A university student writing for thecollegefix.com,
recently noted that he had attended an online debate during which automatic
soap dispensers were cited as proof of systemic racism. One student
claimed that the egregious cleanser-dispensing implements are racist because
they force “black and brown bodies” to show their palms if they want to get
soap. See the inherent racism? The student did, noting that Black and brown
people’s palms are “the only light areas” of their skin. Coincidence or
diabolical plot? Another young scholar took a different, nearly opposite, tack to
arrive at the same conclusion. She claimed that the dispensers “don’t see her
hands” due to the darker pigment of her skin.
Incredibly, the writer says that
the majority of the more than 80 U.C.L.A. students virtually attending the
discussion shared similar views about the marginalizing nature of automatic soap
dispensers. The author further noted that the dispensers are actually triggered
by an infrared light sensor, and that infrared light is emitted by all people,
irrespective of color.
Arguably even crazier claims
were put forth during the dialog, ranging from “White people fed Black babies
to crocodiles,” to “I had a racist
teacher who was racist because she asked me where I was from.” Talk about your
conspiracy theories!
One has to laugh when hearing preposterous
statements such as these, but it is terribly sad in the end. When an entire
generation is urged to see systemic racism and white supremacy everywhere, that
generation is condemned to a bitter, sad life of no great achievement. If
you’re a person of color, why put out great effort if you can’t possibly
succeed because the cards are stacked against you? If you’re not, you’re told
that everything you have and anything you accomplish is entirely due to your
“privilege,” whatever your actual circumstances. So, why pile on the guilt and
self-loathing by continuing to strive and succeed?
On the one hand we punish success, while, on the
other, we tell certain groups that nothing is their fault, they are not
accountable in any way, that every negative outcome is solely the result of a
society structured to benefit the white male Christian patriarchy. As Paul Harvey might have said, the results of such actions are
too obvious to require elaboration. Or should be.
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