Today\’s quote comes to us from someone you probably have never heard of; a former high school teacher named Kim Radersma.
Ms. Radersma made the following comments at a “White Privilege Conference” (no, I did not make that title up) being held in Madison, Wisconsin – which is, in part, funded by taxpayer dollars.
Here is a sampling of her wit and wisdom:
“Teachingis a political act, and you can\’t choose to be neutral. You are either a pawn used to perpetuate a system ofoppression or you are fighting against it. And if you think you areneutral, you are a pawn.
“If you don\’t want to work for equity, get the fuck out of education. If you are not serious about being an agent of change that helps stifle the oppressive systems, go find another job. Because you are a political figure.
“Beinga white person who does anti-racist work is like being an alcoholic. I will never be recovered by my alcoholism, to use themetaphor. I have to everyday wake up and acknowledge that I am sodeeply embedded with racist thoughts and notions and actions in mybody that I have to choose everyday to do anti-racist work and thinkin an anti-racist way.
“Youneed to learn feminism from a woman. You need tolearn what it is like to be a woman from a woman. I can\’t teachstudents of color nearly as well as a person of color can.”
At this point you might be wondering what the “White Privilege Conference” is.
Here is its self-description:
What is the White Privilege Conference?
- WPC is a conference that examines challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.
- It is not a conference designed to attack, degrade or beat up on white folks.
- It is not a conference designed to rally white supremacist groups.
- WPC is a conference designed to examine issues of privilege beyond skin color. WPC is open to everyone and invites diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive look at issues of privilege including: race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc. – the ways we all experience some form of privilege, and how we\’re all affected by that privilege.
- WPC attracts students, professionals, activists, parents, and community leaders/members from diverse perspectives. WPC welcomes folks with varying levels of experience addressing issues of diversity, cultural competency, and multiculturalism.
- WPC is committed to a philosophy of “understanding, respecting and connecting.”
Actually, other people may have a somewhat different view of the White Privilege Conference. They might see it as a far left lunatic asylum that hopelessly indoctrinated people – vastly White, by the way – go to so they can indulge in their greatest desire: self-flagellation.
But what about Kim Radersma\’s comments? Do they coincide with what the benign, positive description of the organization suggests? You tell me. And while you\’re in a telling mood, tell me how you feel about even one dollar of taxpayer money being spent on this event.
Incidentally, from what I have read, an effort was made to prevent media – or, more exactly, media which might not be positively disposed toward commentaries like Ms. Radersma\’s – from attending. But a few, like Robby Soave at dailycaller.com, either got in or had other people get in and report it\’s goings-on back to them. Otherwise we would not know this, er, analysis was being pumped out at attendees.
Now: Why does Kim Radersma get the coveted (I think) Quote Of The Day award?
She gets is for being every bit as racist as she thinks she is…but for different reasons than she apparently realizes.
When someone tells you that skin color defines thoughts – as in a White person thinking a certain way for no other reason than his/her skin color – that person is a racist. When someone says only Black people can effectively teach Black students, that person is a racist.
Anyone who says “if I know your skin color I can tell what you think and what your motives are” is a racist.
Kim Radersma, therefore, gets Quote Of The Day honors, for not hiding her overt racism, but, loudly and proudly, making it so clear.
In the immortal words of Max Bialystock, if you\’ve got it, flaunt it.
