| by John Baker ’63
 I
have never met a white male who wasn’t a racist, beginning
with myself. For years, I denied that I was racist and believed
that the problem rested with others. This denial has been and continues
to be hurtful to others and hurtful to myself. Such vision has prevented
me from embracing those who are different.
We are all members of the human race. That is the base line for
all of us. And while discrimination exists that attempts to define
people based on the color of their skin, age, gender, beliefs, etc.,
we yet are members of the human race.
In this white race based society, it is difficult to keep this
view. As a white male, I have grown up in a society that has promoted
and advanced the rights and position of white males over other groups
of people.
None of this type of discrimination was formally taught to me.
It was simply a part of the fabric of society. Long before I met
a person of color, I had already acquired values related to color.
Check out how the colors white and black are defined in the dictionary.
These learnings acquired over many years of living become points
of reference used in working with other people. They include how
we understand ourselves and how we understand others. These learnings
guide us in our work with students, faculty staff, administration
and the community – and many of these learnings are dead wrong
– staining the glass through which we view ourselves and others.
It seems to me, as a member of the human race, to address discrimination
based on race requires that as a white male I move first beyond
personal denial of racism. That I “own up” by examining
closely my own frame of reference through which I see and understand
myself and others. In doing this, I will have a chance to redefine
myself and how I see those around me.
I view myself as a recovering racist, and like cancer, it will
be something I must address the remainder of my life.
I share these comments not easily. I hope though they might be
helpful for I am convinced that external attempts to address discrimination
in themselves are not sufficient. For white males to get better
at community building, they must also move beyond their own denial
of racism and see it for what it is within themselves. Only at that
moment will white males be free of an ugly burden and have a chance
to build community with others that truly works for all.
– John Baker ’63 is vice president
of student services at Gavilan College.
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