Race

[Koios]

I found this interesting quote while browsing the race section of the PBS website:

"The Blacks have race, Latinos have race, Asians have race. They're just white. They're just people. That's part of being white." (by Legal scholar John A. Powell)

What do you guys think about this statement?

[palerider]

It strikes me as the same sort of logic that J. Jackson used when he claimed that a black man could not be racist.

[USMC the Almighty]

It strikes me as the same sort of logic that J. Jackson used when he claimed that a black man could not be racist.

And when Muslims say they can't be anti-Semitic.

[Justinian]

I think that's the second dumbest ignorant thing I've read all week.

[icono1]

Is he saying that only American minorities can have 'race' and that the racial majority in America is just white?

[Justinian]

I think what he is an advocate for the people who are wishing to actually undermine, belittle and moreover destroy the understanding with whites to connect with their European heritage. It's absolutely despicable because lets face it people, until another time, hell nothing happens on this planet without one of our say so's (which other races naturally hate [every race wants to be the dominant one which is a sad reality considering...] because it is human nature to be competitive, successful and dominant) and Western society, and white race is on the track of becoming endangered. Seemingly, since us European and European Descendants have been Globally dominant for so damn long, there is an underground agenda to divide and destroy us internally and for that reason or not, it's apparently working. We conquered, governed and dominated everything and now White Nationalities are and have been deflated then eaten up politically and more regretably racially (in Europe, my race's Goddamn Homeland). There are a select few of people here who have already denounced me for my assertions and principles but all these have never even heard my opinion on race and my opinion on Global Race-Relations. It's not so much that I look at the mixing of races as the specific happening I'm against but moreso the whole package because people are not just divided by race. People yell "Racist" because they are ignorant and think "Racists" are stupid people that hate people for the simple reason of a different tone of skin color. That's what Liberals want you to think about people like me but none of it's true and in actuality, it's that stupid way of thinking that has largely contributed to where the Western World is now, in social and religious decay. Racism in my definition means you favor your own race or another race of people over another. However, to the Liberals' dismay, this would make most people racist which they are. People that aren't usually do not represent their culture or didn't have their cultural upbringing or at least had a too much diluted one. Example: Ever see a white guy that hangs out with blacks? Yeah...I know. Personally, I look at race as one part in two that mainly makes up, creates and dictates social culture. There are several more parts of culture like economical culture, and regional culture but the two I concentrate on as the most important aspects of a country's culture is its race and its religion. I'm a mono-culturalist as Paleoconservatives are. The earth in my view is basically broken up into continents which are further broken down into different "Worlds" shall we say and then even further into nationalities. The Earth is mainly broken down in my opinion into six distinct worlds that all cover an area of land. The Western World, The Eastern or Oriental World, The Persian/Muslim World, The African World and the Indian/Hindu World. Each have a distinct race and all except for one has a specific practices religion. These all represent the main bodies of culture in the world which is shown through their allies, trade, etc. The culture becomes even more specialized on the National level in most cases but these are Generally the major "Worlds" of the World which I have absolutely no problem with what so ever. My principles dictate however that these should be preserved for the ultimate societal, economical and communal function which is why I don't like believe in the West's invention of "Multi-culturalism" and never had. True, race is connected with culture which it should be but different cultures together are a burden, a societal threat and can escalate into an actual National Danger. Reasons: One of the biggest reasons undebatably why the American Political System is failing and become more bi-polar AND liberal is because of "Multi-Culturalism". It's almost like having your neighbors move in and start telling you how to run your house. At the very very least it's a conflict of interest. I suppose the first trial of "Multiculturalism" was forced onto the people (which it most of the time is anyway) by conquest with the Muslims invading Greece and the Balkans. Problems persist today with that and it never worked. So I've become a political Gimp because of the ongoing destruction and de-westernizing of America and Europe. Do I have a right and just cause to be? Of course I do.

[9sublime]

Why do you hate multicultralism so much? Why do you want to conserve current societies and keep them all seperate? What does it gain? We would bee hundereds of years behind in Medicine had we not listened to the Arab world. Multicultralism brings with it dispute, racism and war, but eventually, it will bring tolerance. What is wrong with mixing? Its not only the blacks that commit the crimes.

Did you know this is the exact same legal stance as that of the KKK? They say they are not against other races, they just feel that they should not dilute their heritage. Go check them out if you're not already a member, you definetly should be. Its everything you stand for. It really, really is.

