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“White Racism” class is important

White+Racism
(EN Photo)

As many students across campus already know, next semester FGCU will implement a class that has garnered some controversary.

The course, titled “White Racism” (SYA 3930), which will be taught by assistant professor of sociology Ted Thornhill, has the student body and surrounding communities seemingly in an uproar.

The class has so much debate surrounding it that it has warranted news coverage in local stations like NBC2 and has made its way to national coverage in The New York Post. Despite being surrounded by such a heated debate, the course has managed to fill all 50 available seats and the waitlist.

“I’m actually really interested in it as a class, if I had the course space for it I would definitely take it.” Emma Ramseyer, a history major said.

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Some of the class’s supporters say that it just needs a new name because “White Racism” can be viewed as biased. Others say the title is fine just the way it is.

English major Gabriela B., who declined to give her full name for fear of retaliation, says many people think racism is a thing of the past, but she herself has experienced modern racism, that many view as a joke but has implications today.

“I understand why he utilized the title the way he did, but it does have negative connotations,” Gabby said. “I think it’s a very interesting idea to raise awareness, and I think that’s what this course is trying to do, is raise awareness, of how issues in the past are still effecting us today.”

Opponents of the class are crying “But I’m not racist!” and are telling stories of being called a racial slur that originates from a position of power, taking to social media to express their distain. Some of them are saying that the course, judging just by the description, is brainwashing material.

“I’m assuming it’s going to be biased one way, and centralized on America and it would be interesting to see what it goes over,” Lillian Blackmon a history major said. “I’d love to see the syllabus, that’s for sure.”

This course is not attacking white people, or brainwashing any students that choose to take it.

“My White Racism course is not anti-white; it is anti-white racism,” Thorn- hill said in a statement to Eagle News. “Clearly, not all white people are racists; some are even anti-racist.

However, all people racialized as white derive, in some measure, material and psychological benefi ts by virtue of being racialized as white.”

This course is exploring the fact that, according to Pew Research Center, whites account for 81 percent of the current Congress while at the same time representing only 62 percent of the population.

According to The FGCU Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, FGCU is a school where diversity is embraced, and diversity is part of its mission statement.

There are also Affirmative Action plans that were in place in 2015 and 2016 and available for viewing on the FGCU website.

Despite these statements and efforts, the problem remains that according to a 2013 survey, 67.43 per- cent of FGCU’s student population is white.

This class creates an opportunity for white people to play victims with their white guilt, and for white supremacists, who have been emboldened this year by the Trump administration, to once again crawl outof the woodwork.

With the controversy surrounding this class, it can be easy to forget how important it is that this class is available. Even if, as a society, there have been racial advancements, many opportunities remain open to white people through no merit of their own, while these same doors remain closed to racial minorities.

Even something as simple as normal Band-Aids are made to match the skin color of white people. The crayons we think of as “skin color” are the color of white peoples’ skin.

Denying these facts and the importance of this class is to remain ignorant.

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  • S

    ShakeemJan 22, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    “Opponents of the class are crying “But I’m not racist!” and are telling stories of being called a racial slur that originates from a position of power, taking to social media to express their distain.”
    Translation: Innocent people are irritated from being baselessly accused of racism. They should shut up because they’re somehow guilty for events that happened even before they’re born.

    Reply
  • T

    Tyler EvansDec 12, 2017 at 2:51 am

    Blacks are an estimated 39 times more likely to commit a violent crime against a white than vice versa, and 136 times more likely to commit robbery. Will there be a class about black racism towards whites or not?

    Reply
  • L

    LewisDec 6, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    Keep up the great work and writing, loved this opinion and agree 100%.

    Reply
  • D

    DanielDec 4, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    White guilt courses, or if you’re a minority: white shaming courses.

    Reply
  • A

    AkariDec 4, 2017 at 11:06 am

    Wow, this course is absurd. As an outsider of the American sphere, it is clear to see that there is a big anti-white sentiment being directed from the upper echelons. I this continues, I think it will eventually lead to civil war. The first opposition is already forming, the alternative right (I believe it is called). They often mention the “jewish problem” in regards to academia, politics and media. I took a short look at this and indeed found there is a large overrepresentation of jews in these parts. I think it would be interesting if you looked into this and perhaps made a course on that, because this course on white people is just one more provocation that will likely lead to the aforementioned. Just my two cents~

    Reply
  • S

    ScumobiusDec 1, 2017 at 5:10 am

    Explore Jewish privilege.

    Reply
  • N

    NeilNov 11, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    I’m glad someone finally took the time to address the true purpose of this class and mention that this is just one step that FGCU has implemented to fight racism despite the fact a majority of it’s population is still white. Anyone who believes that this class is racist in nature/anti-white is clearly misinformed and ignorant of the scale in which white racism is a problem in this country. I believe more universities across the country should offer this class.

    Reply
  • C

    ChristineNov 10, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    Tim & Tyler sound white.

    Reply
  • T

    TimNov 10, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    “However, all people racialized as white derive, in some measure, material and psychological benefi ts by virtue of being racialized as white.”
    It’s almost like it’s good to be part of the majority. I’m sure in the near future they’ll include classes on black racism, latino racism, and really explore every facet…oh, it’s from the sociology department? Never mind. On with the white guilt!

    Reply