Is there such a thing as ‘white culture’?

Culture is definitely place-based. I think we even have trouble saying there’s “American culture” as what is normal in Louisiana is much different from Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, or New England. Perhaps “American cultures” would be more appropriate

Glenn Beck and company are nothing but hate mongers who get paid to incite people. Sadly makes him famous. When I hear about “white” culture, in the context Beck uses it, I immediately think of rednecks. Racism does exist on many levels, even within own race. To answer your question, majority depends on culture.

I remember as a child asking my mother if i could major in caucasian studies when i go to college and she just laughed. This is an interesting perspective and one people rarely think about especially since on a global scale what we would consider “white people” are a minority. But as the world changes culture is becomeing less based upon skin color and more so on location and economic status.

Just for identification purposed, I am white female. However, I am an American. Im not african-american, not italian american, not jewish american. Just American. I think we really need to get back to our American heritage more than all the ethnic heritages. Nothing should come before being an American. Celebrate your culture at home. Stop being labeled a race. Start being a proud American. You cant be racist (in simplistic terms) if you are just American. Racism is an ugly evil monster who dwells in every race, religion and ethnic group.

As far as a white culture, yes there is. It would be those who descended from England.

I had to chuckle at the NASCAR comments. While I dont watch it, I know living down south that every ethnic group loves it. Its like its own religion down here.

ps the Simpsons rule!

Ashkenazi Jews and Dutch people are white. You do have a culture, you are just made to feel that you don’t. Let’s be honest, it is not PC or OK to be proud of being White, or to even talk about White culture in anything but a mean way.

You’ve been brainwashed and trained to believe that you don’t have a culture and that you have nothing to be proud of. Let me ask you something. If anyone who wasn’t White came to you and said that they were proud of their culture, how would you react? You’d probably think, “Good for them.” If a White person, including yourself, exhibits any cultural pride, you think they’re a racist.

I am not advocating White supremacy. I do think, though, that if another generation of White kids is forbidden to have any pride or cultural identity, that will only fuel racist movements. People need roots and a sense of identity. Even White people.

Hmm. I think that posing the question, “Is there a white culture?” inevitably opens up a conversation about white privilege in the United States.

I can’t speak for all situations globally. I guess what I can say is that I am from Washington, D.C., a city with a vibrant history of African-American culture and life, and also a city known for its residential and social segregation.

These days, historically black neighborhoods like Georgetown, and more recently the U Street Corridor and Columbia Heights, have been or are in the process of, gentrifying. Gentrifying basically means that rents go up and families move, and ultimately there is a kind of reverse white flight; young white folks and families are moving into these places that were historically occupied by black and Latino communities.

I have worked with inner-city kids in D.C., the majority of whom are kids of color, and they are the ones who consistently attend the lowest-funded publics schools, and live in neighborhoods that receive the fewest services.

As a white woman, I learned most of what I understand about race in the District from these kids, who candidly expressed their views on race and inequality. I often heard things like, “This is the only white song I like,” when we listened to the radio on field trips, which suggests to me that for these children, there is something, however amorphous it may be, that resembles a white culture.

The students I taught see it, they feel it, they recognize it as something different than what exists at home and in their neighborhoods. Maybe it’s a generalization, but I think that just as many white people would discuss “Black culture” or “Latino culture” in very wide brushstrokes, ignoring the reality that there are many different cultures within these communities as well.

Furthermore, I do agree with some previous commenters’ implication that white culture(s) is(are) never seen as unique or “other”. White life and culture, and I feel very comfortable saying this, is viewed as normal. There is no such thing (although some radical academics are attempting to make it a reality) as “white studies”, and yet every major university has African-American Studies and Latino Studies. Similarly, there’s no such thing as Straight Studies, and yet LGBTQ issues are studied at length. I think the real hesitancy is establishing departments like these in not the fear that they will reinforce our misguided cultural ideals, but rather that these constructs and the social phenomena around them will be open to academic scrutiny.

And while I, for my part, do identify strongly with my Native American roots, despite the fact that I look like a French-American, I recognize that I am treated a certain way based on my presentation. When I ride the metro, the people who choose to sit next me, or at a coffeeshop, the way I am treated, or when I go with my family to a fancy restaurant – the amount of cloying attentions the waiters give, all of these things have to do with my socially-constructed racial category.

So is there a white culture? I think it depends on who you ask.

The only way we can really find out, is to engage in open, honest dialogue with each other. It’s time to get real about race, to recognize privilege, to face our fears and respect everyone’s uniqueness and story.

As I have stated in previous submissions to various forums – I have dated AFRICAN women – amongst others ethnicities/groupings most of my life. And, I have dated Black American women.

The point I wish to make – stress upon is that if I am drawn to a Black American woman and would like to date her – it is because she has that inner pride of who she is and from whence she came – not because she has assimilated to – has become a part of while culture … American Culture (regionally disposed)If she has lost touch with her roots per sé – denies them then I am not interested. I do not want to date a black woman wearing a white mask.

What most people fail to realise is that deeply embedded in most Black Americans is the culture and ways of white America – especially where many of the churches or religions are concerned.

Granted – s factors stemming from socio-economical influences (opportunities, education, employment, housing, cultural facilities, role models, etc., do have a strong bearing upon ones growth and development – but not to the extent of “white-washing” people into a new “improved” lifestyle.

This is not an indictment on any particular ethnicity or culture – but the reality and differences that do exist region to region, culture to culture, tradition to tradition, religion to religion … political to political …

All said and done – one fact many have lost track with is that we all – for our diversity belong to but one race …. the human race! It is our ignorance and inhumanity that has created most of the divisions and distrust that permeates our volatile existence.

It is the ability of traversing all “man-made” boundaries that we come to know our fellow beings and foster a sense of community, compassion and brotherhood of humankind – not an obstinate arrogance …

I get more criticism from Black Americans than whites – for the way I dress (when it’s cold) because my mode of dress is not in keeping with the accepted norms of the white status quo, viz., I wear shorts throughout most of Winter’s blistering tundra, as I grew up wearing shorts in Africa – even when there was frost or snow on the ground. I will even go out into the yard barefoot – for I hardly wore shoes outside of school. I love the feel of terra firma through the souls of my feet.

Similarly, I enjoy the extreme opposite of Africa’s intense Summers; not to say that I enjoy the discomfort and nuisance of extreme Winter.

I eat many ethnic foods from Africa – the way they are eaten back in the Motherland of Africa – not the convoluted way represented by European influences.

That said, to me – being African has nothing to do with my melanin deprived skin-tone – but the culture and mindset inherited in Africa … my Motherland.

The farthest removed any woman may be from anything African – the farther too, I will remain from her – for many immigrants/scholars from Africa tend to become sorely influenced by white culture (if there still is such a thing) when coming here and lose their identity to a certain degree.

There are not enough days left in this world for me to “re-educate” any woman in my life to what the inner-workings and various complexities of Africanness is all about …

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American or white culture is a set of values that they inherited from the British. The style of government they use and the laws which govern the nation are British or European. I really love your blog on how you try and attack European people of Caucasian descent. More attacks on colored people on the rise and neglecting the very racist fact many experience which is double sided.  White culture is all over Europe. it over laps each country several times over. Each governing it self by a different set of philosophies and laws. Each interprets Christianity on its own terms and some are atheist but still hold their Christian values. Much like the Islamic world where they also believe in different sets of rules per government as they each have different interpretations of the Koran. Glen Beck is a moron with no brain but maybe you could also do a little research on the subject like what is black culture? What is Asian culture? Don’t just define European people without going after other peoples as well. Some might think your a racist;)