You talk of your European heritage, well let me tell you something, rightly or wrongly there is very much an anti-American sentiment all over Europe, especially in Western Europe. And its not because of most of the American people, its because of America people like you, and you're current government.

You talk about your European heritage, but I doubt many europeaners would welcome you with an attitude like that, and a majority of Americans as well. You just can't handle that some blacks have better jobs than you, higher IQ's than you, more attractive women than you, nicer houses, in your country. Well I'll tell you what, most of them will have got them through honest work, working harder than you.

You're so self rightouess, you often denounce peoples view on this board as being ridiculous, and then claim they are not worthy of hearing why their views are not valid. You often tell people on the forum they are not worthy of this or that, talking to you, or living here or there.

You're obviously a loser, you probably got beaten by a black in a running race on your school sports day and never got over it.

[OPGhostdog]

Why do you hate multicultralism so much? Why do you want to conserve current societies and keep them all seperate? What does it gain? We would bee hundereds of years behind in Medicine had we not listened to the Arab world. Multicultralism brings with it dispute, racism and war, but eventually, it will bring tolerance. What is wrong with mixing? Its not only the blacks that commit the crimes.

Did you know this is the exact same legal stance as that of the KKK? They say they are not against other races, they just feel that they should not dilute their heritage. Go check them out if you're not already a member, you definetly should be. Its everything you stand for. It really, really is.

You talk of your European heritage, well let me tell you something, rightly or wrongly there is very much an anti-American sentiment all over Europe, especially in Western Europe. And its not because of most of the American people, its because of America people like you, and you're current government.

You talk about your European heritage, but I doubt many europeaners would welcome you with an attitude like that, and a majority of Americans as well. You just can't handle that some blacks have better jobs than you, higher IQ's than you, more attractive women than you, nicer houses, in your country. Well I'll tell you what, most of them will have got them through honest work, working harder than you.

You're so self rightouess, you often denounce peoples view on this board as being ridiculous, and then claim they are not worthy of hearing why their views are not valid. You often tell people on the forum they are not worthy of this or that, talking to you, or living here or there.

You're obviously a loser, you probably got beaten by a black in a running race on your school sports day and never got over it.

You try and claim that you don't like

Hey 9Sub, I could not have made it any clearer. I do not understand
why whites seem to always make their racist statement....Blacks
need to go back to Africa....yet They come from Africa too. Being a
self-centered/self thinking person has cause many person to get their
feeling hurt, or created conflicts within races.

Multicultralism, Almost in every race (culture) there is a
mixed bloodline running somewhere, and I know for a fact
that many can't accept that fact. The word culture covers
a wide range of concepts. Such as the Integrated pattern
of human learning that's passed down generation after generation.

Its can also include the religious or social believes, and again who
are we to point fingers at anyone without offering help?

[Sadistic Savior]

America is the most multi-cultural society that has ever existed. Yet we are also the most powerful, advanced, and wealthiest society that has every existed. Do you really think that is a coincidence?

Diversity has made us strong. Far stronger than any of the mono-racial cultures on the planet.

[Justinian]

America is the most multi-cultural society that has ever existed. Yet we are also the most powerful, advanced, and wealthiest society that has every existed. Do you really think that is a coincidence?

Diversity has made us strong. Far stronger than any of the mono-racial cultures on the planet.

This opinion encompasses too much than I'd like to get into old friend but I will assert that the very conclusion our country becoming the wealthiest and most powerful has to do with multiculturalism is entirely false and ignorant. Multiculturalism in practice is extremely new and has not proven its capability of being sustained and it certainly hasn't pointed anywhere to global adoption. Anyhow, when Multiculturalism first began in Europe, advocates of it actually prescribed the public brainwashing of its citizens to accept it and put in traction the agenda that led to the attempted erasing and demise of Britain's Top-Draw Anglican way of life. The implementation and legislative accomodation of Multiculturalism are both done against the natural will of the people that has divided our government as well as separated and isolated it even further, much further from the very people whom created it. I'll write a better theses on the Western abomination of Multiculturalism some other time.

[Sadistic Savior]

This opinion encompasses too much than I'd like to get into old friend but I will assert that the very conclusion our country becoming the wealthiest and most powerful has to do with multiculturalism is entirely false and ignorant.

The empirical evidence supports my conclusion. America is vastly superior to every "pure" race culture that has ever existed.

