Don't Call Me White

Years ago, my grandmother and grandfather on my mother's side took up the hobby of investigating their families' family trees. Because of their digging, I know most of my ancestry. I am fifty-percent English, twenty-five percent German, twenty percent Norwegian, and about five percent Welsh. Despite all of these specific percentages, I really only qualify my ethnic background as "Euro-mutt."

So, how does my heritage influence who I am? Well, until recently, my heritage defined my religion, and my view of other political, social, and religious perspectives. However, mainly because I have taken conscious strides towards becoming an autonomous individual who defines himself by a better understanding of various philosophies and the wisdom and knowledge gained through education about multiculturalism and pluralism, I have tried to separate myself from my own "whiteness" in an attempt to create a holistic identity based on those philosophies and perspectives with which I choose to identify. These variables - philosophy, education, knowledge, and personal awareness - have become more of a determiner of who I am than anything I have learned about my heritage. Primarily because of my desire to move beyond the criteria that has always granted me privilege due to being male and being "white," I have tried to only use my heritage as a road map to guide me in the right direction.

I think because of my skin color, most people can guess that I come from some combination of European lineages. I would also guess that simply being "white" does have a direct effect on how people talk to me and treat me in social settings. I know that I have been unjustly given privilege in society because of my sex and my skin color, and while I wouldn't do anything to change those biological traits, I try very hard to challenge any assumptions or privileges offered me because I am a white male. I'm guessing that strangers aren't usually afraid when I approach them with a question. I'm guessing cashiers don't make assumptions about my economic status, And I'm guessing that I get less looks from police officers than someone of a different race or ethnicity.

On a side note, my sister is adopted. She is African-American. She grew up in the same neighborhood that I did, in the same house I did, and drove down most of the same surrounding streets that I did. However, it seems intolerably unjust that while I never once got pulled over in our neighborhood by the local police, my sister is pulled over on a regular basis. The police usually give her some petty excuse and usually let her go with "warnings," but the inconsistency is there, and it really makes me sick of my own privilege and the desparity of treatment given to my sister simply because of her skin color.

Concluding, I can only say that I wish my heritage had nothing to do with who I am or how I am viewed by the rest of society. I wish that people's ethnic backgrounds were traits that we could only be proud of, not ashamed of or afraid to acknowledge. I wish we could understand and cherish people for their unique perspectives and not shy away from someone because they may look different than us. It is for these reasons that I ask only to be called by my name and by my merits, but never to be called "white."

Questions:
1. If your ancestry is of european lineage, or like mine English lineage, what does knowing about colonialism, slavery, and other such atrocities do to your feelings about being "white"?
2. How can we come to terms with the unwarranted privilege granted to "white" men (primarily) as well as women?

(For further reflection, I would refer you to the song, "Don't Call Me White" by NOFX)