remember the public perception of indigenous European cultures, such as the French, the Irish, and the Italian, are not under fire. Rather it’s the divergent, capitalist, neo-liberal, patriarchal, hypermasculine “White Culture” that is being severely scrutinized.
There is a European Student Association on campus. It is a recognized student organization and its membership is predominantly white. But since their inception, the European Student Association motivations have not been questioned. They have focused their efforts on creating a supportive environment for international students from Europe. Their desire to bond over culture is acknowledged and respected.
The White Cultural Club on the other hand, seeks to reiterate and regurgitate the continuous dominance of white capitalist supremacy. The fact that the WCC has presented itself at Syracuse is problematic.
The real questions here are: what really is white culture? What does it look like? How has it presented itself in America?
One hundred years ago, The Birth of A Nation was released and it became the first American blockbuster film. The film rewrites the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Vigilante Ku Klux Klan members are seen as heroic defenders of the South while Black men are depicted as aggressive rapists of white women. In the film, the Klan defends white women from their potential Black predators.
After decades of civil rights progress, Black men and women are still viewed in a negative light.
So for those who are quick to say, “if Black people can create cultural clubs, white people should be able to as well,” be mindful of the historical events that make these organizations necessary.