Calling out racism is where you point out that something is racist. It might not seem like a big deal, but it is an important part of fighting racism. It can even stop genocide, as crazy as that sounds.
Genocide: Genocides unfold in eight stages. Stopping it at any one stage, stops the genocide from going forward. The second to last stage before the mass killings is this:
- Polarization: The first people killed in any genocide are not the pariahs themselves but those in the mainstream who speak up for them. The voices in the middle are silenced through threats, arrests or even killings. Now the message of hate goes unchallenged.
What applies to genocide applies to racism more generally. Racism grows and feeds off a culture of silence. The point of calling out racism is to break down that silence. It does not matter if you persuade anyone, it does not matter if you “win the argument”. It is very unlikely you will. What matters is that you were heard and planted that seed in people’s minds of, “Hey, maybe this is not right.”
Elizabeth Eckford was one of the first nine black students to go to Little Rock Central High School in the American South. That school was a racist hell for her – because the 90% who were not giving her hell would not stand up to the 10% who were. She could not even enter the school till the president of the nation grew a pair and stood up to the governor of the state.
The American civil rights movement succeeded when people stopped being cowed by fear of standing up to racists.
White people calling out racism: One of the best thing white people can do at the personal level to fight racism is to call it out when they see it. If not to the racist person’s face, then to family and friends. If not to family and friends, then at least inside their own head. Anything is better than nothing.
In America calling out racism matters more when it comes from whites. That is because of the Rules of Racial Standing – that thing where white people think others whites are way more objective and neutral about racism than blacks. The Tim Wise Effect.
Black people calling out racism: White Americans discount what blacks say, it is part of their cultural conditioning, but they still hear it. They hear what they say and, just as important, what they do not say. If something racist goes down and blacks say nothing, whites will assume that it is “okay” or “not so bad”. Especially since many whites assume blacks are “oversensitive”.
That is part of why I post on, say, Quvenzhané Wallis, but not Don Imus or the racist outcry over the Cheerios ad – because those two were roundly condemned even by white people.
Warning: Calling out racism does require judgement and sometimes courage. This post is not about that.
See also:
[…] Calling out racism is where you point out that something is racist. It might not seem like a big deal, but it is an important part of fighting racism. It can even stop genocide, as crazy as that so… […]
LikeLike
Being from the Old School about racism I find that today it seems like a joke. I really don’t want to fight but I would like change. Change without fear. I grew up in South Philadelphia and for more than fifty years there were the racial clashes. And as much as they hated it the clashes would end when school reopen after the summer break. But we were still called out of our names by the older whites. By clashing we were in our way speaking about racism. The Mayor even convinced the other people to help him run Philadelphia to buy turret vehicles to fight children. But still we spoke and eventually won out. The ironic part is the LOVE between a white female and a black male took center stage and won the war.
LikeLike
@ rowetusi63
Wow, what a story! It sounds like Romeo & Juliet.
LikeLike
My black friends are racist. I never even think about race, but they talk about it non-stop and call each other offensive words and me too. How will we beat racism as a culture if one side will not stop encouraging it?
LikeLike
Reblogged this on guaparella.
LikeLike
@adventures
Here, this is so much better than all of the cursing that is clouding my head;
LikeLike
@adventures
And it is one of the places of highest white privilege to “never even think about race”.
That alone is racist. Race is important, cool that you don’t think about yours and all the luxuries of the whole world that come with it.
LikeLike
It’s funny, this was one of my observations back when I used to “fight racism” on places like the Yahoo Articles comment section. Of course, it’s a waste of time, but it really did teach me some of the points made in this post.
On Yahoo, every time there is a story about a Black athlete, politician, or entertainer, it is not long before a number of racist comments appear—especially if the Black person has done something wrong. It can never be about the individual, it’s ALWAYS about how whatever is wrong is indicative of ALL Black people.
