Ben Eckstein’s recent commentary is a really great example of white privilege.
Eckstein argues in his commentary that he is American, but he is also “Native American,” and because he is Native American and white he understands the issue and controversy of Columbus Day.
One issue is that Columbus Day should be celebrated because of the spirit of discovery and the history of the journey. The other issue is that Columbus Day should be a day of mourning as well and to honor what “they left behind” because obviously all indigenous people are all dead and don’t exist anymore.
Let me tell you why Eckstein’s commentary is flawed and illogical. First, he is making the wrong assumption of why people like Carina Miller and myself protest Columbus Day. The issue is about having an Indigenous Solidarity Day, not just giving you a one-way ticket, although if Eckstein does want a one-way domestic ticket, may I suggest going to a reservation.
Second, he assumes and makes the issue of injustice towards “American Indians” as a thing of the past, when in reality or should I say in de facto, even de jure the indigenous peoples are one of the most oppressed and underrepresented communities in the United States to this day.
Now, let me tell you why Eckstein’s comments make him seem like an ignorant white man and why his commentary is a great example of white privilege.
Eckstein makes the issue about himself and blames the victim for supposedly not understanding his white history. Eckstein says that those who see Christopher Columbus as a “terrorist” are unreasonable, because they don’t see what the status quo sees. When you don’t have to know anyone else’s truth but your own, then it’s what many scholars like to call white privilege. It’s also very white privilege of Eckstein to expect everyone else to know his white history.
The audacity of a white man calling himself a Native American is sickening. Just because Eckstein was born in this country doesn’t mean that he is Native American. Eckstein will never be a Native American because he does not belong to that community.
Just as a side note, what is with some white folks who assume that they know the experiences and struggles of people of color, it just boggles my mind.
Eckstein argues that his ancestor’s only crime was in the “uninvited taking of that betterment,” but I disagree. The de facto of the situation is that Ben’s ancestors were allowed to own other people, to receive free property, to pass down wealth from generation to generation, to vote, to have an education, to purchase homes when people of color weren’t allowed to, and I can keep going but hopefully I made my point. Being white is having the ability to deny and hide your history.
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