The document Whiteness as Property by Cheryl I. Harris presents an interesting perspective on how one would look at whiteness. For most of my life and many others, being white was simply a type of race. Harris challenges this view by claiming that rather than being something immaterial and assigned, she sees it as something more physical, with the ability to contain it as property. To further prove her point, she mentions cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson to exemplify how the white man consistently sought to withhold their whiteness from other people who claimed to have been white. This brings up one of her major points, in that the ability to restrict other people’s claims to their whiteness further proves her point of it being property. As I see it, something you buy at the store, let’s say an apple, prevents other people from having a claim to that apple. You’re able to enjoy the full benefits of said apple. Similarly, white people, through the cases, seek to restrict whiteness from other people, especially those who are white-passing. The decisions of these cases would then restrict others from experiencing the benefits of whiteness.
Harris goes further into her argument by mentioning cases that sought to challenge one’s claim to their indigenous identity. For instance, Mashpee Tribe v. Town of Mashpee in which descendants of the Mashpee tribe sought to reclaim Mashpee land, however, the decision ruled that the plaintiffs were not Mashpee, as they had assimilated with non-Indigenous society and had lost their Mashpee claim. Instances like this present the power of whiteness throughout history. Laws were made to specifically benefit the white population and further justify their presence on indigenous lands. Harris also dives into affirmative action, and how it serves as a remedy for the injustices of whiteness. Strangely though, those who possess whiteness claim such actions to be unjust to white people.
Harris’ takes on whiteness is certainly interesting. I had never thought that being white could be a form of possessing property. But looking at recent events, such as companies rolling back on their DEI affirmative action policies, we get to see groups of white people feel as if their privileges of whiteness are being taken away. So, they decided to roll back on programs that aimed to control the benefits possessed by whiteness. It’s truly disappointing how we still see such instances today.
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