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RACISM + HISTORY
How White People Made Heritage a Dirty Word
What seems like a benign word has wicked connotations
Over time, words acquire fresh meanings. For instance, the word “hussy” used to refer to a “housewife.” Now, the word refers to someone promiscuous. To “quell” used to mean to “kill someone,” and now it means nearly the opposite — “to subdue” or “suppress.” Language isn’t fixed in stone. It ebbs and flows.
When you think of the word “heritage,” you may reflect on the great men and women who came before you, their contributions, and their lived experiences. Greatness is baked into the term. However, the truth is — not every part of our heritage is great.
Instead of talking about the full breadth of our country’s legacy, people want to share the highlight reel. So and so did this great thing, and so and so did that. However, in doing so, we create personal mythology about ourselves, our community, and our country that is devoid of purpose.
Heritage has become a dirty rag, carrying all the toxins of white pride and prejudice.
White people, whether blatantly racist or not, have skeletons in their ancestral closets. While some would never want them getting out, others trot them around for the world to see. My old boss and I used to…
