The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors

4
Learning to Look at Symbols
(February 1979)
A culture can be likened to a quilt of intricate geometrical design in
which all of the many colored pieces, their shapes and stitching flow into
one another, constitute the whole. This analogy is apt for yet a second
reason. Often, the design on the uppec side of the quilt is different from
the undersurface pattern. Still, the undersurface design is essential for the
outward surface appearance.
I have given myself the task of decoding the culture in which I find
myself in time and space. That culture is the dominating global power
system/culture of white supremacy (racism). This decoding amounts to
turning over, examining and laying bare the _intricate pattern pieces
undeflying the culture and power system - showing in sharp relief its lines
of force and determination and thus its overall design. Only by so doing ·
is it possible to see where we are going in the existing dense white fog.
Counter-racist psychiatry defmes mental health as patterns of logic,
thought, speech, action, emotional response and perception consciously
practiced by the victims of white supremacy (racism)- with the objective
· of eradicating racism at the global level. Functionally speaking, for the
of white supremacy, this means to act in a self/group-respecting
supporting manner in all areas of people activity, despite the specific
conditions of racist domination and oppression. Submission to and
·C