I don't spend a lot of time thinking about racism, as I don't often find myself on the receiving end of it. I've been fortunate. Being of mixed blood, and having lived on both sides of my personal cultural divide, my life could easily have gone differently.

Deek, fellow cowriter at The White Papers, periodically writes on race and racism from the perspective of a black man who has experienced and studied racism. To some degree, I get it. I've never experienced it, but intellectually, I understand the concept of institutionalized marginalization and the cripling impact it has on blacks in America today. The relationships between class, education, and opportunity play a huge role in determining a person's life, and an individually rarely chooses their class and education.

Does this mean that American tax payers are responsible for providing additional opportunities for blacks and other ethnic minorities who have been born into less fortunate situations? More specifically, do white people owe black people for the years of slavery blacks had to endure, which has led them into their current socio-economic status?

In response to this question I posed on The White Papers, Deek replied:

The reason why I think we need "special rules" for minorities is that most have not been fairly compenstated for their contribution to society. The western world was built on the backs of African men and women, yet their ancestors in so many ways have been shut out from fully competing in the societies they built. The immigrants who came to this country for a better life, received that option from the hundreds of years of free labor.

With this, I cannot relate.

I can't feel guilty that some of my white ancestors may have been racist against blacks in America, any more than I can be angry at the Japanese for invading and occupying Korea (the homeland of my mother) where 200,000 girls and women were forced into work as sex slaves, and where over five million Koreans were forced into labor. The idea that an entire race of people should be held responsible for the actions of past generations just makes no sense to me. As for compensation for contribution, I don't feel that the Japanese owe me anything for the labor my ancestors were forced to work, nor should they compensate me for any of my female ancestors that were forced in to sex slavery. I didn't do the work. I wasn't forced into sex. Those are yesterday's horrors. The only problems to solve are the problems of today.

That said, there is a problem today. Marginalization isn't a myth, and systems that provides privilege to the current powers (in America: middle-age white male) are self-perpetuating. This problem is also built into human behavior - people are inclined to help those most similar to themselves, as it is perceived to be mutually beneficial. For the unfortunate minority, this further alienates those who's voices are muffled under the blanket of democracy, and widens the privilege gap. In America (provided we're talking about citizens), the socially responsible thing to do is to level the playing field, such that every citizen can both provide to and receive from the community around them equally.

... but I don't think that programs such as Affirmative Action are the solution. I'm not convinced that any government program can provide a functional solution -- the government is faceless and cold, and the solution to racism/discrimination likely requires a beating heart. What does the solution look like? I'm not sure yet. I'm working on it.