Senator James Webb (D-Va) offers an interesting op-ed at The Wall Street Journal entitled “Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege.” Webb questions the validity of viewing white America as a monolith along with the continuation of government programs originally designed to remedy slavery’s legacy but not serve all “people of color.”
Here’s Webb’s conclusion:
Where should we go from here? Beyond our continuing obligation to assist those African-Americans still in need, government-directed diversity programs should end.
Nondiscrimination laws should be applied equally among all citizens, including those who happen to be white. The need for inclusiveness in our society is undeniable and irreversible, both in our markets and in our communities. Our government should be in the business of enabling opportunity for all, not in picking winners. It can do so by ensuring that artificial distinctions such as race do not determine outcomes.
Memo to my fellow politicians: Drop the Procrustean policies and allow harmony to invade the public mindset. Fairness will happen, and bitterness will fade away.
Read the entire piece. This isn’t typical Democrat speak. And it’s a certainly a rare opinion in Northern Virginia. Webb gets points for breaking the party line with a dissenting opinion.
But is his reasoning solid? I’m curious; what do you think? Does Webb’s point of view hold? Is white privilege a myth? Ought tenure in the country privilege someone to government support or resources? And curiously, are southern white Baptists really an ethnic group?
Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege is a post from: Pure Church by Thabiti Anyabwile