GUEST COLUMN: "Against Racism"

The center also hosts such meetings with African-American women and other women of color exclusive of white women. Further, the Women's Center has taken the lead on Penn's campus to bring white women and women of color together once they have engaged in dialogue; both around the history of "White American Racism" and all of its institutional practices; as well as having these women look at themselves and how they may be perpetuating the myths or practices of this learned evil behavior. "White American Racism" has and continues to leave mental and emotional scars on white and black Americans as well as others within and outside the country. I think that Elie DiLapi, Gloria Gay and the Women's Center are to be commended and applauded for filling a void on this campus. White women must meet in a support group by themselves to discuss themselves and these human psychological and emotional issues that are painful, frustrating and scary. They don't need to emerge from these sessions with a sense of guilt, shame, blame or righteous indignation. They should be angry that after 500 years (1492-1995) we have not resolved the issue of racism in America. In fact, the balanced budget, the military and preference for the rich are a higher priority. They need to take that anger and harness it into energy for action to recruit and train hundreds like themselves on and off campus and to develop solutions for change. It is about time that administrators, faculty and students stop thinking of the Women's Center as artsy, craftsy, touchie, feelie do gooders trying to be "politically correct." For your readers information, blacks and whites committed to the elimination of racism have historically struggled since colonial times with the questions of how whites and blacks could best work to eliminate this problem in their respective communities. In 1950, the Black People's University of Philadelphia was established to combat discrimination and racism, while teaching the principles of self help to black Philadelphia residents. In 1955, the civil rights movement led by African Americans and supported by many whites, spread out across the South to break down racial barriers. By 1960 the civil rights movement focused on racism in the North. In 1965, black activists asked their white counterparts to return to the white communities of America to confront their families, neighbors, communities and institutions on the question of individual and institutional racism. In 1970, the Black People's University of Philadelphia along with a number of its white friends and allies created the White People's University or Learning Center; where young and older white Americans could come together to deal with psychological trauma that white people endured as a result of American white racism. By the 1970's a new paradigm had been created in the battle against racism; which called for white people and black people to become introspective and confront their own contradictions amongst themselves, to the exclusion of other groups and then commit themselves to pro-action to do something about it. Then, they would have a common frame of reference in which to come together in dialogue. I would respectfully suggest that Janali Davis contact Elie DiLapi and join one of the African-American womens' groups against racism or in the alternative create one of her own. On the other hand, I suggest that Bah-Bai Makenta create an African-American male group to deal with black on black crime within the community or, in the alternative, deal with how black males help to perpetuate many racist myths and stereotypes; or he could set up self-help programs in the community. I would further encourage the DP to put out a clarion call for a white males against racism support group and not try to recreate the wheel by feeling that you have to do it alone. Call on the Women's Center or other groups that have a history of not just bitching, moaning, complaining and blaming; but who have a history of pro-activism and who fight for meaningful social change for all Americans.