White like me

OK, I know I promised to move on from the theme on white identity, but I've received a couple of questions about what I meant when I said "professional middle class white culture". This term didn't seem familiar, as we don't often talk about our race and socio-economic class together.

The best way I can describe this cultural identity is to send you to a blog by a very funny young Torontonian (who is white by the way) because no one else captures it with so much humour! But I warn you, if you are white this guy may make you nervous!

Christian Lander is author of the popular blog Stuff White People Like and has 2 books filled with his quips.  Of course, before I set you loose on his writing, I have to make a disclaimer that he does not represent my views nor those of the Fleming College Diversity Office (but he sure makes me laugh). Here are some clips from his list of 134 things white people like:

Check out ... coffee
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/18/1-coffee/

Or ... appearing to like classical music
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/09/01/108-appearing-to-enjoy-classical-music/

Or ... grammar
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/12/99-grammar/

Or my favourite (which I read when I need a dose of laughing at myself) ... having gay friends
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/03/14/88-having-gay-friends/

Now clearly Lander is making fun of particular groups of white people, not just middle/upper-middle class professionals. However I think his keen observations touch on a nerve (90,000,000 views!) and many people, white and non-white, resonate with his light-hearted attempt to define white culture.

If you want to hear what he has to say about being white (and he is quite articulate), here is a video clip of him being interviewed by  Steve Paikin on the The Agenda. I'd use this in a class dealing with race, and it would work well with the Film About Races we discussed several posts ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEnwYMDj64Q

I haven't posted any further resources with this entry but watch out next week for the Positive Space series.