Re: Social Engineering (was different patriarchy models)
jonM (Jonathan.marshall@anthropology.su.edu.au)
Thu, 19 Jan 1995 04:33:39 GMT
I am often suprised by how deeply and disingenuously racist many Americans
are with respect to Afro-Americans. Likewise I am am sure the same would
apply to many people looking at the position of Australians and Australian
aborigines (yes, I'm Australian).
This is to say, I think it would be useful to consider the suggestion of
Franz Fanon. *In a racist society, there is no possibility of not being
racist*.
I'm sorry, I know a lot of you will disagree with me.
The U.S.A. is a racist society. This is to say, racism (and by extension
black "maladaption" is not a "problem", or a "symptom", it is the very
condition of American society. *There is no possibility of objectivity
here*. And the sooner we stop running around shooting off about
"objectivity" the sooner some interesting suggestions might be made. (try
reading Feyerabend for starters).
There is no mainstream American society that can escape the problematics
of blackness in America. They are always there, entwined from the
beginning.There is no "objective" anthropology that can escape it's own
implication within the historical structures of racism. Racism can only be
worked through, it cannot be denied, or objectified.
I hope will see this this as somehow connected to the rest of this thread.
It would be difficult for me to iniate this with a quote (I hope that
doesn't offen netiquette)
John Cook
anthro.students@anthropology.su.ed.au
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