In the summer of 2020, the Smithsonian's, National Museum of African American History and Culture, posted a large graphic criticizing, "Aspects and Assumptions of Whiteness and White Culture in the United States." The poster was hotly contested and sparked so much opposition that it was taken down. After all, what's wrong with the nuclear family, science, hard work, respect for authority, and politeness?
On the face of it, some of the criticisms seem ridiculous. What does delayed gratification have to do with 'whiteness'? But peel back the layers and it becomes evident that virtually all the characteristics of 'whiteness'* in this poster have a political significance—real or imagined—that purports to expose the difference in power between white and black people.
In the analysis below, I 'decode' the opposition to 'white culture' and explain the revolutionary aspirations of Critical Race Theory and Critical Social Justice to uproot every vestige of 'whiteness' from society. Finally, I dismantle numerous false and questionable claims, while recognizing that some of the criticisms do have merit.
*"Whiteness refers to the specific dimensions of racism that elevate White people over people of Color. Basic rights, resources, and experiences that are assumed to be shared by all, are actually only available to Whites. Although many Whites feel that being White has no meaning, this feeling is unique to White people and is a key part of what it means to be White; to see one’s race as having no meaning is a privilege only Whites are afforded. To claim to be “just human” and thus outside of race is one of the most powerful and pervasive manifestations of Whiteness." (Is Everyone Really Equal?: An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education, by Ozlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo, 2012, p. 119).
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