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Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

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Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#101
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insulting and demeaning racial groups is the opposite of inclusion. It breeds resentment and hatred. For a time there was a focus on treating people as human and not as [racial/sex/religion] Trend these days is to encourage openly being a bigot, just as long as it’s against certain people. Replace the word white with any other social group and perhaps you’ll see the problem.

"White" isn't a racial group. "White" as an idea to describe a group of (roughly) light skinned European people, came about in order to justify enslaving and subjugating other groups. Various groups worked their way into being considered white over time, in part by contributing to the subjugation of others. And various groups once considered white, later were not considered so. "White" as what you call a "social grou…

> "White" as an idea to describe a group of (roughly) light skinned European people, came about in order to justify enslaving and subjugating other groups. ...

This is flat wrong. For better or for worse, the modern "White" identity in the U.S. was heavily promoted by late-19th-c. and early 20th-c. Progressives so that light-skinned Europeans would stop trying to oppress and subjugate one another over their national identity. (To be sure, back in the day, these folks did not care all that much about whether other racialized groups got oppressed; they were quite big on "eugenics" for these groups, for example.)

I'm quite ready to admit that this was probably not an altogether foolproof idea, but now we get to live with the results - millions of people in the U.S. treat "white" as a deep part of their identity, no different than being, e.g, "Irish" for others. Many of them would likely take some offense at being told that they should "be less white", or that they need to denounce their white identity in order to "be less arrogant" and the like. Being in denial about how divisive these racially-connoted messages are is just not productive.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#102
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are fairly massive income gaps within white and black groups as well. Nigerian Americans have on average 10 % higher incomes than whites. EDIT: It is 5 per cent, not 10 per cent. I was mistaken. They have 10 % more than an average American household. Czech Americans have on average 20 % higher incomes than generic whites. Given that I am a Czech, are we silently running Czech supremacy in the U.S.?

I wonder why HN only focuses on the financial part. There are several complex ways in which racial injustice works. Nigerian Americans will still get racially profiled at the store and have a harder time with the police.

[deleted]

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#103
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the big problems with this entire conversation is the definition of terms. The word “white” has been defined hundreds of ways within the “woke” literature and multicultural academics - some of them having no connection to skin color. The nuance and depth of thought that has gone into these academic discussions is elided and you end up with “be less white” which is clearly and obviously inflammatory to a whole…

You're correct, but I think you're missing that this is done intentionally. I've heard it referred to as "humpty-dumpying", referring to the character is Through the Looking-Glass: > "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question…

Perhaps, but I think that extends too much (nefarious) intentionality to it.

This kind of discourse has decades of academic background, but has only been culturally prominent in recent years. I am more inclined to believe that most folks are just repeated poorly understood half knowledge than engaging in subtle logical gamesmanship like Motte/Bailey. The whole public conversation is at the “Expert Youtuber” phase of subtly and sophistication.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#104

From the third slide: > To be less white is to: > > - be less oppressive > - be less arrogant > - be less certain > - be less defensive > - be less ignorant > - be more humble > - listen > - believe > - break with apathy > - break with white solidarity Basically associating everything negative with being white. If this is not racism, I don't know what is.

Woke culture is an abhorrent movement that combines the coercive dynamics of Marxism with the racism of national socialism. It's not about removing racism, it's about consolidating power by forcing everyone into compliance. Actual racial segregation is already happening in the US because of it and worse things are bound to happen. Everyone will be worse off if this is given free reign.

> combines the coercive dynamics of Marxism with the racism of national socialism

And the unfalsifiability of religion.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#105

From the third slide: > To be less white is to: > > - be less oppressive > - be less arrogant > - be less certain > - be less defensive > - be less ignorant > - be more humble > - listen > - believe > - break with apathy > - break with white solidarity Basically associating everything negative with being white. If this is not racism, I don't know what is.

I am not even white and I find this sort (slide content) of claims purely racist. Based on my experience if you normalize this for one group they are going to go after other groups soon.

Workplace inclusion is not about being less or more of anything but just making sure we are able to embraces diversity and work in a away where everyone is productive and satisfied.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_groups_in_the_U... It is not surprising. Immigrants from Nigeria are the best educated immigrant group and income correlates with education.

I agree with you, thanks for the source.

Glad to provide it. I am not sure why you are getting downvoted. Asking for a source is GOOD and Hacker News public should understand that.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#107

This is from LinkedIn's learning portal, which is used by numerous companies (like Coca-Cola). The training claims to be created by Dr. Robin DiAngelo (author of books such as White Fragility). Dr. DiAngelo has a statement on her website claiming that she had nothing to do with this content and it was created without her consent: Dr. DiAngelo was not the creator or facilitator of the LinkedIn Learning course “Confron…

>The training claims to be created by Dr. Robin DiAngelo (author of books such as White Fragility). Dr. DiAngelo has a statement on her website claiming that she had nothing to do with this content and it was created without her consent

Typical moat-and-bailey argumentation from the woke. These people are just dripping with bad faith, as if this Coca Cola presentation isn't in ideological lock-step with DiAngelo.

The saddest part is that this madness is already fueling anti-black resentment.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#108

Imagine "Be Less Black", "Be Less Jewish", "Be Less Native American", "Be Less Inuit". Neoracism. We need a word that captures the essence of such thinking and "neoracism" is a good candidate.

What's the difference between "racism" and "neoracism"?

Well a lot of people seem to think the definition of racism has changed to mean "power + prejudice," instead of just judging someone based on their race, so theoretically "neoracism" would just mean what "racism" meant ~20 years ago.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#109

As an international entrepreneur, I am delighted that large US companies spend their time and attention on inconsequential and toxic identity politics. More opportunities for us to exploit their weakness, create real value and shape the future And it goes without saying that the future we create and control will have no place for this drivel

In the culture war the U.S will come out on top like they always have. They are the kings of soft power and they fund academics to spread their ideology all over Europe. You can see it taking root in our universities. Unless our politicians wake up in a massive way we'll follow wherever America goes and it's not a trip I'm looking forward to.

They've been on top since the invention of mass media. The internet is eroding that.

Re: Coca-Cola says 'Be Less White' learning plan was about workplace inclusion

#110

As an international entrepreneur, I am delighted that large US companies spend their time and attention on inconsequential and toxic identity politics. More opportunities for us to exploit their weakness, create real value and shape the future And it goes without saying that the future we create and control will have no place for this drivel

In the culture war the U.S will come out on top like they always have. They are the kings of soft power and they fund academics to spread their ideology all over Europe. You can see it taking root in our universities. Unless our politicians wake up in a massive way we'll follow wherever America goes and it's not a trip I'm looking forward to.

>"Like they always have"

You have a short view of history, my friend.

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