Comments on: Why Whites Can’t ‘Get Over’ Color

By: malachi

malachi — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:31:57 +0000

There is a division between blacks and whites because there is a misunderstanding of the to cultures. I blame media. Whites are portrayed as having had everything handed to them on a silver platter while blacks have to work hard for everything. Blacks are considered hostile whites are considered calm and collected. Instead of everyone considering their selves as equals they choose to see the difference instead of the likeness. What people need to understand is we are all one we bleed red we all have problems we are all the same.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:15:39 +0000

The true secret to it all is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:25:38 +0000

I think that it is very unfortunate and telling that the person who teaches diversity and government agrees with the women who originally wrote this article. While Luke Visconti might not be a “scholar” (whatever that antiquated and haughty comment actually means), he is absolutely true that prescribing to a color-blind mode of thinking is inherently racist. To the orginal woman and the person who teaches diversity, your line of thinking comes directly from privilege. Color-blind proponents always seem to misunderstand that diversity is not achieved by minimilizing racial differences and forcing people of color to assimilate into white culture, but rather understand and affirming the different experiences that people in America experience because of their race. Only once people understand how race still plays out today, and not before then, can people achieve true diversity (which isn’t minimilizing differences, but leveraging them).

I would suggest to the “scholar” and also to the diversity teacher that you look for more qualified people to speak on race. Unfortuantely, it seems as if for one of you your education has failed you and another you are perpetuating a false reality…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:38:13 +0000

As someone finishing up a Master’s degree in European and Middle Eastern Studies, I have a pretty good handle on issues relating to cultural, racial, and religious diversity in the modern West. This article and others penned by Mr. Visconti have certainly been enlightening although not in the sense that is encouraging. Although Visconti “gets” white privilege and discrimination as well as your typical left-of-center American, as a CEO of a well-known business, his commentary receives greater weight than it deserves. This in itself is symptomatic of American culture which often conflates economic acumen with intellectual acuity. His analysis and treatment of race consists of a number of post-60s politically correct thematics recycled from corporate handbooks and political platforms–i.e., an old product rebranded, which probably explains his tendency to talk “at” whites who don’t get it, rather than with them. As a purportedly serious approach to interracial rapprochement, it is atrociously facile and simplistic. For instance, what makes an American and, indeed, a nation is a matter of ongoing debate in academic circles; telling people to “read the Constitution,” as if the answer to these things is just waiting for them there wrapped in gold paper, is a pathetic cop-out. As Visconti himself highlighted when addressing the melting pot vs celebrating diversity dichotomy, white Americans are subjected to numerous conflicting socio-cultural theories as to how they are supposed to relate to minorities, and indeed how America is supposed to walk that fine balance (and Mr. Visconti, it is a fine balance) between the appreciation for diversity and the prerequisite unity that a nation needs to remain viable. One need only refer to the bloody civil conflicts that have erupted worldwide to understand that national coherence is not a given, and no document in the world can make it so. Granted, Visconti is a businessman, not a scholar. But the fact that his simplistic viewpoint is given a mouthpiece not only through DiversityInc Media but outlets like the NYT is disappointing if not troublesome because it merely reflects the same tired “sinners and saints” mentality: those who read Visconti’s remarks will either already agree with their essence or will be given a virtual time out, complete with a link to one of his illustrious articles.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:41:25 +0000

I teach diversity and government and I joined this website for objective discussions and information on current national issues regarding diversity. I am disappointed to say I have found this website to be extremely biased on racism and it blatantly encourages dividing people based on race. The woman’s email above was actually promoting getting along no matter what race or religion someone is. The response to her was to say she is white and just doesn’t get it because she is white. This brings me to the same question: who really is the racist here in this situation? It is very clear to me and it was to my college students as well when I presented this. Believe it or not, my students are predominately African-American.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:42:07 +0000

I loved that answer. I could not have said that any better myself, kudos!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:57:46 +0000

Thank you for a very enlightening article.