The Dominant Culture Protects Itself With the Illusion of Acceptance

Posted Yesterday at 04:30 PM1 day

I’ve heard quite a bit about the Black Card, particularly in its modern usage as opposed to its original application. The Race Card is often used to dismiss complaints related to race as if they have no merit. This story is about the White Card, which is a means to an end.

Every successful Black person I know has used the White Card to some extent, though we never forget its limitations. I’ve used the White Card when seeking employment in corporate America and attempting to reach a wider audience. I never allowed myself to forget that whatever is given can be just as easily taken away.

What is the White Card?

To appreciate the White Card, you must first understand the Black Card. The Black Card is issued at birth to those who present as Black. The qualifications have changed over time. Early on, the one-drop rule was sufficient for determining membership and was primarily viewed as a negative aspect of the system. It meant there were restrictions placed on Blackness, and having a Black Card was comparable to the Scarlet Letter. White people issued the Black Card of old as a means to exclude, restrict, and convict as needed.

Black pride existed, but its practice was limited. In America, public displays of Blackness and even gathering in groups were sufficient for retaliation. Griots passed down the stories of our past so that they wouldn’t be drummed out of our collective memory until a time came when it was acceptable to love our Blackness in public. There were always those who saw the advantages of being white; some imitated whiteness, and some denied their Blackness altogether, passing for white and hoping all the while that one drop wouldn’t be exposed.

I never met my grandfather’s brother, Paul, who passed for white in Chicago, though I have seen an early photo. How much did he lose to give up his family to get the advantages associated with whiteness?

A community’s journey towards self-love

James Brown gave us “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.” Various artists, including Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, sang “Young, Gifted and Black.” Black was finally recognized as beautiful and expressed in fashion with kente cloths and African prints.

Black culture was widely disseminated, imitated, and appropriated. Black Cards were still issued at birth, but by Black people who appreciated the accomplishments and beauty of our culture in all its variations. Black people generally embraced their Black cards, though some still preferred the acceptance of the white race, doing their best to deny their Blackness.

Having a Black Card means the Black community accepts you and appreciates the commonalities within the culture. Black Cards aren’t taken away but can be lost by those who deny their Blackness in an attempt to seem white.

Black access to white spaces

When used by Black people, the White Card can allow access to traditionally white spaces. They are issued by white people temporarily based on compliance and appearance. Not every white person gets a card, and entrance isn’t guaranteed in every space. Issuance is often determined by both class and race.

White Cards are cognizant of class, education, background, and who you know or are related to. White people’s White Cards get you places where Black Cards can’t, but there are restrictions. When Black people get a White Card, it is always conditioned not only by acting in a white-approved manner but sometimes by serving the needs of the specific people granting the card.

Clarence Thomas aspired to receive a White Card. He went to the best schools, including Holy Cross and Yale Law. He’d previously received the White Card, which granted acceptance into those schools, often referred to as affirmative action. He found that a Yale law degree wasn’t the White Card that got him the lucrative offers he craved.

Thomas applied himself to serving those with the keys to the kingdom, later receiving an all-access White Card granting him access to the most exclusive white spaces. He remembers his Black Card in times of trouble, like when he thought he was the victim of a “high-tech lynching” or being investigated by the media for accepting hundreds of thousands in gifts from his white friends with special interests. Should he try using his Black Card again, it will likely be declined.

White cards are only temporary

Temporary White Cards are relatively easily obtainable. For a man, putting on a suit and tie and speaking the King’s English will grant access to many places. But it’s like the difference between debit and credit cards. You can buy groceries with either, but try renting a car without a credit card.

I’ve gone into interviews with Procter & Gamble and AT&T, where the goal was to look like every other person interviewing. One white co-worker at Procter & Gamble (I got the job) described the sales force as “corporados,” which was fitting.

Depending on the setting, women and men face restrictions on their hair and attire to gain full access. While some settings may be trendy and accepting, the whitest of places make strict demands. Women, especially Black women, often face misogynistic attitudes, and a White Card won’t always relieve. The glass ceiling deserves more attention than this story can give.

How they differ from race cards

Black and White Cards are different than race cards, the imaginary thing that some people feel Black people present to obtain favorable treatment or avoid responsibility. Few are the times when announcing one’s Blackness produces a favorable result. Black Cards are used for social acceptance, while White Cards are for networking and access that usually translate to financial benefits. The race card is only used as a reason not to discuss a real issue.

White Cards are best described as measures of conformity, proving that one can act white in most circumstances. One way of acting white has been described as code-switching, when people of color adopt standard white English to reduce discrimination. Dropping the slang used in an ethnic neighborhood and “talking white” is one way of presenting a White Card. You’ve succeeded when white people refer to you as articulate as Joe Biden and Karl Rove described Barack Obama.

The White Card is superficial

People present the White Card when dressing in the manner white people expect. Dress codes typically suppress ethnic flair, opting instead for white submission. Considering what to wear to a corporate event often comes down to how I can look most white. It’s something most of us do, choosing not to buck the system and face possible repercussions.

Some people of color are pretty successful in obtaining and utilizing their White Cards. Some White Cards are highly exclusive; proper English, fine dress, and the best education only open some doors. It’s essential to recognize that what is given can be taken away. Athletes and entertainers often get Platinum White Cards, yet find they can be snatched after a slip of the tongue or taking white acceptance for granted. Hitching one’s wagon to a politician often provides white access, but that strategy usually involves selling one’s soul and groveling to a point where one’s value is used up and discarded.

It’s dangerous to fall for the temptation of a White Card

If you are of color and navigate in white spaces, having a few White Cards in your purse or wallet is necessary, pulling them out as needed. Using them sometimes comes with a cost. The cost is generally greater if you don’t use them. Know that they won’t get you everywhere, and consider if you can return to where you came from. White cards are good to carry as long as you know their limitations, and they are temporary at best.

Having a Black Card is like having a family that’s got your back. You can wear out your welcome, even with family, but you can usually go back home in a crisis. The Race Card is mostly imagined and should not be taken as a real thing. Those who accuse you of playing it never meant you well anyway.

The White Card is tricky; you never know what your credit limit is and whether it will be accepted. Someday, it will no longer be needed; until then, you’ll have greater success using confidence, integrity, and an unapologetic sense of self.

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This post was previously published on The Polis.

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