# A Congressional Black Caucus is ok but a Congressional White Caucus is not. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 22, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743 "2011-11-22T13:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/1 "2011-11-22T13:43:01Z")
Congressional Black Caucus…why is this ok but if white people formed one for white’s it would be racist? Yes, I am aware of the days of black and white separation etc…but I thought we were past all of this and I am so confused as to why blacks get to have special organizations specifically for them and white people are not allowed to join or god forbid start their own group… Someone please help me understand…?:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/2 "2011-11-22T13:48:21Z")
Who said it’s not okay? It’s not done currently in Congress because there is little to differentiate them from the members at large. If they were to create, say, an “Italian-American” caucus, it would seem a bit daft but no one would think it worse than a caucus consisting of members of the African-American culture. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/3 "2011-11-22T13:58:33Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > . . . but I thought we were past all of this . . . If we were indeed “past all of this,” then it would make as much sense as a caucus for people with green eyes. But we are not “past all of this.” We live in a society that is still racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., and people in these groups have unique experiences and issues that aren’t addressed by the population at large. Straight white men, on the other hand, ARE the population at large. To single them out would be redundant. ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/4 "2011-11-22T14:01:57Z")
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker None of our Congressional representatives have the courage to point out that racism is racism. In fact, none in our Judicial system has that kind of courage either, as Black Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are all still in existence today, while no one, white, black, brown or red has the courage to point out that these are all racist organizations. And do we even have to say one word about “La Raza”, the most blatantly racist organization of all? Yet, no one says a word. There is no Congressional White Caucus. Nor is there a White Chamber of Commerce or a National Association for the Advancement of White People. Why not, you might ask? Because those would be considered “racist” organizations, would they not? If white people, rather than Hispanics, created a national organization or non-profit called “The Race”, would everyone be okay with that? Yet Hispanics have done it and mum’s the word. If we aren’t willing to stand up for one another and level the playing field when it comes to racial discrimination, then let’s stop pretending that all of that fighting over civil rights did anything but turn the victims into the oppressors and the oppressors into victims. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/5 "2011-11-22T14:05:01Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Congressional Black Caucus…why is this ok but if white people formed one for white’s it would be racist? > Yes, I am aware of the days of black and white separation etc…but I thought we were past all of this and I am so confused as to why blacks get to have special organizations specifically for them and white people are not allowed to join or god forbid start their own group… > Someone please help me understand…?:rolleyes: Wow, you’re right. I’m amazed nobody’s ever pointed this out before. White men are being oppressed and we should do something about it. Okay, seriously, there are 541 people in Congress. 43 (7.9%) are black. 28 (5.2%) are Hispanic. 12 (2.2%) are Asian. 1 (0.2%) is an American Indian 457 (84.5%) are white. So white Congressmen have a group that they control: Congress. When you have the majority, you don’t need a special group to watch out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/6 "2011-11-22T14:08:04Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > There is no Congressional White Caucus. Nor is there a White Chamber of Commerce or a National Association for the Advancement of White People. There is a Congressional White Caucus; it’s called Congress. There is a White Chamber of Commerce; it’s called the Chamber of Commerce. There is a National Association for the Advancement of White People; it’s called the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/7 "2011-11-22T14:39:52Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Best Answer - Chosen by Asker > None of our Congressional representatives have the courage to point out that racism is racism. In fact, none in our Judicial system has that kind of courage either, as Black Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are all still in existence today, while no one, white, black, brown or red has the courage to point out that these are all racist organizations. And do we even have to say one word about “La Raza”, the most blatantly racist organization of all? Yet, no one says a word. > > There is no Congressional White Caucus. Nor is there a White Chamber of Commerce or a National Association for the Advancement of White People. Why not, you might ask? Because those would be considered “racist” organizations, would they not? If white people, rather than Hispanics, created a national organization or non-profit called “The Race”, would everyone be okay with that? Yet Hispanics have done it and mum’s the word. > > If we aren’t willing to stand up for one another and level the playing field when it comes to racial discrimination, then let’s stop pretending that all of that fighting over civil rights did anything but turn the victims into the oppressors and the oppressors into victims. Panache45 is right and this is wrong. It’s wrong because it’s racist. Accusing others of racism doesn’t make it true. Only the reality of their actions make racism true. Minority groups banding together to try to increase their visibility to and power against those who rule, control, ignore, and oppress are responses to racism, not racism itself. Complaints by the majority who rule, control, ignore, and oppress that the groups under their foot are trying to move the shoe off of them are racist complaints and should never be listened to and always denounced. If you don’t like that, try this: A kid asks, “Why is there a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day but no Kid’s Day?” And the parents reply, “Every day is Kid’s Day.” ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/8 "2011-11-22T14:45:20Z")
