The Color of White
The Meaning of White
By John D. Turner
I was reading an interesting article the other
day, concerning race in America. Based on recently released census
data, it was a bit of a departure from the usual reporting in that
it centered on white demographics, rather than the usual
Black/Asian/AmerInd breakdowns. The numbers listed were quite
interesting. I already knew that I lived in one of the ten largest
cities in the US, however I was quite surprised (astonished,
actually) to discover that among those ten cities, we reportedly
have the second highest proportion of whites in the nation.
Phoenix, Arizona topped the list with 74%.
Having lived there for three years while attending college, I can't
say I am too amazed at that finding. Had I been forced to guess, I
probably would have put it somewhere near the top myself. However, I
would have never in a million years put San Antonio, Texas second.
I have lived here for nearly 20 years. I know
for a fact that somewhere around 56% of the city is Hispanic. What
one would typically think of as "white" faces are in a clear
minority? If it weren't for the presence of four military bases,
that percentage would probably be even lower still. So how is it
that the census reports San Antonio as being 71% white, second only
to Phoenix, Arizona in the top ten largest US cities?
There is an old saying that "figures don't
lie, but liars figure". To paraphrase a former President of the
United States, "it all depends on what the meaning of 'white' is".
"Hispanic", it seems, is considered an
ethnicity, not a race. The census form listed both "ethnic" groups,
as well as races. On the form, Hispanic appeared as an ethnic group.
An individual choosing Hispanic as an ethnic group would then be
forced to choose something else for race. Many, apparently, chose
white.
Demographically, the definition of "whiteness"
has changed over the years. Back in the 1790 census, it was taken to
mean persons of Anglo-Saxon descent. To many it still does which
just goes to show that perception and reality is not always the same
thing. During the 19th century, Hispanics were often lumped in
together with "native Americans" (I hate that term; what am I, who
was born in this country then, chopped liver?), or "other".
In the 1930 census, Hispanics had their own
category (Mexican), however beginning with the 1940 census, they
were listed as "white". This inclusion of Hispanics as "white"
continues today, unless you have parentage or ancestry in some other
race (black, Asian, AmerInd, etc) that you can claim instead. Also
included in the definition of "white" today are the original peoples
of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
This explains how San Antonio, Texas can be
listed as 71% "white", despite the fact that Anglos are in the
definite minority.
The whole issue of race as the Federal
Government applies it in the United States is at odds with reality
anyway, and the above example just serves to illustrate the point.
Census figures show that three out of four Americans describe
themselves as exclusively white. What exactly does that mean though?
When a black person talks about a "white
person", does he or she include Hispanics in that definition? How
about Egyptians? Saudis? Libyans? Would your average Anglo? And yet
they are counted in the census figures as "white". Then there are
the 5.5 million Americans who describe themselves as white as well
as one or more other races, a number that is sure to increase
dramatically as time goes on.
It is interesting to note that Tiger Woods,
who has one black parent and one Asian parent can claim either
ethnic group on his census form. What would an individual with one
black and one white parent claim? In theory, they should be able to
claim either, same as Tiger. In reality, they would almost be forced
to claim black. Quite aside from the fact that there would be no
advantage to claiming white (and a definite advantage to claiming
black), the hassle involved with claiming white would be way more
trouble than it would be worth.
It is much easier to just say, "I am an
American" and be done with it. After all, that's what we all are.
But that's not the way it is done in the United States these days.
Government monies and government programs follow ethnic and racial
lines. To be labeled "white" is a bad thing; there are no set aside
programs for whites. But if you are white, of the ethnicity
"Hispanic", well, then that's ok. Here in San Antonio, if your
children even look Hispanic, they automatically get signed up for
the school lunch program, paid for by Federal dollars. I know this
for a fact, because it happed with our family.
Several years ago, we put our kids back in
public school for a year. After the first week, we noticed that
Danielle, our second-oldest daughter, was on the student lunch
program. We hadn't signed her up for the program, and none of our
other three kids we had enrolled was, just Danielle. When we
inquired, we discovered that the school had made the determination
to put her on the program, based on the observation that she "looked
Hispanic".
Nobody asked, they just signed her up. The
implication here, of course, is that if you are Hispanic, you must
be "disadvantaged", and therefore would qualify for the program.
When we pointed out that she wasn't Hispanic, that none of her
siblings were on the program, that we didn't qualify based on need,
and that we could afford to provide lunches for our kids anyway,
they still didn't want to take her off the program. After all, they
would lose federal bucks if they did.
Belonging to a federally advantaged group is
of such benefit that everyone is trying to get in on the act. In
fact, if you want to make sure that your future kids are given every
possible advantage, make sure you marry someone from a
government-approved racial or ethnic minority group. It was noted in
the article I read that demographers have noticed what they consider
an interesting trend, that being "whites' rising interest in ethnic
distinctions, such as Irish-Americans and Italian-Americans". Of
course. You don't need to be hit upside the head very many times to
notice that if you can pick up a hyphen in there somewhere that can
work to your advantage.
You need something to differentiate you from
just plain old garden-variety "white", which is more of a liability
than an asset these days. While there may not be any government
program for me as of yet, I would much rather be described as a
"Scottish-American" than simply as "white". Of course, if I had my
druthers, I'd be proud just to be called an American, and let it go
at that.
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