However, very few White people will take the time to stop and say, “C’mon, that’s not fair” or “Grow up this is 2013 not 1913.” The VAST majority of White people just pass by the comments without addressing them at all. HOWEVER, if someone else makes a comment about the racist comments, suddenly the mute White people come out of the woodwork! “We need people of ALL races to stop arguing about racism!” or “Let’s not make this about race” or “Your best bet would be just to ignore these racists.”
In other words, they are perfectly willing to ignore racism, but somehow will not ignore a person who is calling out racism, which I always used to find… rather curious.
LikeLike
“My black friends are racist. I never even think about race, but they talk about it non-stop”
LOL @ “my BLACK friends…I NEVER even think about RACE…” Kinda contradictory (plus I don’t believe you have black friends anyway). You thought about race enough to label your “friends” as “black,” and I’m sure you’ll think about race again if you’re ever the only white person around.
LikeLike
And in the moments when we are afraid to speak up, we can at least say “Hey! That hurts my feelings”. Then the person’s response to that will indicate if it’s safe to take the conversation any further.
LikeLike
@King
Hey, I argued against a couple of racist commenters on a Buzzfeed article about that Cheerios commercial with the mixed-race family, and so did other white people. The racists were ranting about how whites are discriminated against because America and other “white” nations are being taken over by non-whites, while non-white countries are not being taken over by whites. We were reminding them about the genocide of/land theft from the Native Americans, the violent capture of Africans for slavery, the fact that the U.S. took half of Mexico in a “manifest destiny” war, European colonialism, etc – the factors that now cause non-white people to live in “white” countries.
Of course, it is way easier to break out the lectures in writing over the Internet than when talking to someone in person. Especially since my grandparents are the only people I know who say racist things on a regular basis. For instance, “Those Orientals are very competitive,” or “Almost everyone on the island was black, but they sure were clean… and so happy it was almost sickening!” WTF? I am never sure if I should start criticizing my grandparents or not. I want to do the right thing and stop racism, but I also don’t want to be rude and make my family be angry at me. When it comes to the occasional racist comment from people my age, I am afraid that my peers will start to dislike me if I get too critical or argumentative with them, and I do not know enough black people to stop being friends with white people. Also, I often get nervous while arguing, which makes me not very eloquent and my poorly-worded points then sound stupid. I definitely need to work on my anti-racism skills.
@abagond
I like this post, especially this part: “One of the best thing white people can do at the personal level to fight racism is to call it out when they see it. If not to the racist person’s face, then to family and friends. If not to family and friends, then at least inside their own head. Anything is better than nothing.” That sort of answers my dilemma about what to do when my grandparents make racist comments. If I can’t figure out how to politely correct them, then at least I can point out their racism to my parents and siblings later. Thanks for the help.
LikeLike
@abagond &@ rowetusi63
Or more like “West Side Story” or in this case, “South Side Story” 😛
LikeLike
@VA
Maybe Abagond also means that if you can’t even point it out to your parents, friends and siblings, you can point it out to yourself. And if you can do that, maybe you can even share some of here on his blog.
In fact, that is part of the reason I am here on this blog. I got fed up with the USA for various reasons, some of it I could not even make sense of. I can never understand why so many Americans think they have the solution for the world, when it is so screwed up. Sometimes it is better to take a view of America when you are not actually there and subject to a slightly different system. I am amazed that Abagond can see some of what is going on there while he is living there bombarded with that environment. Now I only have about 5% daily contact with Americans or people from the USA, so I have almost no one to talk to about this. Most non-Americans don’t have a good feel for the way things are there.
But, I call out racism even when I am not in the USA. You can’t always sit there and do nothing.
LikeLike
With Love Glenn,
“Hey! That hurts my feelings”.
I guess that’s cool if you’re white, but I believe black adults should move beyond the point that racism hurts our feelings. A white person’s ignorance and emotional immaturity shouldn’t be able to affect my feelings. I am an adult and in control of how I feel.
I’m not saying black people shouldn’t speak up just that we have better reason to do so than hurt feelings.
