Here is a test to see how blind you are to your own and society’s racism. It is meant for white Americans, but others can play along at home.

This is the first cut of the test, a work in progress. It is probably too easy. I am open to suggestions!

Which of these statements are racist? Assume a white person is speaking:

  1. All Americans, no matter where they came from, came here for a better life.
  2. I missed my stop and wound up lost in Harlem. But nothing bad happened. An old black lady even told me which train to take. She was so nice! (True story)
  3. Blacks would do better if their men were better fathers
  4. I don’t see you as black.
  5. You are not like other blacks.
  6. Blacks are unfairly favoured, whites make it on their own.
  7. If blacks had enough education and money their troubles would go away.
  8. Blacks cry racism for every little thing.
  9. If blacks can say the n-word, so should whites.
  10. Blacks would do better if they acted more like whites.

Evaluation:

Give yourself ten points for each right answer:

  1. All Americans, no matter where they came from, came here for a better life. Racist: Forgets that blacks are Americans too. Most blacks came in chains.
  2. I missed my stop and wound up lost in Harlem. But nothing bad happened. An old black lady even told me which train to take. She was so nice! Racist: Assumes blacks are more dangerous and unfriendly than they are.
  3. Blacks would do better if their men were better fathers. Not racist: It is as true for whites as for blacks.
  4. I don’t see you as black. Racist: Assumes being black is something terrible. When was the last time you said, “I don’t see you as freckled”?
  5. You are not like other blacks. Racist: Assumes most blacks are alike. When was the last time you said, “You are not like other whites”?
  6. Blacks are unfairly favoured, whites make it on their own. Racist: It is blind to the racism built into society, how whites are favoured by the courts, the police, the press, employers, the fashion industry, Hollywood, past American history, public schooling and all the rest.
  7. If blacks had enough education and money their troubles would go away. Racist: It is blind to the racism that middle-class blacks experience, like with the police.
  8. Blacks cry racism for every little thing. Racist: When blacks cry racism they are more likely to be right than most whites, who do not see it since they are the ones affected.
  9. If blacks can say the n-word, so should whites. Racist: The word is racist no matter who says it.
  10. Blacks would do better if they acted more like whites. Not racist: It is, unfortunately, a fact. The same is true for poor whites if by “acting white” you mean well-to-do whites, as most do.

Subtract your score from 100. That is how blind you are, where 100 means completely blind.

See also: