Dr. Noel A. Cazenave, a sociologist on the faculty of the University of Connecticut, in the Hartford Courant, February 24, 1995:

If you still don't think whiteness matters in America today, try this little experiment. The next time one of your friends or colleagues refers to himself or herself as being white say, "That's funny. You don't look white. Do you really consider yourself to be white? What does it mean to be white?" ...

This takes me to my modest proposal. For the sake of discussion let's call it project 2000. Just as the 1960s was a time when African-Americans explored the depths of blackness, European-Americans should now take a close look at what it means to be white in America.

This might entail having people who identify themselves as white get together to reflect on the meaning of their whiteness.

If it is decided that whiteness as an identity should be relinquished, those in agreement might want to sign a proclamation that would be shared with the public.

Whiteness is, of course, difficult to relinquish because of the huge economic, political, social, psychological and emotional investment millions of Americans have in this identity and status.

Maybe it's time for so-called white Americans to wake up from the nightmare we have all been living and just let their whiteness go. By their relinquishing their whiteness, we can all experience some release from the bondage of racial oppression.

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