LikeLike
This article actually included some racism. “White Americans discount what blacks say, it is part of their cultural conditioning, but they still hear it” this is an assumption based on color. Racism.
I’m disgusted.
You are perpetuating the real racism in the world today, by writing articles like this. Stop seeing color and live your life.
LikeLike
This is tricky. I’m done with calling out racism if I’m alone. If i am with someone else than maybe, it would depend on the situation. I recognize racism and maneuver around it. I work with these zombies, there’s no way that my pointing out their racist ideologies will do anything, other than to cause a migraine for myself. So I’m teaching my little grasshoppers strategies. Certain books have been a great tool. (ie. Dr Jawanza Kunjufu, Dr. Joy D. Leary)
LikeLike
@Peanut
Thats an iffy argument; clearly black people live in the US, and those people of african-descent are one of the richest and culturally most influential groups in the world.
And in much the same way black slave owners profitted from being in the US, there is still a black elite today.
And even the poor in the US are practically middle-class by most non-US based standards.
There is a reason people immigrate here and thats because of the economic viability of the country.
Basically excepting for poverty stricken PoC than you are benefitting from the system; maybe even then, if they immigrated here from a more violent country.
Or to put it another way; if the global racist policies enacted by the US are a big part of why it is such an economically viable country than merely existing in it is to profit off of racism, regardless of color.
LikeLike
[…] Read original story here. […]
LikeLike
This is where Tim Wise comes in to me. Why don’t others follow his lead. I feel that many whites don’t have the courage. Why doesn’t Tim Wise start a movement? If he believes racism is wrong? Why don’t more people know about Tim Wise.
LikeLike
@ With Love Glen: I did respond with “That hurts my feelings and was in tears and I got eye rolls from white co-workers and the other white co-worker who perpetrated the offense. Only to hear that I was being a baby for the ugly thing that she did. Showing me an offensive racist photograph of a scantily clad obese AA woman standing on a trash can in the ghetto. With the caption “Boquesha is looking for her man”. This ugly picture she dropped in my lap,replied “This is for you”. I lost it and asked her why she did this, And she didn’t understand why I was upset. It was just a joke.
LikeLike
@ lifelearner: I totally agree with your comment. And you just have to pick your battles.
LikeLike
@Vagabond Abscond: You were eloquent in your comments on this thread. Keep it up. Good Job.
LikeLike
@ Abagond: Why are my last comments stuck in moderation? Did I say something wrong?
LikeLike
It all comes down to call out what is wrong and hurtful. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen, white people who engage in racist behavior don’t want to be called out on their racism. I’ve seen some who have made racist comments, some including the n-word, and yet, they still flat out deny it in the same moment.
It’s pathetic when white people make racist comments, but to have other white people defend that person while telling you that that person is “good” is a migraine. I’ve had that happen once with this white woman who seemingly enjoys starting stuff with other people. She called a black girl the n-word once, and I went to confront her about it. She denies it, and in doing so, calls me the n-word. What’s worse is that there were were white guys defending her. I said to myself “really?”
LikeLike
Why can’t you call out racism without a White person getting offended? To me, that is crazy. People, regardless of race, should recognize racism and try to fix it. Anyone have suggestions to this question?
LikeLike
@Brothawolf
Yeah. I agree white people hate to be called out and exposed for what they truly stand for. I don’t like to be outnumbered because when some racist s**t goes down they all back each other up. White people seriously play some major mind games. They try to make the other person they mistreated to feel guilty and say well not all of us could be wrong; you’re the one attacking us (they are so quick to flip the script). My feeling is if one is in a room full of psychopaths that doesn’t change what happened. This just makes it more clear that what they did was wrong and they are trying to cover it up.
@Adeen
White people have no incentive to fix racism. Whenever there is something that is done for black people to rectify any wrongs white people complain about it. Black people in America whose ancestors were slaves haven’t gotten any restitution (40 acres and a mule), BUT Native Americans are a protected nation (we did have the Freedmen’s Bureau)Japanese Americans got reparations from their internment during WWII. Black people did get reparations for Tuskegee, Rosewood, and discrimination in the farming industry, BUT NEVER for slavery.
