Lashing out at the white race
I was on CNN yesterday to comment on the racist ads that Spain’s Olympic basketball teams participated in. It went pretty well, and it got Racialicious a few new readers.
But at least one CNN viewer wasn’t happy. Here’s his email, for your amusement. 
I was not aware of you or your blog before today. Your appearance on CNN today shocked and offended me. At one point, you said something like – by 2042, that whites will no longer be a majority in the US. I’m not arguing with that figure because I haven’t researched and it may be true. What offended me was that the story was about a bunch of Spanish kids that were duped into making a sign that offends over 50% of the world’s population that happen to be Asian.
What was your point with bringing in that whites will be a minority? What does a story about Chinese and Spanish have to do with US whites? It appeared to me that you were using your opportunity in front of a national audience to lash out at the white race. You should be ashamed if that is what you really meant. If you want racial harmony, you are going to have to eventually include the white folks too.
I guess that 2042 prediction really freaked him out.
My point in bringing that up was that none of us can afford to live in our little same-race bubbles anymore, especially not in the U.S. You can’t get much done nowadays without interacting with someone of a different background than yourself. Being able to conduct effective personal and business relationships with someone of a different race, ethnicity, culture, or country is becoming a critical survival skill.
And if you don’t get why it’s offensive to pull your eyes back at an Asian person, then you’re setting yourself up for failure in your personal life and in your career. It’s that simple.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
Victoria Marinelli Said,
August 16, 2008 @ 1:20 am
Dunno what that miserable, misinformed, woefully insecure individual saw in your very forthright appearance on CNN to warrant this ridiculous assessment. My whole (mostly white) family saw the same thing, and we were all applauding (and certainly didn’t feel the least bit “lashed out” at).
My fourteen year old was especially impressed with you, and our viewing that segment together spurred a lengthy discussion about racism in media and everyday life. Thank you!
admin Said,
August 16, 2008 @ 6:51 am
Woah that’s awesome Victoria!
I’m so glad I was able to help spur on that discussion!
Wayne Park Said,
August 19, 2008 @ 10:13 am
hello, another blog!
There seems to be another dimension of “white defensiveness” against what’s perceived as reverse-racism. I’ve had to personally test this one out. Is it a chance to lash out @ the white man?
But I don’t think it’s revenge that motivates us to speak out, but rather to enlight, inform, make aware. In my journey that’s the only way I get over the anger and communicate the realities of a browning world today.
Elizabeth Willow Said,
August 20, 2008 @ 8:07 am
I found this site from another. Interesting discussion. You referred to the viewers email as hate mail on another site. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make it hate mail. I found the ad incredibly offensive too. It was interesting that the Spanish people didn’t intend to be racist and the Chinese people didn’t receive it as racist. As an American I found that hard to believe. As far as your comment that white people are going to be a minority soon I hope you realize that racism is a 2-way street. People in power abuse it no matter who they are. We need to have a discussion where everyone’s point of view is respected. You showed very little for the CNN viewer.
Kandee Said,
August 20, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Just saw the video and your point was very clear. He decided to focus on the ‘white majority’ part (which was very short), perhaps out of fear or insecurity.
andre Said,
August 23, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
man, they just never get it do they, but you are still a beautiful lady. People should know better , honestly. And yeah, what’s the deal with the guy saying you should include whites, uhhh, you were just stating something. Actually, whites are already a minority. Just look at the numbers of non-white people in America compared to the white people. The amount of white people in this world is very small compared to the number of non-white people, yet people still think that whites are some majority. Thats just what they want you to tihnk. Really, blacks and other races outnumber whites in America, and one way to prove that, is that not everyone, especially the people at the bottom of the totem, take complete consensus forms. I still love you Carmen