Caucasian club in High School (interview, Simpson, Jesus, Arkansas)

[TXboomerang]

To not allow a group to form a club while others do is racist and divisive. Its saying, just shut up and do your thing without a club, you have no right since you aren't a minority.

Its totall bull$h*t. It is assuming that simply because it would be whites, its automatically racist.

This whole thing about every day is white day is bull$h*t too. Along with the suggestions that white should have to put a country name in front of "American" to validate it. Which country in Africa are the African Americans representing? Can't say? Didn't think so. There are plenty of whites here who have their roots in many countries, just like African Americans. Whites have long identified themselves as simply caucasians, or Americans. Now people want to suggest they have to be more specific or they are racist. What a double standard, and VERY hypocritical.

If the club were to be a closed group to any non whites, then you can start complaining. But as long as they were open to other races and cultures to sit in and see what they are learning, they should be just as welcomed as any other club.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by tnbound2day

To not allow a group to form a club while others do is racist and divisive. Its saying, just shut up and do your thing without a club, you have no right since you aren't a minority.

Its totall bull$h*t. It is assuming that simply because it would be whites, its automatically racist.

This whole thing about every day is white day is bull$h*t too. Along with the suggestions that white should have to put a country name in front of "American" to validate it. Which country in Africa are the African Americans representing? Can't say? Didn't think so. There are plenty of whites here who have their roots in many countries, just like African Americans. Whites have long identified themselves as simply caucasians, or Americans. Now people want to suggest they have to be more specific or they are racist. What a double standard, and VERY hypocritical.

If the club were to be a closed group to any non whites, then you can start complaining. But as long as they were open to other races and cultures to sit in and see what they are learning, they should be just as welcomed as any other club.

Exactly!! It wouldnt be closed to anyone. I am half German and half Irish,yet I dont think of myself as an Irish American, or a German American. I am not from those countries my family is. I am just an American

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by Nea1

Maybe and American Club,that celebrates America's history and culture.

I love it! Where do I sign up?

[Moth]

Which country in Africa are the African Americans representing? Can't say? Didn't think so. There are plenty of whites here who have their roots in many countries, just like African Americans.

I do not believe that is quite accurate. Whites came from established nation-states or regions that were in the process of unifying into them- Italy, Germany for example. Blacks came primarily from Western Africa and I do not think there were any nation-states yet established there. So its not quite the same thing.

Anybody have more info on this?

[bily4]

Sure. Because today nobody is discriminating against Irish or Germans. If you were one of the first Irish that came over back in the day, you would probably be more inclined to want to be part of the Irish Club, when they were the ethnicity being discriminated agiainst. Or if you were a German American during the World Wars you would have gotten a taste. If you think all whites were always holding hands here in our blessed land and just "Americans together" you don't know your history.

I think the African American club perhaps would discuss and study issues relating to the origins of slavery and its implications and relevance today, the Civil Rights movement and prominant Blacks in U.S. society, issues affecting the Blacks in current society and how can they confront and perhaps improve some of the socio-economic problems they are up against as a race. Stuff you don't read or learn about in regular American History. If any White people wanted to sit in I would think they should be allowed to - is the assumption that no Whites are allowed in their Club?

And what exactly would the agenda/discussion be for "White Club" ? I would love to hear it.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by Nea1

Exactly!! It wouldnt be closed to anyone. I am half German and half Irish,yet I dont think of myself as an Irish American, or a German American. I am not from those countries my family is. I am just an American

Once again...awesome statement!

I'd "rep" ya but it says I need to spread it around more first

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by bily4

Sure. Because today nobody is discriminating against Irish or Germans. If you were one of the first Irish that came over back in the day, you would probably be more inclined to want to be part of the Irish Club, when they were the ethnicity being discriminated agiainst. Or if you were a German American during the World Wars you would have gotten a taste. If you think all whites were always holding hands here in our blessed land and just "Americans together" you don't know your history.

I think the African American club perhaps would discuss and study issues relating to the origins of slavery and its implications and relevance today, the Civil Rights movement and prominant Blacks in U.S. society, issues affecting the Blacks in current society and how can they confront and perhaps improve some of the socio-economic problems they are up against as a race. Stuff you don't read or learn about in regular American History. If any White people wanted to sit in I would think they should be allowed to - is the assumption that no Whites are allowed in their Club?