Multiculturalism in practice is extremely new and has not proven its capability of being sustained and it certainly hasn't pointed anywhere to global adoption.

We have managed to maintain our lead for half a century, and it shows no signes of slowing down.

Anyhow, when Multiculturalism first began in Europe, advocates of it actually prescribed the public brainwashing of its citizens to accept it and put in traction the agenda that led to the attempted erasing and demise of Britain's Top-Draw Anglican way of life.

It does not surprise me that Europeans would attempt to coersion to make their ideology work. It is typical of them. But I do not agree that coersion (brainwashing) is a pre-requisite for multiculturalism to work.

The implementation and legislative accomodation of Multiculturalism are both done against the natural will of the people that has divided our government as well as separated and isolated it even further, much further from the very people whom created it.

How did you determine what the "real" will of the people is? How did you determine what their "natural will" is?

Do you really think America is more divided now than we were in 1950? 1900? No...with every generation the distinctions fade further. Most immigrants are fully assimilated by the 2nd or 3rd generation (usually to the irritation of their 1st generation parents).

If this is wrong, I dont wanna be right. I like America the way it is, and I like the direction it is going.

[Justinian]

Well Sadistic Savior, we're at another one of these again. The NeoCon (so called) butting heads with the Paleocon (now called). Once again, we could argue about this in length, we really could. My question to you is do you really want to? It would be a bloody one that will string away from both of us our personal understandings that led to our convincements. And this doesn't mean it will change our minds, it won't but will only give us pains in the head however I'm beginning to think this debate is inevitable to happen now anyway so just say the word.

However if you agree to pursue and begin this debate, I want this debate to end fairly on some conditions and acknowledgements which both of us must agree on. These I will post later if you decide to continue in this engagement which you will post now, most understandably.

[Sadistic Savior]

The NeoCon (so called)

Heh heh, "so called"? Not only do I call myself a neocon, but pretty much everyone else on the forum does too.

Once again, we could argue about this in length, we really could. My question to you is do you really want to?

Sure. Why not.

It would be a bloody one that will string away from both of us our personal understandings that led to our convincements.

Blood is irrelevant. If I were not confident of my argument I would not be posting.

And this doesn't mean it will change our minds

Stranger things have happened. And our minds do not need to be changed in order to learn something new.

However if you agree to pursue and begin this debate, I want this debate to end fairly on some conditions and acknowledgements which both of us must agree on.

I promise nothing.

I will back my views with 3rd party evidence whenever possible, and admit that they are opinion when not possible (though such admissions are typically implicit). Whether or not you choose to respond to my posts is entirely up to you.

I am not here to win. I am not here to make friends. I am here to learn. These advasarial debates are a means to that end.

[Justinian]

I am not here to win. I am not here to make friends. I am here to learn. These advasarial debates are a means to that end.

Then you answer no.

[JavaBlack]

I found this interesting quote while browsing the race section of the PBS website:

"The Blacks have race, Latinos have race, Asians have race. They're just white. They're just people. That's part of being white." (by Legal scholar John A. Powell)

What do you guys think about this statement?

It's true. Race is a social construction and generally belongs only to minorities. The strange part, something pretty alarming, is that a lot of whites today may see this statement as "racist against whites" when in fact it is a comment painting us a picture of racism against minorities.
Minorities are seen by the mode as stereotypes for the most part and are expected to have group qualities.
People belonging to the mode of the population are the default, seen first and foremost as individuals.
In an ideal world, no one wouldhave race. A person's color would be very low on the list of individual qualities, not often brought up as a status... even a master status. Martin Luther King Jr's vision was one of a raceless society. But it seems the idea of racial identity is spreading to some angry whites, rather than diluting as it should.
However the ultimate pattern does seem to be a reduction in racial divisiveness, despite the loudness of some groups. While we are far from a society where all peoples are "just people", we are getting closer inch by inch.
Being "just people" allows us to truly be individuals.

[Segep]

Damn fine post, Java. I can't think of anything to add.

[Dave]

One thing I've constantly noticed, and even in this thread it seems to be true, is that when a black man has pride in his heritage he is encouraged in this, but when a white man has racial pride, he is grouped in with the klan. It just doesn't seem right to me.

[vyo476]

One thing I've constantly noticed, and even in this thread it seems to be true, is that when a black man has pride in his heritage he is encouraged in this, but when a white man has racial pride, he is grouped in with the klan. It just doesn't seem right to me.

