Racism and ranking people

If you were to place 10 people who didn't know each other in a room together, what you would find is that in abot 10 minutes, the ranking would begin. People would rank each other on attractivenss, or height, or skin color, or sense of humor. Most likely it would be some combination of these an other factors.

So, let's suppose we placed ten difference people in a room. This time these people were as similar as possible on gender, race, attractivness, height, skin color, hair color, eye color - as many similarities as possible. Guess what, they still begin ranking each other about as quickly as the other group - only they find other things to rank each other on.

Ranking is the basis of racism. The thing is, everyone does it. I do it. You do it. Whit epeople do it. Black people do it. Asian people do it. Ranking isn't only a white problem, it is a hman problem.

There are several responses people have to solve this social ranking problem.

1. Color-blind. Try hard not to notice differences. Let's just all be (American, Christian, Texan, whatever). The problem with this is that it is not only impossible, it requires certsin types of people to give up someof what makes them special or unique. In the united States it means anything non-white must give up more. This is problematic because non white groups ahve already had to give much just to exists and function in the United States. Color blind policy only exacerbates the problem.

2. Pluralism. Distinct groups seek to remain distinct. Each culture is intentionally preserved and promoted within its own groupings. No requirement is made for anyone or any group to relinquish any part of itself. This is certainly more respectful than colorblind, but is likely to be just as impossible.

3. Denial. This is the most common response, but the least effective for making positive change. All this does is keep people ranked withot anyone having to take responsibility for it. The people in power remain in power and the people without power continue to have less or find someone to oppress.

4. Guilt. When people with more privilege than others recognize the gaps and the injustice, they feel bad. Then they start being do-gooders out of guilt. Thing is, when they realize that their guilt offerings don't change the world immediately (or are unappreciated), they become discouraged or resentful that their good works don't "work." Their guilt is not relieved. In fact, the real problem is that their guilt is an expression of their exaggerated sense of privilege. It's still all about that person. Guilt doesn't work, isn't sustainable adn is not genuine.

5. Investing privilege. OK, so everyone is ranked. Each of us is placed (and places people) in a social category based on ridiculous criteria (skin color, height, etc). Our rank denotes the level of privilege each of us has in our social context. So, out of generosity, kindness, compassion, hope, (maybe benevolent anger at all the injustice), you are motivated to invest your time, money, relationship space into people who have lower rank. You invest into learning their culture, art, traditions, and ways. You find ways to privilege their position. You invest into providing something of value for them.

You do it without any expectation of response, appreciation, or affirmation. It's not about doing good to feel good, it's not about propping up your ego by helping "those poor people," because of how good you. It is about the intentional redistrbution of wealth and privilege.

Thoughts? Additions? Challenges?