White people get offended because that’s their strategy to deflect and put all of the responsibility and blame on the victims, YET they want power and resources (by any means necessary AND want all of the credit without taking accountability of any mishaps). White people are the masters of illusions; they used their words to confuse their victims by being vague and by constantly changing definitions. Unfortunately, most people don’t see through it and if they do they don’t say anything when something goes down. Plus, if a white person didn’t get offended and accepted the call out they would put themselves in a position to have to take responsibility for their actions and mistreatment towards black people. Personally, I don’t care if people are offended anymore; I’m really getting tired of people’s nonsense and how no one says anything when black people are being mistreated. Anyway, I agree it is crazy that they are getting offended when told the truth. This is why I believe this country will never heal from racism because this country as a whole refuses to confront the issue objectively.
LikeLike
How come you people “confront” racism instead of approaching the person later when there isnt a “social atmosphere” to inffulence people’s actions? If you actually care, make it a point to speak to the person on another occasion.
Inflateing a clearly already volatile situation (yes racism is a volatile action, it is only commited to cause a reaction) instead of diffuseing and taking steps to make sure it doesnt happen again?
They dont deserve such diplomatic responses, but its the only way to make the situation better one person at a time. Stop spreading the hate.
LikeLike
This article is a joke, making strides to create conversation about racism and then launching baseless claims about racial groups and their tendencies. DUMB.
LikeLike
I don’t remember ever having been able to call out racism except for when it comes to certain family members. With them, I know I’m safe, but with others I have faced such violence, I start shaking simply thinking about calling them out. I have had so many times that I have been in an awful situation and there have been many witnesses who stood by and did nothing, so I really wish I could overcome the fear and help someone out.
@ Abagond
Do you plan on doing posts on judging whether to call out racism and building up the courage to do so?
LikeLike
@Matthew
Why don’t you go back to your trailer parker where you belong instead of commenting on this blog? You will never understand this blog or the life of people of color at all and I don’t see why you are commenting on here if you hate the article and the blog.
”Stop spreading the hate”
And stop spreading your delusions! LOL.
Honestly I am sick of Whites commenting on Black blogs and Black sites. They hate us yet they obsess over us as if they can’t get enough of it.
LikeLike
We were living our lives until whites americans starting experimenting with us in all aspect of life. The Harlem Hospital Story was a perfect example of us trying to live our lives and being practice on. We don’t have the power of weapons and media to promote reverse racism but it seems that white americans continue to tell Blacks to get over being “F” over. I am so happy that you prove the point that racism is alive and well in america. Thank your god for keeping the good ole boys alert and still trying to keep us in our place (we do have a place don’t we white american)?….
LikeLike
@rowetusi63
You are correct. I hate the argument of reverse racism because us Blacks don’t have the power to oppress them and control and manipulate them the way they have done to us for years.
LikeLike
Excellent observations & commentary, kowaba.
I especially agree with the following excerpts:
“I agree white people hate to be called out and exposed for what they truly stand for. I don’t like to be outnumbered because when some racist s**t goes down they all back each other up. White people seriously play some major mind games. They try to make the other person they mistreated to feel guilty and say well not all of us could be wrong; you’re the one attacking us (they are so quick to flip the script). My feeling is if one is in a room full of psychopaths that doesn’t change what happened. This just makes it more clear that what they did was wrong and they are trying to cover it up.”
– – –
“White people get offended because that’s their strategy to deflect and put all of the responsibility and blame on the victims, YET they want power and resources (by any means necessary AND want all of the credit without taking accountability of any mishaps). White people are the masters of illusions; they used their words to confuse their victims by being vague and by constantly changing definitions. Unfortunately, most people don’t see through it and if they do they don’t say anything when something goes down.”
– – –
“Anyway, I agree it is crazy that they are getting offended when told the truth. This is why I believe this country will never heal from racism because this country as a whole refuses to confront the issue objectively.”
