Faegin speaks on the future of race relations

Although Oberlin is reputed to be a politically correct campus, Joe Faegin, Graduate Research professor at the University of Florida, challenged students on Monday to admit their own racism and recognize their own contributions to the perpetuation of racist ideas and practices.

"Most racism is projected with a polite face," said Faegin.

Faegin's lecture on "The Coming White Minority" stirred emotions among students. His documented research data defined issues such as white racism, racial discrimination, and racial attitudes.

According to Faegin, white racism can be defined as "the white attitudes, ideologies, emotions, practices and institutions integral to the long term domination of people of color."

"Most racism is cut and dry. Most white people will admit to having racist views," Faegin said.

Many of the responses from a survey conducted by Faegin reported that whites stated that they considered themselves to be "raving racists."

Faegin's research has found that the more educated the victims of discrimination are, the more likely they were to report discrimination.

"Black people have not developed a way to oppress white people," Faegin said.

Many preconceived notions of race and race relations come from concepts, ideas and feelings that are rooted in the family structure.

"Much power is in the hands of whites in this society. We need to realize how our power and privilege oppresses so many blacks and contributes to the widespread institutionalized racism," said Faegin.

Faegin called the issue of reverse discrimination, which is sometimes claimed by whites to be a result of affirmative action, "a cruel hoax." He said, "It's very rare that this occurs."

According to Faegin, the only positions that are held primarily by minorities are in the Army. "This is probably not a coincidence," he said.

There are several solutions to combat white racism in our society, according to Faegin. He suggested enhancing the "already tokenized" affirmative action programs. "Affirmative action programs recruit so few black and Latino people in the first place. What does that say to those communities when they are constantly being threatened?" Faegin wanted to know.

Faegin's other suggestions were to improve education in minority communities and provide reparations for minority groups that have "suffered greatly at the hands of whites," and a redistribution of resources.

Faegin also suggests that people interested in building coalitions with non-white groups should look into the more than 100 anti-racism organizations that are forming all over the country. He also encouraged students to do research on racism and the way it affects minority communities.

"It is all but impossible for whites to understand where black people are coming from. It's amazing how much it costs for blacks to live in this society due to rampant housing discrimination," said Faegin.

Faegin cited research involving a federal survey based on 3,800 audits in over 25 metropolitan areas. Data showed that blacks who searched for rental housing were discriminated against half the time, while blacks searching to buy homes were discriminated against 59 percent of the time by whites.

"Change is possible. Leadership is possible. We need people of all colors to be our leaders," said Faegin. "History will show when people want to bring change, they will bring change. Do research. Go and learn about your own racism."