National Museum of African American History and Culture highlights aspects, assumptions of whiteness and white culture

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The National Museum of African American History and Culture shared a flyer on its website about aspects and assumptions of whiteness and white culture in the United States.

It starts by defining “white dominant culture” or “whiteness.”

The terms refer to 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. And since white people still hold most of the institutional power in America, we have all internalized some aspects of white culture — including people of color.”

Some of these aspects include:

*Rugged individualism: The individuals is the primary unit…self-reliance…independence and autonomy highly valued and rewarded…individuals assumed to be in control of their environment.

*Family structure: Nuclear family — father, mother, 2 or 3 children is the ideal social unit…husband is breadwinner and head of household…wife is homemaker and subordinate to the husband…children should have own rooms, be independent.

*Emphasis on scientific method: Objective, rational linear thinking…cause and effect relationships…quantitative emphasis.

*History: Based on northern European immigrants’ experience in the U.S…heavy focus on the British Empire…the primacy of Western and Judeo-Christian tradition.

*Protestant work ethic: Hard work is the key to success…work before play.

*Religion: Christianity is the norm…anything other than Judeo-Christian tradition is foreign…no tolerance for deviation from single-God concept.

There are other sections, including status/power/authority, future orientation, time, aesthetics, holidays, justice, competition and communication.

Much of the website discusses stereotypes and generalizations of white people.

If only there was a word that could describe people who stereotype and generalize people based on the color of their skin…

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