LikeLike
Sometimes I think fighting segregation might have been an unwise thing to do. Sometimes I think it would have been wiser if more Black folk followed Malcom X than MLK. Sometimes I think Black Americans would be better off today as a whole if they would have built up their own schools, communities, hospitals, etc, totally separate from whites. Who knows? Maybe the white schools today would be floundering and asking the black school districts tax payers to help them.
Its almost as if the powers that be could sense that a completely separate Black America may have been a successful and powerful one and that the way to keep Blacks from truly reaching their potential was to integrate them.
Maybe, maybe not. But I’ve thought like this.
LikeLike
@kowaba
I wonder if the U.S. government will ever give reparations for slavery. I used to think it would be unfair because no one alive today was ever enslaved, but now I see that was a dopey oversimplification of the situation. I know now that material wealth is often built up within families over many generations, and the better the economic and social status you start out with, the easier it will be to make more money by getting a good education, securing well-paying jobs, networking, investing, etc. Basically, the richer you get, the easier it becomes to make even more money! Starting out disadvantaged will probably leave a family way behind the more privileged people, even after several generations. The success gap may even grow larger over time. With all the money the government spends on questionable wars, they could probably afford to give people whose ancestors were slaves in the U.S. some kind of apology payment. However, if they do it now the Republican party will be seething in anger and probably gain thousands of furious (non-black) followers who think they are being discriminated against. Also, stereotypes about “lazy” black people mooching off the government, wasting tax money, and being a drain on society will only increase. For those reasons, I hope the government waits a while.
@mary burrell
Thanks 🙂
@Adeen
I don’t think most white people hate you. This kind of blog, which has a strong political slant, is bound to attract both extremes – the supporters and the haters. You are probably reading comments from some of the worst racists on the Internet.
LikeLike
kowaba,
It was stressful. I felt sick, literally. The stuff that she and her friends said was beyond offensive. One of them even called me “Django”.
Matthew,
It’s clear that you are a loveless, senseless troll. Having my fingernails peeled off my hand is less painful than engaging in an intelligent conversation with the likes of you.
LikeLike
@jefe
Ha ha – do you really want to hear all about the bizarre prejudices of my grandparents? They have made so many ridiculous comments over the years. I could probably never remember them all, just a few especially egregious ones that stick in my mind.
LikeLike
@kowaba
As I said many times, racism is the elephant in the room in America. It stands out like a sore thumb, but everyone pretends like they cannot see it. If some young child points out “Look at the big elephant” the others quickly hush her “Shut up”.
What to do?
LikeLike
@guaparella
…
‘And it is one of the places of highest white privilege to “never even think about race”.’
that was on mixed american life today,
sotomayor takes a different tack but there is a call to action even if it’s just verbal; few will respond.
LikeLike
if not verbal character based internet representation? written?
LikeLike
@ Why?
I have thought about that as well. I still think about it now and ponder if it is too late to take that route.
LikeLike
“Why don’t you go back to your trailer parker where you belong instead of commenting on this blog? You will never understand this blog or the life of people of color at all and I don’t see why you are commenting on here if you hate the article and the blog.
”Stop spreading the hate”
And stop spreading your delusions! LOL.
Honestly I am sick of Whites commenting on Black blogs and Black sites. They hate us yet they obsess over us as if they can’t get enough of it.”
This is disgusting, you assume so much about me and know nothing of my past or my skin color. I am guilty of no oppression against any race of people. Please educate yourself further on the history of worldly race relations and learn something about the subject.
As a person of this society, i’ve decided to give up appologizeing for things i cant control and will never be able to take back. Your stance on this issue makes that choice very easy.
Racism is very easy to find. Especially when you spend every waking breath searching for it.
Shalom.
LikeLike
Yeah; I always find it strange when someone says something like:
“I wouldn’t date any PoC but I’m not racist” or insert the blank “but I’m not racist” at the end of it.
