John Leguizamo Just Nailed the Hypocrisy of People of Color Having to Learn White Culture

[MrScorpio]

By Mathew Rodriguez July 20, 2016

When it comes to the cultural exchange in the United States, John Leguizamo says it's more than a bit one-sided.

In a video interview with Big Think posted Saturday, the 51-year-old award-winning actor and playwright spoke about the inequities of forcing people of color to learn white culture without white culture reciprocating.

He said:

"As a Latin person, you know, minorities, black people have to do it as well. We have to immerse ourselves in white culture and learn about white culture. And it's all we were taught in school and in movies. And so we learn but it's not reciprocal, you know. It's not a reciprocal thing that happens that white culture wants to learn about Latin culture or black culture."

Given that Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) recently said on MSNBC that white people and Europeans contributed more to culture than any other group — despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary — Leguizamo's comments are particularly timely. King's comments are the result of white people not being required to learn the culture and contributions of people of color, even though people of color in America must learn white culture and history.



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[dubyadiprecession]

1. 62% of the US population is white.

[MrScorpio]

2. Well, that shouldn't nullify the validity and uniqueness of non-white culture, now does it? nt

[giftedgirl77]

4. And??????

Good god way to miss the point.

[Coolest Ranger]

12. So you came into our group

to tell us this? God I am doing everything I can to keep from drinking

[get the red out]

3. I think this would be great

I was stunted in developing confidence in interacting with minorities because I grew up in a small, all white town. I wasn't some kind of flaming racist, I just felt ill equipped when I got to college, and afraid that I would say or do something offensive in my ignorance. It helps to learn about all cultures that make up our nation.

[AwakeAtLast]

10. You and I have something in commom

I still can't say that I am confident, but I try not to let that stop me.

[Siwsan]

5. My Caucasian "bubble" was burst, a long, long time ago.

Maybe I'm weird but I LOVE immersing myself in, and learning from other cultures. The food, the music, the language - I turn into a big old cultural sponge and soak it all in. It has brought so much joy, knowledge and RICHNESS into my life, I can't imagine living any other way.

[PrideofJefferson]

6. If someone in school learns about Barack Obama

Is that learning about black culture or is that just American culture? I am not sure how to respond to Mr. Leguizamo. If I moved to his native Colombia can I make the same statement. Does the "white culture" in America differ from the "white culture" in Colombia? Can I have my culture at the same time appreciate the dominate culture around me? Can I complain that I have to bend to the dominate culture without it bending towards me?

America is filled with many subcultures that are an important to the tapastry of our country. The dominate culture pulls from all of the cultures contained within and hopefully the dominate culture influences positively the subcultures. I see this as a benefit to all. I lived for a time in Miami and enjoyed my visits to areas of the city that are distinctly latino. To be a part of these communities one would have to immerse themselves into that culture and that's ok.

And what would learning about latino, black or white "culture" look like. Is learning about George Washington learning about "white" culture or is it American history? Is leaning about Cesar Chavez learning about "latino" culture or is it American history? I could go on and on.

I am just not sure how to think through his statement.

[MrScorpio]

7. I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability.

If someone in school learns about Barack Obama, is that learning about black culture or is that just American culture?

They're not mutually exclusive. American culture is way more than the white dominant culture. So in learning about Barack Obama, someone in a school will learn both at the same time.

I am not sure how to respond to Mr. Leguizamo. If I moved to his native Colombia can I make the same statement? Does the "white culture" in America differ from the "white culture" in Colombia? Can I have my culture at the same time appreciate the dominate culture around me? Can I complain that I have to bend to the dominate culture without it bending towards me?

You're asking a question about perspectives. Let's say you did go to Colombia and someone were to tell the story about your visit there, who would the viewer identify with? The white guy who's walking around Colombians in Colombia, or Colombians in their own country who just happens to have some white guy amongst them?

You can absolutely be true to your own culture while living in someone else's dominant culture. But to what extent? Are you going to live there, or are you just a tourist? Based on your intentions, expectations will vary. How are other American ex-pats in Colombia coping with their living there? They can either function as an oasis on American culture in an another country, and it would be up to the Colombians to accept their behavior, or they can work to inculcate themselves into the dominant culture.

Whether or not the Colombians themselves would choose to adopt and aspects of American culture into their own, it's their choice. But the fact that Americans are not immigrating to Colombia in enough numbers to impact their culture, the point is moot.

America is filled with many subcultures that are an important to the tapastry of our country. The dominate culture pulls from all of the cultures contained within and hopefully the dominate culture influences positively the subcultures. I see this as a benefit to all. I lived for a time in Miami and enjoyed my visits to areas of the city that are distinctly latino. To be a part of these communities one would have to immerse themselves into that culture and that's ok.

One thing that America does is that it appropriates other cultures without accrediting the value and origin of the cultures in which we appropriate. For example, how many times do we take from other cultures, change them to our own ways and then claim that we're "improving" them? We could talk all day about how white America initially rejects black and brown culture, as it's practiced by black and brown people, only to claim those very same cultures as their own once they're stolen from black and brown people?

Basically, this is the cruz of John Leguizamo's argument. When will white America respect non-white culture to the extent it demand non-whites to respect the dominant white culture? If you ask me... Probably never.

And what would learning about latino, black or white "culture" look like. Is learning about George Washington learning about "white" culture or is it American history? Is leaning about learning about "latino" culture or is it American history? I could go on and on.

I am just not sure how to think through his statement.

Learning is understanding another about the origins and values of another culture and not regarding those other cultures as inherently inferior because they're non-white. You mention Washington, Washington was also a slave owner. Washington also went to war against Indians. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/06/06/george-washington-letter-describes-killing-natives-villainy-149753

You can look at him, if he were supposedly representative of white Americans and see his actions against non-whites and his exploitation of non-whites as attributed to his own whiteness.

That's just one perspective.

About Cesar Chavez, he was born in Arizona and has lived and worked his entire life as an American in the United States of America. He's just as American as you or me. His story is EXCLUSIVELY American history.

All in all, you're quite right, you do need to think through what John Leguizamo is talking about. But aside from what you've read about him, I suggest that you take it much, much further and consider the relevance of endemic white supremacy as an element to this conversation.

Without that, you might miss a thing or two.

[PrideofJefferson]

8. Thanks for the thoughtful post.

It is a lot to chew on. I still disagree with some of your response but you have given me some avenues to explore.

Point of clarification. When I say latino culture I mean as it exists in the US. I think Cease Chavez is a figure of reverence in Latino communities and his history is very intertwined with Latinos in the US.

Another thing I am curious about. What defines white culture. I am having trouble coming up with concrete examples.

[MrScorpio]

9. I can't tell you what white culture is...

But I can point you the way.

What Does it Mean to be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy (Counterpoints) First printing Edition
by Robin DiAngelo (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433111152/ref=cm_sw_su_dp