itty bitty teeny tiny Nemo…thanks for explaining that to me. I never knew any of that. I can see clearly now and the rain is gone…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/9 "2011-11-22T14:47:07Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Panache45 is right and this is wrong. It’s wrong because it’s racist. Accusing others of racism doesn’t make it true. Only the reality of their actions make racism true. Minority groups banding together to try to increase their visibility to and power against those who rule, control, ignore, and oppress are responses to racism, not racism itself. Complaints by the majority who rule, control, ignore, and oppress that the groups under their foot are trying to move the shoe off of them are racist complaints and should never be listened to and always denounced. > > If you don’t like that, try this: A kid asks, “Why is there a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day but no Kid’s Day?” And the parents reply, “Every day is Kid’s Day.” So every day is whities day??? Not hardly…Maybe, possibly used to be…are blacks still the minority? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/10 "2011-11-22T14:48:08Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Best Answer - Chosen by Asker > None of our Congressional representatives have the courage to point out that racism is racism. In fact, none in our Judicial system has that kind of courage either, as Black Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are all still in existence today, while no one, white, black, brown or red has the courage to point out that these are all racist organizations. And do we even have to say one word about “La Raza”, the most blatantly racist organization of all? Yet, no one says a word. > > There is no Congressional White Caucus. Nor is there a White Chamber of Commerce or a National Association for the Advancement of White People. Why not, you might ask? Because those would be considered “racist” organizations, would they not? If white people, rather than Hispanics, created a national organization or non-profit called “The Race”, would everyone be okay with that? Yet Hispanics have done it and mum’s the word. > > If we aren’t willing to stand up for one another and level the playing field when it comes to racial discrimination, then let’s stop pretending that all of that fighting over civil rights did anything but turn the victims into the oppressors and the oppressors into victims. So are you buying into this “tidbit?” What it totally ignores, and you seem not to grasp, is that these various minority groups have gotten, and to some extent still get, the short end of the stick in many aspects of our society. They form the [insert minority here] Association in an attempt to reduce the inequalities they suffer. This is generally perceived as a reasonable and necessary thing to do. Forming a [White majority] Association is not only reduntant, as others have pointed out, but would only serve to maintain or increase the inequalities. It’s unnecessary and unreasonable, and furthermore it’s just plain mean. Black people (or whichever minority group) are oppressing and victimizing the white majority, who still have a disproportionate advantage of wealth, power, influence, etc.? Hardly. It is to laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/11 "2011-11-22T14:53:44Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > So every day is whities day??? Not hardly…Maybe, possibly used to be…are blacks still the minority? What do you mean not hardly? _Maybe, possibly_ used to be? Get real. Absolutely, definitely used to be, and to a noticeable (if lessened) extent still is. And blacks are unqestionably a minority group in the U.S. Now it sounds like you’re being willfully ignorant. Are you just trying to stir up crap and make a point in the guise of a question? You don’t seem to want to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/12 "2011-11-22T14:53:58Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Best Answer - Chosen by Asker > None of our Congressional representatives have the courage to point out that racism is racism. In fact, none in our Judicial system has that kind of courage either, as Black Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are all still in existence today, while no one, white, black, brown or red has the courage to point out that these are all racist organizations. And do we even have to say one word about “La Raza”, the most blatantly racist organization of all? Yet, no one says a word. If you already had an answer you liked (for what little Yahoo Answers is worth), why are you asking a General Question rather than posting this in Great Debates where it would then belong? ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/13 "2011-11-22T14:58:36Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > So are you buying into this “tidbit?” What it totally ignores, and you seem not to grasp, is that these various minority groups have gotten, and to some extent still get, the short end of the stick in many aspects of our society. They form the [insert minority here] Association in an attempt to reduce the inequalities they suffer. This is generally perceived as a reasonable and necessary thing to do. Forming a [White majority] Association is not only reduntant, as others have pointed out, but would only serve to maintain or increase the inequalities. It’s unnecessary and unreasonable, and furthermore it’s just plain mean. Black people (or whichever minority group) are oppressing and victimizing the white majority, who still have a disproportionate advantage of wealth, power, influence, etc.? Hardly. It is to laugh. Gary, No, I was not buying the “tidbit”…just had to share…=) I am just frustrated by it all today as of yesterday I found out they have interpreters at my daughters school for the 5th graders that do not speak English!!! Seriously. How the hell did they make it to FIFTH grade not knowing the English language??? yet my daughter is expected and required to know it before first grade! Everthing is totally backwards. Give me a presidential candidate that requires everyone here to learn the language and have no Spanish speaking options at all and that is who I will freaking vote for!:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/14 "2011-11-22T15:00:05Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > If you already had an answer you liked (for what little Yahoo Answers is worth), why are you asking a General Question rather than posting this in Great Debates where it would then belong? I am truley sorry for your lots time. ---
**Author:** ![strumtesco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@strumtesco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strumtesco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/15 "2011-11-22T15:06:07Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > What do you mean not hardly? _Maybe, possibly_ used to be? Get real. Absolutely, definitely used to be, and to a noticeable (if lessened) extent still is. And blacks are unqestionably a minority group in the U.S. Now it sounds like you’re being willfully ignorant. Are you just trying to stir up crap and make a point in the guise of a question? You don’t seem to want to understand. Why so hateful Gary?? I am not the ignorant one. I do want to understand. yet it is not possble to understand something that make no sense at all. All I am saying is this…if all these other races get to have their own “groups” why can whites NOT? All anyone can answer with is “because whites are the majority”…😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/16 "2011-11-22T15:06:37Z")
This is better suited to Great Debates than General Questions. I also edited the title to spell out the abbreviations originally used. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/17 "2011-11-22T15:14:46Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > How the hell did they make it to FIFTH grade not knowing the English language??? Probably by going to school in their home country before they moved here. So you have a child who has learned math, history, science, etc. through the fourth-grade level in a different language. Do you put them in pre-school to learn English with three-year olds, or put them in fifth grade with some language instruction to keep them at an age-appropriate and knowledge-appropriate level? > [@](#): > > Give me a presidential candidate that requires everyone here to learn the language… That will happen naturally for the great majority, most especially for children, although not because of the president, who can’t make it happen. > [@](#): > > …and have no Spanish speaking options at all… That won’t happen. Look at any group that has come to this country, even before the United States existed, and you’ll see that they use the language they know, even as they learn a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/18 "2011-11-22T15:20:13Z")
> [@strumtesco](#): > > Why so hateful Gary?? > I am not the ignorant one. I do want to understand. yet it is not possble to understand something that make no sense at all. > All I am saying is this…if all these other races get to have their own “groups” why can whites NOT? All anyone can answer with is “because whites are the majority”…😛 “An former oppressed minority group can form organizations without people labeling them oppressors, but the former oppressing majority group can’t! It’s not fair!” Whine, whine, whine. This whole line of thinking is just bizarre, especially since the oppression isn’t very former. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/19 "2011-11-22T15:21:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Wow, you’re right. I’m amazed nobody’s ever pointed this out before. White men are being oppressed and we should do something about it. > > Okay, seriously, there are 541 people in Congress. > > 43 (7.9%) are black. > 28 (5.2%) are Hispanic. > 12 (2.2%) are Asian. > 1 (0.2%) is an American Indian > 457 (84.5%) are white. > > So white Congressmen have a group that they control: Congress. When you have the majority, you don’t need a special group to watch out for you. but… How many are Gingers? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743/20 "2011-11-22T15:25:03Z")
Perhaps I can break this down more simply for you. White people don’t _need_ minority representation groups because they are not a minority. The point of groups like the Congressional Black Caucus is to _equalize_ opportunity and achievement for minorities, not to vault them ahead. In areas where traditional majorities (or traditionally overrepresented groups) are underrepresented, minority representation groups do spring up. For example, there are any number of local organizations dedicated to increasing the number of male undergraduate teachers, because it’s a female-dominated field. Like [this one](http://www.menteach.org/about_men_teach), for example. The only reason to have a Congressional White Caucus would be to address the specific needs of the white community that are not addressed because there aren’t enough whites in Congress. Obviously, that hasn’t happened yet. > [@strumtesco](#): > > …Black Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are all still in existence today, while no one, white, black, brown or red has the courage to point out that these are all racist organizations. None of those organizations limit their membership to black people. You can read the National Black Chamber of Commerce bylaws for yourself, [right here](http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=6). All three founders of the NAACP were white. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-congressional-black-caucus-is-ok-but-a-congressional-white-caucus-is-not-why/603743.md?page=2)