"whiteness" chart update

African American History Museum removes 'whiteness' chart

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of the federal government's Smithsonian Institution system, has removed from its website a chart listing "the ways white people and their traditions, attitudes and ways of life have been normalized over time and are now considered standard practices in the United States." The chart listed individualism, hard work, objectivity, the nuclear family, a belief in progress, a written tradition, politeness, the justice system, respect for authority, delayed gratification, and planning for the future, among others, as "aspects and assumptions of whiteness" that have been "internalized" by people of color in the U.S.

Critics suggested those attributes and qualities, rather than being the product of "whiteness," are universal values that can help anyone lead a more satisfying and successful life.

The topic went viral online, and the museum quickly acted. "Since yesterday, certain content in the 'Talking About Race' portal has been the subject of questions that we have taken seriously," the museum wrote in a statement Thursday. "We have listened to public sentiment and have removed a chart that does not contribute to the productive discussion we had intended."

Other racist elements and exhibits at the museum, however, remain on display. It's a bit like the shithead student who apologizes for putting the thumbtack on the teacher's chair, then turns around and cheats on that day's test. Shitheads gotta shithead.