This how I've always looked at it: as a race, black people have been oppressed for centuries. They take pride in the fact that their ancestors overcame that oppression. As the oppression was based in race, so is the pride - it's a common heritage.

On the flipside, what have white people done as a race? We've done plenty as secularists or as people of religion - we have plenty of historical common heritage to take pride in. However, what have white people done historically, together, identifying as white people? Mostly the pride we have in where we came from centers around groups of people saying, "We are Americans," or "We are Jewish." There aren't many from throughout history who proclaimed "We are white" and then did something to be truly proud of.

That's how I've always looked at the matter. I have plenty of pride in my ancestors for a number of reasons. None of them have to do with race.

[JavaBlack]

One thing I've constantly noticed, and even in this thread it seems to be true, is that when a black man has pride in his heritage he is encouraged in this, but when a white man has racial pride, he is grouped in with the klan. It just doesn't seem right to me.
In a way, I agree... but not quite.
It's not just that blacks have been oppressed that leads to this, though that is part of it.
It is also that blacks in America, having been torn from their tribal links, enslaved, then segregated, have formed a culture that is only referred to as black (I'm not talking about ghetto gang culture either- black culture is more akin to poor southerner culture; think soul food, Baptist churches, dancing, and community).
Black pride, in this form, is more like Irish pride or Italian pride or Jewish pride... Black has become an ethnicity as much as a color. That's why some people with black skin are not considered so much part of black culture.

White pride is an abomination. It is formed by individuals who don't feel they are marked by ethnicity or race... so they make up some vague connection to a white ethnicity... an ethnicity that does not exist in any way.
And, like I said before, it's counterproductive to being true individuals. Ideally people would get over their little ethnic prides and have American pride or human pride, or better yet pride in their own works and personality.
But white pride is a lot more disturbing than the other ethnic prides because it is a completely artificial construction. Other ethnicities have history behind them and formed naturally. White pride is a conscious attempt by a (strangely) jealous majority group to create a dominant ethnicity.

[Dave]

In a way, I agree... but not quite.
It's not just that blacks have been oppressed that leads to this, though that is part of it.
It is also that blacks in America, having been torn from their tribal links, enslaved, then segregated, have formed a culture that is only referred to as black (I'm not talking about ghetto gang culture either- black culture is more akin to poor southerner culture; think soul food, Baptist churches, dancing, and community).
Black pride, in this form, is more like Irish pride or Italian pride or Jewish pride... Black has become an ethnicity as much as a color. That's why some people with black skin are not considered so much part of black culture.

White pride is an abomination. It is formed by individuals who don't feel they are marked by ethnicity or race... so they make up some vague connection to a white ethnicity... an ethnicity that does not exist in any way.
And, like I said before, it's counterproductive to being true individuals. Ideally people would get over their little ethnic prides and have American pride or human pride, or better yet pride in their own works and personality.
But white pride is a lot more disturbing than the other ethnic prides because it is a completely artificial construction. Other ethnicities have history behind them and formed naturally. White pride is a conscious attempt by a (strangely) jealous majority group to create a dominant ethnicity.

This is exactly what I am talking about. You equate all white pride with what the klan calls white pride. That simply isn't the case, and I find it pretty racist to make such an assumption.

[9sublime]

White people have done some great things, we have invented some amazing things, as we have the advantage of being post-industrial revolution unlike Africa and much of South America and Asia. However, whites have commited attrocities in Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe; genocide, extortion etc.

[JavaBlack]

This is exactly what I am talking about. You equate all white pride with what the klan calls white pride. That simply isn't the case, and I find it pretty racist to make such an assumption.

Name one other kind of "white pride".
How can you have pride in being white other than just having pride that you are not any other color. There simply is no specific shared white history. There is no white ethnicity.
You could have British pride, even Anglo-Saxon pride I suppose... if you're proud of your British Isle roots... but white pride is ridiculous.

[Dave]

Name one other kind of "white pride".
How can you have pride in being white other than just having pride that you are not any other color. There simply is no specific shared white history. There is no white ethnicity.
You could have British pride, even Anglo-Saxon pride I suppose... if you're proud of your British Isle roots... but white pride is ridiculous.

There is the same form of white pride as there is black pride. You could just as easily say that it's fine for a black man to have Zulu pride, or Swazi pride, but by your logic black pride should be ridiculous.

