The Burden Of Whiteness

Author: Kokayi Nosakhere (RSAMastery)

Peace. In 1903, inside of his book of essays entitled, "The Souls of Black Folk," Dr. DuBois began exploring his concept of the "wages of whiteness."

Remember, Dr. DuBois graduates from Harvard with the children and grandchildren of slave masters. He is CLOSE in time to the plantation economic system. He critiques this system in 1935 in his book, "Black Reconstruction."

What does this mean? Millions of European Americans derive their IDENTITY from the racial caste system. Because "they" feel impotent to influence ANOTHER white-bodied person, they DEMAND the social contract FORCE Black/Brown and Indigenous persons "listen" to them and "be kind; be nice" towards them. DEFERENCE!

That "deference" provided by the racial caste system is EVERYTHING to "poor white people." It is so valuable, they have no problem turning a blind eye to white racial violence or participation in white racial violence.

This psychological need is so great, Dr. DuBois argued that MILLIONS of European Americans can "not see" Black/Brown and Indigenous persons as fellow human beings. To be human, means to be "white." Anything less is uncivilized. Literally, if [insert idea] can not be accessed by white bodied persons, it is uncivilized to European Americans.

Why am I stating this? Because, under the second Trump Administration, the marketing campaigns over social media are going to fail. Black/Brown and Indigenous persons will be able to punch UP all day long. Poor white people will not be able to punch back, because that is punching down and every word out of their mouths will be backed by the ACTIVE THREAT of RACIAL VIOLENCE.

This will be the first time in the lives of white Gen Z and white Gen Alpha that they have this racialized power. Many will not "like" it. They will figure out, "That Black person just lied to me!" Yes. That is what was VOTED for. Every time a Black/Brown or Indigenous person is being "nice" and "kind" to you, you will not know if it is GENUINE or AUTHENTIC.

Now, we are back to The Souls of Black Folk and Dr. DuBois talking about the "cost" of "whiteness" and the "burden" European Americans choose to carry.