The article’s author, Gary Younge notes that “Bush is more upset by the claim that he didn’t care about black people than the fact that a disproportionate number of black people died during Katrina unnecessarily because his administration did not care enough to save them.”

Lots of good observations from this author from ‘across the pond’.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/nov/21/white-americans-race-obama

I didn’t get the “racist” vibes that I usually get from living in the South East USA.

This reply is a little late, but better late than never, right? It’s good to know there are white people such as yourself who acknowledge there IS racism towards blacks and other POC. That it’s very real and not something made up. Keep on doing what you’re doing to help others (other whites) see the error of their ways. It’s not an easy thing to do, mind you, because you will have a fight on your hands because racism has been ingrained in them for so long. Please bear in mind, blacks and POC have been trying to get whites to listen/understand what the deal is for the longest time, but most of the time, the message falls on deaf ears.These whites seem to not want to change, but they CAN change. It’s up to them. Keep your head up, Sekah.

Worse, I’ve been there, in my early teens, on the wrong side of an argument about racism. Good things came of that, however: I started questioning my own beliefs, and now do what I can to understand and actively help the advancement of equality for PoC – people who think they can make racist remarks, racist jokes, or racist arguments in my presence quickly learn how far it will get them.

I always hope my learning to call my own bullshit will help provide a model for others, because while a depressingly large amount of European-Americans are racist and self-aggrandizing, like The Great White Man up there, most of them genuinely don’t have to be. White people are soaking up attitudes, but I believe every rational being has the ability to change, and I believe even more strongly that equality should include soul-searching and individual-and-group change on the part of the oppressors, not constant justifications on the part of the oppressed. Nothing will ever change if whites don’t give PoC the respect all of us deserve as human beings, which includes sitting and listening when we’ve done something wrong, at the very least, and trying to change it, at the very best.

It’s interesting to see the negative reactions or denials centered on me when I stonewall a bigoted statement, and it’s sad to recognize myself in some of them. Which is why I wanted to thank you for this post, Abagond. Reality checks like this are helpful, and I’ll read more of your blog tonight. If you or anyone on this blog would like to correct my thinking or my language, point me to specific articles on the blog, or give me advice, please go ahead!

Sorry this is so long.

Thanks,
Sekah.

Be proud to be white!!! The History, contributions, inventions, humanity( I could go on and on)of white people is unmatched in the history of mankind!!

Such delightful delusion. You could make an excellent case file.

Please keep talking.

There’s a reason for that.

The truth hurts racist and revisionist, doesn’t it?

Let me as you a question…….is it ok for blacks to be proud to be black?

Well said, it is a shame but most Americans do not know, or do not care to know anything about Evolution. The “missing link” was a term used in Darwin’s time, before all the hominid fossils have been found. With every new hominid fossil found, creationist will point to a new gap in the fossil record, it is a vicious cycle that will never end.

You were cutting and pasting the Wikipedia without telling us you were doing that.

No Slappz: Plagiarism is against my comment policy. Please do not cut and paste stuff from someone else and pass it off as your own.

I did not. Perhaps somewhere the italic typeface failed, but I am not aware of that happening.

On the other hand, it looks like J copied my stuff without attribution and after his post I reposted my own comments. Maybe you thought my comments actually originated with him.

I am white, and I just wanted to add my two cents. I feel really uncomfortable being white sometimes, knowing how the majority (and yes this is true – of my own experience) of white people look at/treat black/colored people and knowing that what you’re saying is, for the most part, true (like I said, anecdotal…). I come from a middle-class suburbian background in NY (outside the city) and it’s just sad knowing that people have such a superficial belief in equality. I mean, I’ve met so many people who claim to not be racist, but their comments don’t match up to those beliefs…

Definitely. Their actions belie their words. It’s not uncommon to hear many whites say the “I’m not a racist BUT” line.

but you can’t question it.

Cassie, one thing you can do is to call them out on it. Don’t let them get away with their racist remarks. Btw, pay no mind to The Great White Man. He’s a major embarrassment for great white people everywhere.

Thank you.