[Dave]

White people have done some great things, we have invented some amazing things, as we have the advantage of being post-industrial revolution unlike Africa and much of South America and Asia. However, whites have commited attrocities in Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe; genocide, extortion etc.

Plenty of other races have done the exact same things.

[Segep]

There is the same form of white pride as there is black pride. You could just as easily say that it's fine for a black man to have Zulu pride, or Swazi pride, but by your logic black pride should be ridiculous.
__________________

I'll be damned you've got a point there.



How about this? Black pride is a tool to overcome the oppression from the dominant society. Since the dominant society inherently favors whites, white pride is simply....pointless.

[JavaBlack]

There is the same form of white pride as there is black pride. You could just as easily say that it's fine for a black man to have Zulu pride, or Swazi pride, but by your logic black pride should be ridiculous.
I believe I've already said that all such forms of pride are ridiculous. But white pride does indeed take the cake.
We're having a semantics issue... I agree that the term "black pride" is problematic because the name denotes a race rather than an ethnicity. But we know damn well... it does refer to an ethnicity. The thing we call "black culture" for lack of a better term (never mind that there is a major generation gap existing in "black culture").
No white pride group has a shared culture. Not one. Whites are defined as individuals, not as a group... and what shared culture we have is American culture... which includes a lot of nonwhites. In addition unlike most blacks in America, most of us have some passed down knowledge concerning our ancestry. Most blacks cannot determine what country their ancestors were bought from.

Now let me reiterate... All such prides are stupid. But they are not all the same. Minority group pride is actually useful up to a point in earning equal rights... Once most equality is legislated however, they become counterproductive. And it is not as stupid to take pride in an ethnic shared culture as it is to take pride in a skin color.

But if you think there is a white culture... by all means explain to me what the hell it is that is mostly exclusive and universal about white culture. What exactly do we have in common? I'm waiting.

[Dave]

I believe I've already said that all such forms of pride are ridiculous. But white pride does indeed take the cake.
We're having a semantics issue... I agree that the term "black pride" is problematic because the name denotes a race rather than an ethnicity. But we know damn well... it does refer to an ethnicity. The thing we call "black culture" for lack of a better term (never mind that there is a major generation gap existing in "black culture").
No white pride group has a shared culture. Not one. Whites are defined as individuals, not as a group... and what shared culture we have is American culture... which includes a lot of nonwhites. In addition unlike most blacks in America, most of us have some passed down knowledge concerning our ancestry. Most blacks cannot determine what country their ancestors were bought from.

Now let me reiterate... All such prides are stupid. But they are not all the same. Minority group pride is actually useful up to a point in earning equal rights... Once most equality is legislated however, they become counterproductive. And it is not as stupid to take pride in an ethnic shared culture as it is to take pride in a skin color.

But if you think there is a white culture... by all means explain to me what the hell it is that is mostly exclusive and universal about white culture. What exactly do we have in common? I'm waiting.

Black culture is no more a single culture than white culture, yet you somehow see it as being higher up on the food chain for some odd reason. Black culture in New Orleans is completely different from black culture in Texas. Detroit has it own form of black culture, as does New York, and Washington D.C.

As for gaining equal rights, dont make me laugh. The Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam set back the civil rights movement by years, if not decades, by fostering hatred for other races. You can't single out whites as the worst when its clear that plenty of other races do the exact same things. The white race is simply par for the course.

[JavaBlack]

Black culture is no more a single culture than white culture, yet you somehow see it as being higher up on the food chain for some odd reason. Black culture in New Orleans is completely different from black culture in Texas. Detroit has it own form of black culture, as does New York, and Washington D.C.

As for gaining equal rights, dont make me laugh. The Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam set back the civil rights movement by years, if not decades, by fostering hatred for other races. You can't single out whites as the worst when its clear that plenty of other races do the exact same things. The white race is simply par for the course.
As is any culture in a different geographical location. But truth remains that there is a culture of blacks that looks like a mix of urban and southern poor culture and contains a lot of hodgepodge remnants of passed down African mysticism and tradition, lots of musical things involved... and is almost uniformly Baptist... a sect of the Baptist religion that does not resemble other Baptist sects.
Like I said, it's stupid to call it black culture... but what else are you going to call it? Colin Powell is not a member of that culture. Nor are a great majority of the black middle class... But it is not completely a class difference either. It is truly a subculture within American culture and one created through the communities of blacks. When they come up with a new name for it, I'll get back to you.

