When it comes to determining high value, there are differing perspectives on whether it is associated more with whiteness or blackness. To answer this complex question, we must first define what constitutes “value” and examine how race intersects with concepts of worth and prestige.
Defining High Value
Value is a subjective and multifaceted term that encompasses qualities like moral virtue, usefulness, importance, and worth. High value is commonly associated with things that are seen as exceptionally good, desirable, prestigious, or influential. This could apply to people, objects, ideas, skills, and more. Key markers of high value often include:
- Rarity or scarcity
- Social status or privilege
- High economic or monetary worth
- Notable achievement or recognition
- Special talents, skills, or knowledge
- Cultural, historical, or sentimental significance
Whiteness and Value
In many societies, characteristics associated with whiteness have historically been linked to high value. Some reasons for this include:
- The prestige and power afforded to white ethnic groups who colonized large parts of the world and imposed their culture, language, and systems on colonized peoples.
- Centuries of institutionalized racism and policies favoring white people in areas like property rights, voting rights, education, housing, and employment.
- Eurocentric cultural norms that uplift traits common among white Western Europeans such as light skin, straight hair, thin noses, and light colored eyes as aspirational beauty standards.
- The dominance of white people in positions of authority, influence, and high socioeconomic status throughout history.
These factors established whiteness and proximity to white ideals as associated with wealth, status, and power in society. As a result, whiteness became closely linked with privilege, desirability, and high value over time.
Blackness and Value
While whiteness has been historically exalted, blackness and people of African descent have been subjucated and marginalized through:
- The African slave trade, which trafficked millions of black people as property to fuel economies around the world.
- Colonial violence, oppression, and systems designed to exploit black labor and resources.
- Segregation laws and policies that excluded black people from economic and educational opportunities.
- Racist pseudoscience falsely portraying black people as inferior.
- Media depictions exaggerating negative stereotypes about black people.
This entrenched black people at the bottom of social hierarchies and ingrained hazardous prejudices that still persist. However, black culture has profoundly shaped music, arts, activism, academia, athletics, fashion, language, politics, and more over the past century. The outsized cultural influence and excellence of black artists, writers, inventors, and leaders demonstrates that high value is not intrinsically linked to whiteness alone.
Measures of Value Comparison
Looking at some measures of value associated with race reveals a complex picture:
| Measure | Favors Whiteness | Favors Blackness |
|---|---|---|
| Income and Wealth | The median income for white households is significantly higher than black households in the U.S. The median wealth of white households is over 10 times higher than black households. | There are more black millionaire households than ever before, increasing by 34% between 2010 and 2016. |
| Political Power | Most U.S. presidents have been white men. White people still hold most leadership roles in government, business, and institutions. | There has been increasing black representation in positions of power, like Vice President Kamala Harris, and more black mayors, governors, senators, and CEOs. |
| Beauty Standards | Eurocentric beauty ideals still dominate in high fashion and media, privileging thinner bodies and paler skin. | The natural hair and body positivity movements have shifted beauty standards to be more inclusive of diverse hair textures, body types, and skin tones. |
| Cultural Influence | Most iconic figures upheld as pioneers and paragons throughout history are white, particularly white men. | Black culture has an outsized influence on music, slang, art, and style both in the U.S. and globally. |
This comparison shows that notions of value and contributions to society cannot be boiled down to a white vs. black dichotomy. Value exists across racial barriers even if it has not always been acknowledged or equally distributed.
Conclusion
Historically, whiteness has been closely associated with high value due to racist social systems and beliefs that disenfranchised people of color. However, these prejudiced notions fail to consider the inherent worth and dignity of all people regardless of skin color. Society is increasingly acknowledging excellence and merit across all ethnic backgrounds.
While inequality still exists, a more diverse spectrum of voices are gaining platforms to share their talents, perspectives, and innovations. Color does not define a person’s capabilities or worth. All colors and cultures have profound contributions to offer our world. Though past privilege has skewed perceptions, society is progressing toward more openness and inclusivity when evaluating worth. With greater open-mindedness, empathy and equality, the outdated notion that high value belongs primarily to whiteness can be dismantled.