The concepts of whiteness and blackness, which are on opposite ends of a dichotomy, can not exist without one another. In bell hooks’ article, Representing Whiteness in the Black Imagination, she argues that in the mind of a black individual, whiteness represents fear and dread. This fright is stemmed from the idea of the predominance of the white race in society. (hooks, 345-346.) The article continues on to discuss which group of people constructed the idea and context of whiteness, what it really is, and how it is seen in the mind of a black person. Another article, written by Ruth Frankenberg, helps to describe the definition of whiteness to a white person. hooks indirectly states the fact that white culture is the ideal culture. It was
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It is socially acceptable for a white person to speak negatively about a black person. On the other hand, a black person recognizing the existence of whiteness is considered racism. hooks states in this article how whiteness has been constructed so that blackness can exist and be juxtaposed with it. hooks includes many examples in her article to help prove her argument that whiteness (representing good) is to blame for the stereotype of blackness (representing evil).
The idea that whiteness is terrorism and that white people are terrorists appears many times throughout this article. hooks includes her own experiences with these feelings as well as quotes from different people within her article to prove this idea. hooks describes her personal experiences and feelings of fear towards white people. The fact that she uses so many questions within this section of the article proves that she is uncertain why she feels so frightened. However, the white people had most certainly given each black individual something to be frightneed of. White people have treated black people with no respect for hundreds of …show more content…
This reading helps the reader to understand the hierarchy of race that society has created, on which, white people are the most powerful. In this reading, McIntosh explains her views on white predominance, stating that she “think[s] whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege.” (McIntosh, 97.) One may support this quote with the idea of selective understanding, or, only considering the facts that are beneficial to the particular
It is socially acceptable for a white person to speak negatively about a black person. On the other hand, a black person recognizing the existence of whiteness is considered racism. hooks states in this article how whiteness has been constructed so that blackness can exist and be juxtaposed with it. hooks includes many examples in her article to help prove her argument that whiteness (representing good) is to blame for the stereotype of blackness (representing evil).
The idea that whiteness is terrorism and that white people are terrorists appears many times throughout this article. hooks includes her own experiences with these feelings as well as quotes from different people within her article to prove this idea. hooks describes her personal experiences and feelings of fear towards white people. The fact that she uses so many questions within this section of the article proves that she is uncertain why she feels so frightened. However, the white people had most certainly given each black individual something to be frightneed of. White people have treated black people with no respect for hundreds of …show more content…
This reading helps the reader to understand the hierarchy of race that society has created, on which, white people are the most powerful. In this reading, McIntosh explains her views on white predominance, stating that she “think[s] whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege.” (McIntosh, 97.) One may support this quote with the idea of selective understanding, or, only considering the facts that are beneficial to the particular