When my son and I want to get something to eat, we can choose to go to Hunans for Chinese food, Manny's for Mexican food, or Ciatti's for Italian food. What is "American" food? When we wanta to go to church, we can go to the Episcopalian Church, the Lutheran Church, the Mormon Church, or the Catholic Church. Is there an "American" church? In our home we have artwork from Norway, Mexico, and England. We have music from Ireland, Italy, and Spain. We wear Levis with Italian silk shirts. Is there an "American" art, "American" music, or "American" dress?
What do the 250 people who live in the United States have in common that make them "American?"
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How did you respond to my question: "How would you feel if 51% of America had brown skin and the staple food was tortillas rather than bread?" Grant T. Smith
This is a test.
I think that it would be an uncomfortable change for anyone to become the minority. I don't really think that it would make a difference anywhere in the world. If 51% of Japan became white and the staple food became McDonalds rather than rice then they would feel a similar discomfort. There are plenty of people in America who are not racist or prejudice toward other cultures, but they would still feel outcast if they suddenly changed from majority to minority.
It would be quite a change for the majority to become the minority, and I think it would take time for this fact to sink in. The white majority have been so used to feeling dominant, and it could take even more than 51% of the American population to have brown skin before the dominant race realizes that they are not dominant anymore.
Personally, I would find it more difficult to cope with the change of staple food than the change of majority. I like tortillas, but I cannot imagine eating them as often as I do bread. Other people would most likely have a difficult time accepting the change of staple food as well, but hopefully people will be able to accept a change in majority if it ever were to happen (which will happen someday).
It really wouldn't matter to me. Sure people with light skin would now be a minority, but honestly I could get used to it over time. I know how it feels to be a minority already because I'm one of the few people on campus (that I know of) that has autism, so it really wouldn't affect me. I'd just "roll with the punches" as they say.
I agree with what Peter said. Anyone who is the majority and then became the minority would feel uncomfortable. Change is a hard thing for people. Most people probably would not accept it for a while but eventually they would have to learn to deal with it because it's going to change back.
If people with white skin became the minority I don't think it would bother me very much. I am willing to experience new things. Just because someone has a different skin color than me doesn't make me any better than them.
Hurrah! You are using the blog, and I like the comments. Peter is correct, Japan is very homogeneous and they do not have a good record in dealing with difference--just ask the Chinese or the Koreans! And so perhaps we are too hard on ourselves if we feel "discomfort" with the idea of becoming a different nation.
Has anyone had the experience of living for an extended period of time with different races? I lived for two years in Mexico, and I can't say that I ever felt uncomfortable being in the minority, but I did recognize that I was different. When I lived in Las Vegas I began to appreciate difference because it was everywhere. Indeed, after a while I ceased to think--that person is black or that person is brown. I don't think that you can ever not notice "race" but it can become less significant.
I think that if the majority did become the minority, we wouldn't have the hardships we went through with African Americans during slavery. What I think I am trying to say is we (minority and majority) have always been around, so I guess what I really want to get across is that I don't think that the new majority would be as ignorant or naive as the white majority was to the African American minority many years ago.
I am not sure if that came out right so just write on the page and hopefully I can clear that up!
I have to keep reminding myself to check my blog page. I think that what Michelle is saying is that each of walked two moons in another person's moccasins, then we would understand what it means to be a "minority," and to feel dis-empowered. I agree completely. Just being the parent to a black child I have learned more about racism (my own included) than I ever knew before. I always considered myself a liberal without any prejudice. But I was wrong, I just didn't recognize my systemic racism. Grant T. Smith
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