The Trump administration has devoted a lot of time and effort attempting to destroy the idea of diversity in government and our civil society. Many observers cite their goal is to create a “White Nationalist State” in order to ensure “White” dominance and privilege. If implemented, this will exacerbate the racial divisions in the country. Although we are a diverse nation comprising many ethnicities, one group clings to the idea of “whiteness” or “white people.”

It is widely accepted that the “white identity” is a social construct and not a biological one. In order to bequeath to our children a society free of racial animus and division, we must act to correct a historical wrong. We must purge the idea of “white people,” i.e. “White” from our lexicon, and in it’s place ask Americans to embrace their hyphenated identities. For example: European-Americans, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, etc. or sub-sets based on country of origin, e.g. Irish-Americans, German-Americans, etc.

The moral path for the country is not unlike what the Germans had to undertake in erecting laws regarding Nazism and the use of the term Nazi. The idea of “whiteness” is similarly connected historically to violence and domination. Racism will not disappear with the elimination of the idea of “whiteness” from our lexicon and discourse, but it will allow a more nuanced understanding of identity, and create the possibility of a reduction in racial hate and a more equitable society.