Choice And Culture Matter More Than Biology

As Obama marches closer to the nomination, pollsters and pundits are discussing the political impact of white racism. In the on-line edition of the Washington Post, Alan Abramowitz writes,

Racial attitudes have changed dramatically in the United States over the past several decades, of course, and overtly racist beliefs are much less prevalent among white Americans of all classes today. But a more subtle form of prejudice, which social scientists sometimes call symbolic racism, is still out there — especially among working-class whites.

Symbolic racism means believing that African American poverty and other problems are largely the result of lack of ambition and effort, rather than white racism and discrimination. Who holds symbolically racist beliefs? A relatively large portion of white voters in general and white working-class voters in particular, according to the 2004 American National Election Study, the best data available on this topic.

[emphasis added]

This blog by Lawrence Auster discusses Abramowitz description of white, “symbolic racism”:

Here’s what Abramowitz is saying. If you see the fact that blacks are behind, i.e., disproportionately poor, low-achieving, and prone to disorderly and criminal behavior, and if you reasonably infer that it is something about these low achieving blacks–their behavior, character, beliefs, aspirations, abilities–that is keeping them behind, that means that you think that blacks have a defect or inadequacy relative to other groups, which means that you think that blacks are inferior, which means that you’re a racist. Therefore the only way not to be a racist is to think that blacks’ poor performance is caused by factors that have nothing to do with blacks–factors that are artificially imposed on blacks by racist whites.

In other words, if you’re white, the only way not to be a racist is to believe that blacks perform poorly because they are victimized by white racism. If you reject the idea that white racism is what keeps blacks down, that proves you’re a white racist.

To call whites racist because they reasonably believe that blacks’ chronic problems are a function of blacks’ own abilities, qualities, and behaviors, is to say that whites are morally defective for using their reason. Which is the same as saying that whites don’t have the moral right to use their reason. Which is, obviously, an infinitely worse form of racism than the racism that Abramowitz falsely attributes to whites.

My own view is that the whole question of biological superiority/inferiority of races is pure nonsense. We cannot conclude, as some erroneously do, that whites are biologically superior to blacks because white European civilization currently appears to be more powerful than native African civilization. Whites haven’t always had the upper hand. And we don’t know what the human racial configuration will look like thousands of years from now.

In discussing racism, we would benefit far more by emphasizing culture. While cultures celebrate our identities, culture is ultimately governed by choice, not racial biology. We can and should examine cultural choices in the form of values and beliefs and how they impact the well being of those who subscribe to them. Culture gets into the realm of “behavior, character, beliefs, aspirations, abilities” as mentioned by Auster.

All cultures are a mixed bag of good and bad. There is much in traditional black culture that I (a white person) admire — music, dance, religious passion, great speakers, not to mention excellence in sports. Of course, many blacks have excelled in various professional careers by integrating themselves into the mainstream business culture. But there are also some voices in black communities that advocate ideas that I see as harmful to impoverished folks. Jeremiah Wright’s sermons condemn white culture as racist (even though the multi-millionaire Reverend has prospered far better than most whites). More significantly, he seems to pin responsibility of problems faced by blacks on whites.

I don’t think it is helpful for anyone to believe they are hopelessly oppressed victims who bear little or no responsibility for life’s problems. It’s true that inner-city blacks face a much tougher environment in general than do suburban whites and that the disparity is unfair. But it’s also true that people choose how to respond to problems. Choosing to act out a helpless victim role (as Reverend White seems to prescribe) is not going to improve anyone’s life. In addition to opportunities for jobs and schools, people need discipline, hard work and education to succeed. I think inner-city leaders should be inspiring blacks with messages of hope and courage. A great problem today facing youth in all races is finding positive role models who can show them what is possible.

I hope millions of blacks find strength in Obama’s example and take positive action to improve their lives. Just a few hundred years ago, European Jews were in the position similar to what blacks have experienced in this country since the end of slavery. The Jews chose to take control of their destiny, and look where they are today educationally and economically. Blacks have as much potential as anyone.

Choice and culture matter more than biology.