And I could understand if the reason they didn’t date PoC was due to not wanting to have to deal with racism and bigotry in their own lives, not the nicest of reasons but its a legitimate reason.
I don’t usually, and by usually so far I mean never, get that answer though.
LikeLike
V-4, some people prefer to only date others from their race or ethnic background. Many women on this very blog have expressed the same sentiment. Nothing wrong with that.
LikeLike
@Why?
The thing is; this basically falls under the difference between “Preference” and not at all, its one thing to prefer blonde, but its very rare that any one refuses to go out with anyone “except” for those that have blonde or red hair.
And if you can’t come up with a good reason, like most of the women on this blog, basically comes down to a lack of trust of people from other races or a fear of being used as a cumdumpster.
Whereas with these women they couldn’t even come up with a reason to justify it.
LikeLike
@ Mary, etc
Kushite Prince and Vagabond Abscond have moderated words in their names (shit, agabond), so any comment with their name in it will be moderated. “Agabond” is moderated because getting my name wrong flags you as a possible troll.
Also, youtube.com is moderated because people sometimes embed their videos by not putting the link in parentheses. For a short thread like this, it is not a big deal, but for those that run over 300 comments, it is.
LikeLike
@VA,
Well, if saying them to yourself or to trusted family member or friend does the trick, then u could stop there. But if u need to tell someone else, I don’t see why u can’t mention some of it here.
LikeLike
Thank you, Fiamma!
@Vagabond Abscond
I don’t think the U.S. government will give reparations to those who are descendants of slaves. If you look at the era of Reconstruction, the U.S. government tried to impose such a policy, but President Andrew Johnson put an end to that. He gave the land back to the planters (aka slave owners). He also gave free land to white slave holders in the Homestead Act. Interesting enough, President Lincoln wanted it to so free blacks could benefit from getting the land, BUT congress blocked his attempts to pass that particular law. There was resistance from the south in terms of providing equal footing to the black people that were freed (only those in Confederate states according to the Emancipation Proclamation). The 40 acres and a mule did not come into fruition BECAUSE planters complained. President Andrew Johnson even pardoned these planters and gave them back “their” land.
I agree many people would make a lot of noise if the government had to pay reparations to slaves. Stereotypes have persisted through the media, social interactions, and social conditioning i.e. justifying why those who are black should be mistreated. The main point that came to my mind if the government gave reparations is this: the government when giving reparations would have to do two things 1)apologize 2) acknowledge that what was done was damaging and should be repaired through reparations. This act alone and admission of guilt is powerful because 1) It shows that the United States of America was built and prospered to this day as a result of stolen land (native americans) and stolen labor (blacks as slaves). 2) It shows that this is NOT a free democracy AND the myth of pull yourself up from your bootstrap (or the American Dream) is just that a MYTH. 3) It also dispels the myth of black inferiority which would then make the illusion of white supremacy crumble. Black people are in an inferior position because of circumstances that happened hundreds of years ago and these things continue to happen today.
Oh and one more thing, the abolitionists made slavery a moral issue not an economic issue. Now, it seems people don’t even see racism as a moral issue any longer. If people saw racism and slavery as moral, social, and economic issues then we would be on our way to more people being open to provide reparations or restitutions to descendants of the enslaved.
@Brothawolf
I hear ya. It disgusts me (and makes me feel sick) how people (this includes white and other non-black people) treat black people. Today at work, one of the students found a dollar on the floor. He went to the teacher, said he found it, and gave it to her. The only black student in the class had misplaced this dollar. I was across the room when all of this was happening and didn’t know what he said to her and what she said to him. As I was leaving, I took another route to leave the school, he happened to drop off a book at that hallway. I waited and asked him what happened. He was really sad about it. He told me that the teacher saw his dollar drop out of his pocket and she refused to give him the money. And what’s really messed up is that this kid’s parents gives this teacher all of these nice gifts. Talk about confusing messages sent to this child!?! I don’t know if the kid tells his parents that the teacher mistreats him, but I really think he should. Anyway, I gave him a dollar from my own wallet. I believe these are psychological scars that continue to this day because of these racists teachers and just racists people in general. And what really pisses me off about all of this is that it is happening to children.
