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White Supremacy

Sammy Ortiz
Aug 25, 2017 · 4 min read

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about white privilege. Today I’m going to write about why white privilege exists. You guessed it, it exists because of white supremacy.

The definition of white supremacy according the dictionary goes like this… “the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society.”

It doesn’t help matters to address white privilege if the system that upholds it is not dismantled. After all, you can’t have white privilege if you’re not part of the dominant culture. Another topic that is misunderstood by those not aware of their privilege.

This Is Not About White Supremacists

Before we go any further, I want to tell what this is not about. I’m not targeting hate groups that think that they’re better than people of color. I’m targeting the actual thought process behind it. I’m also not targeting white people for the mere fact that their white. Just like I didn’t choose to be born in Puerto Rico and have beautiful caramel skin, no one can be blamed for being born wherever that took place.

The Pillars of White Supremacy

The ideology that white’s were supreme arose in the 1800’s as white southerners reacted against abolitionism. The bedrock of this ideology is sustained by these 4 pillars:

  1. Whites should be dominant over people of other backgrounds.
  2. Whites should live by themselves in a white-only society.
  3. White people have their own culture that is superior to other cultures.
  4. White people are genetically superior to other people.

Another thought although it is not necessary a pillar, is that most white supremacists are Anti-Semitic. The belief is that Jews are a race unto themselves outside of people of color.

Fear of Extinction

Over time the ideology of white supremacists has evolved into a manifesto. That manifesto is referred to as the 14 words which are, “we must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” It’s obvious that this manifesto is from a fear of extinction!

With the rise in US population amongst Latinos, Blacks, and Asians, there is the fear of that extinction as witnessed by the recent events that took place in Charlottesville, VA. The famous chant for those protests by the supremacists was “you will not replace us.”

Another mantra that is well known is “diversity is a code word for white genocide.”

This Is Not a Resurgence

Lately we’ve been hearing about the resurgence of this ideology creeping back into mainstream society. The more I’ve thought about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not as a resurgence but a continuance.

When in our history as a nation has white culture never been the dominant culture? When has there ever been a genocide of whites? When have people of color ever experienced the freedoms and opportunities that come naturally to the white dominant culture?

Never!

So this is not a resurgence but the normal mode of operation as established in the foundation of these great United States.

What Does White Supremacy Effect?

Everything!

Most organizations are predominantly run by whites. It doesn’t matter if these organizations are for profit, nonprofit, educational, or religious.

The organization that I’m a part of that happens to be a church planting movement has only one black man in executive leadership. No Latinos, Asians at all even though there is representation of all in the organization at large.

Most university presidents are predominantly white unless the school is an HBCU.

How can this be 152 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and 53 years after the Civil Rights Act? I’ll tell you how it can be, white dominant culture dictates what can happen and when.

People of Color are Tokens

People of color fill quotas for companies. Since the dominant culture has held to the belief that nonwhites are less intelligent, they’re hired only because the government forces companies and organizations to do so. Sounds preposterous doesn’t it? I’ve actually spoken to people who believe such things.

Racism Won’t End Until White Supremacy is No More

This is not a statement endorsing violence. Violence only begets more violence. Remember that this is against ideologies and not the people who hold them.

Racism will forever be an issue if we use the definition given by David Wellman, “a system of advantage based on race.” So long as the dominant culture dominates, the system will always be advantageous for whites.

The solution is not simple. I don’t even think it will ever be achieved to be honest with you. The only way to end racism is to end white supremacy and for that to happen, you’d have to reprogram the entire American society as white supremacy has always been the status quo.

Selah

)

Sammy Ortiz

Written by

Social Entrepreneur | Founder/CEO of Y.E.S. | Pastor of Restoration Church

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