And I never said it was higher... Merely that it is a culture rather than a race. I'm skeptical of white pride because... well, guess. Got any description of "white culture" yet? All they have to be proud about is not being black or yellow. That's racist. Show me an exception to the rule.

The Nation of Islam is backwards, yes. And it's actually a countermovement to what I'd describe as "black culture" because it looks to regain some roots (strangely they picked up Islam instead of African pagan tribal religion) from the old country and stand against American culture. "Black culture" is a true subculture, not a counterculture. Its utility is better described through the work of Martin Luther King Jr. It's better speakers today are people like Bill Cosby and Barak Obama who encourage the black communities to take responsibility for their actions and call for an end to gangsta culture (another counterculture). And then we see the utility is wearing as rights are gained with the examples of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson... who are more of a liability than an asset.

Frankly anyone who suggests that "white pride" is a good idea for anything other than to show the absurdity of other "prides" is even more counterproductive. Essentially such people are either racists or convinced that the majority should take up a minority mentality despite its position of power.

[vyo476]

Black culture is no more a single culture than white culture, yet you somehow see it as being higher up on the food chain for some odd reason. Black culture in New Orleans is completely different from black culture in Texas. Detroit has it own form of black culture, as does New York, and Washington D.C.

But black culture is united by the historical oppression of all blacks. Where did the black cultures of New Orleans, Detroit, New York and Washington, DC all come from? Slavery. Those cultures wouldn't have ever come into being if blacks hadn't been pressed into slavery - and when they were being enslaved there were no distinctions made between various differences. That's where black pride comes from - their shared heritage.

Whites have no such shared heritage. As whites, we've never been grouped together en masse by outsiders just based on being white. Poles, the Irish...white peoples have been oppressed before, but never for being white. Literally the only thing that binds us together is the color of our skin. The same is not true for black people.

[Dave]

You are both kind of changing the definition of black pride. You are giving me a definition of african-american culture, not black culture. If you want to play that game then we can go back to how Whites were oppressed by British rule and had to fight for survival on through 1812, and that should now be considered white culture.

[Justinian]

Damn fine post, Java. I can't think of anything to add.

No surprise here.

[JavaBlack]

You are both kind of changing the definition of black pride. You are giving me a definition of african-american culture, not black culture. If you want to play that game then we can go back to how Whites were oppressed by British rule and had to fight for survival on through 1812, and that should now be considered white culture.
Could it be that the term "black pride" is ambiguous? Yup. I think that's it.
Like I said, the term itself is problematic.
White Pride is unambiguous.

[vyo476]

You are both kind of changing the definition of black pride. You are giving me a definition of african-american culture, not black culture. If you want to play that game then we can go back to how Whites were oppressed by British rule and had to fight for survival on through 1812, and that should now be considered white culture.

I'm missing the part where we were oppressed for being white.

[Dave]

Could it be that the term "black pride" is ambiguous? Yup. I think that's it.
Like I said, the term itself is problematic.
White Pride is unambiguous.

I have to disagree with the fundamental basis of your argument in this statement. It is only unambiguous if you choose to only look at the issue from your point of view. If someone wants to be proud of their heritage or race, no race should be more legitimate in doing so than any other.

[Dave]

I'm missing the part where we were oppressed for being white.

It may not have been oppression because of race, but it was still oppression that was dealt with by one single race.

[vyo476]

It may not have been oppression because of race, but it was still oppression that was dealt with by one single race.

Fighting for survival on through 1812? Good thing you stopped there, because if you'd gone to conclusion of the War of 1812, in 1814, you might have had to deal with the issue of an extremely diverse American force defending New Orleans. The commander was Andrew Jackson, and he used an assortment of slaves, Indians, and white volunteers, as well as Caribbean pirates, to defend the city against the British.

That's all trivia though. It would have to be oppression because of race to unite us all together as having "white culture." Instead it was oppression because of nationality, which is part of the reason we have "American culture" today.

And anyway, when I'm talking about oppression I'm talking about the really hardcore, down and dirty oppression, like what happened to slaves in the American south. All vestiges of previous cultural identities were more or less wiped out by that experience, so they formed a new culture - together, not identifying as Mende tribesman or Nigerian nationals, but as blacks. Being black was the only thing, besides their servitude, that brought them all together. The same is not true of American revolutionaries - they had that new sense of nationality to unite them.