And what exactly would the agenda/discussion be for "White Club" ? I would love to hear it.

No, anyone and everyone is encouraged to join the various African American clubs.

As for the White Club agenda, no one has yet to explain that. The closest anyone has come is that they'd discuss American history and culture...which suggests that the Minority experience is not part of that history and culture (otherwise it wouldn't be a White Club)...which is partly why such a club is ridiculous (along with the oft-made argument that there isn't the common heritage amongst whites that there is among other minority groups).

But I do challenge anyone to explain what that agenda would be.

I also challenge some of you to join your local African American, Hispanic, and other community or student organizations. Maybe some of you can learn something about their heritage, their culture, their club agenda, and their particular racial/ethnic position in America today...instead of simply sitting on here talking out of your a$$es.

[tinasgt2005]

Okay let me understand what you all are trynig to say.
Most clubs educate on culture? ( Except a Caucasian club) Do we all agree that African American represents the Black population of America? Then it is safe to say that African American club is the same as saying Black club right. Then is that any different than a European American club being called a Caucasian Club? German, Irish, Scottish, Swedish are European right? None of those culture are taught in schools. The point I am trying to make is culture is something that is handed down through generations. It is learned from your parents, grandparents, etc. To have cultural clubs for individual cultures it borderlines on discrimination. If you are going to educate on different cultures, an American club can be formed and the focus each meeting is the education of different cultures. The fact is we are all Americans. Our ancestors came from other countries many many years ago.
I have never attended a meeting and honestly have never had a disire. I can not speak about what goes on there. I will tell you that most people I know do not feel that these club represent all American's. That these clubs exclude, "Caucasian" Americans. I use that term only because I don't believe that there are not very many white people that are in these groups.
I have found from my experience that European Americans are accused of being racist if they try and educate on their culture. Of course it might be because most are of white color and it easy easy for someone to accuse a white person of racism if they speak out against people of other colors or nationalites. Just like I was accused of not teaching my son cultural diversity. My son is 17 years old he has a mind of his own. We have taught our children acceptance. We have made sure that they went to schools that were diverse. They have friends and girlfriends that are of different colors and nationalites but that does not mean that they do not have an opion on this issue. They have a right just like I do to have an opinion without someone calling him or I a racist or not teaching cultural diversity.
I have asked people not to assume that they know me or my son. Do not accuse me of being closed minded and not teaching my son about cultural diversity. You do not know me. When you talk, ask me a question don't make a statement based on an assumption about me.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by bily4

Sure. Because today nobody is discriminating against Irish or Germans. If you were one of the first Irish that came over back in the day, you would probably be more inclined to want to be part of the Irish Club, when they were the ethnicity being discriminated agiainst. Or if you were a German American during the World Wars you would have gotten a taste. If you think all whites were always holding hands here in our blessed land and just "Americans together" you don't know your history.

I think the African American club perhaps would discuss and study issues relating to the origins of slavery and its implications and relevance today, the Civil Rights movement and prominant Blacks in U.S. society, issues affecting the Blacks in current society and how can they confront and perhaps improve some of the socio-economic problems they are up against as a race. Stuff you don't read or learn about in regular American History. If any White people wanted to sit in I would think they should be allowed to - is the assumption that no Whites are allowed in their Club?

And what exactly would the agenda/discussion be for "White Club" ? I would love to hear it.

My Irish family did come over here during the famine and did experience the discrimination. And my father and his parents came over from Germany during WW2 to escape persecution for being friends of the Jewish but some of my family did not make it out. So my family does know about discrimination.

[bily4]

I have never attended a meeting and honestly have never had a disire.

And there you go. My question is if groups of students want to get together to learn about their specific common cultural background and share experiences and discussions, and if anyone else interested can attend (but probably have no interest in it as you mention), why should anybody else care? I think it is a positive thing. If it crosses the line to being exclusive and not allowing others in, then that is a different discussion.

If you want to start a European American Club, knock yourself out. You can't call it a Caucasian Club because many Hispanics and people from other other races and places of origin are Caucasian, not just people from Europe. So unfortunately it would have to be a bit more specific.

And as far as I know nobody is saying you can't have an American Club and discuss different cultures every week and their migration to America and experiences every week. Sounds great. But unfortunately most kids don't care a whole lot about their own roots, let alone the roots of other people.