That’s messed up they called you ‘Django’. These people are so crazy. They will hit someone and then right after say that they didn’t, yet another technique that these people do. Denial, deflecting, and derailing is what they do whenever they are exposed and for me that is why these confrontations are so stressful. I’ve been called the n-word a few times, and the ONLY people who have backed me up are other black people. Brothawolf, thank you for standing up and defending black females.
@jefe
What is the solution? What can one do when someone is in denial? How can a person who is an alcoholic or abusive correct their behavior? The first step is to acknowledge that there is a problem. Then create an action plan to correct said problem. Finally execute your action plan. Going through these steps is not going to be easy. It’s not going to be comfortable. It will be very trying at times, BUT in order to fix it you have to push through it. Plus, all of these things take time. It WILL NOT happen overnight. For many people to do this on a large scale would be rather difficult. I also think that we’d somehow have to change our interactions and discuss these issues. The problem is that usually people get defensive and don’t allow themselves to get to the heart of the issue. Of course, this is just my take on it.
LikeLike
@BigBrotha
@Mary Burrell
I know the feeling, I remember before me and my sis had to move into a country bumpkin state. It’s so backwards, VERY backwards. Nothing but racist comments hidden behind snickers and low voices. I can’t count how many racist incidents happened when I was there. When I was questioned on why blacks vote for Obama, because someone’s “friend” said it was true and I guess they needed minority(Me)to confirm it or better yet, sitting next to so called “friends” snickering and laughing about something on their cells. When asked they show a racist photo of a black man and the KKK with minstrel music.
I was just happy to leave that damn place.
It’s just sad, how everything can be hidden by “It’s just a joke, stop being sensitive” or “See this is how racism will stay if you keep worrying about race ” when it’s to minorities, but when it’s the other way around suddenly you’re “Taking things TOO far”. It’s like why when we’re in a predominately white area/setting, why our skin color? Why does it ALWAYS become the focus in EVERYTHING? When there is white person coming into a minority area/setting, whichever it might be, there aren’t large amounts of racist remarks about them, Uncomfortable jokes/pics being sent to them, eye rolls or sighs when you complain about it. It’s just a regular setting, and when we joke…it’s a joke nothing 24/7 about “So a white guy/girl…..”. and when they complain… we understand and not make them the outcast. I mean it can happen, but not on a daily basis were it gets so bad….. you get so upset or depressed you quit/leave on the spot. Sorry, it just never happens like that ALL the time. We’re not some bullies that get a rise out of people.
Sorry, didn’t mean to derail, but I just get TIRED of it. It’s like when is it going to be the day you sit down, eat a sandwich/go on the computer and one day….just day… your race isn’t brought up in anything, your not the “butt of the joke”, That famous “black” friend, being a token spoke person, etc.
LikeLike
@Drosera: Thank you for responding to my comment.
LikeLike
@ Abagond: Thanks for clearing up the stuck in moderation issues. I understand now.
LikeLike
Brothawolf said
Personally, I don’t care if people are offended anymore; I’m really getting tired of people’s nonsense and how no one says anything when black people are being mistreated. Anyway, I agree it is crazy that they are getting offended when told the truth. This is why I believe this country will never heal from racism because this country as a whole refuses to confront the issue objectively.
– I feel the same way exactly, expect the truths that are being told for you and I are different. I think we’re going to have fight on our hands in the next few years, based on the racial divide and economic conditions that cause suffering for all of us – we’ll fight over the scraps of lost prosperity.
Adeen said
Honestly I am sick of Whites commenting on Black blogs and Black sites. They hate us yet they obsess over us as if they can’t get enough of it.
Again, I echo the sentiment – except in a reciprocal direction.
Serious question for the philosophers – what is in it for me to call out racism? Why should I care if other whites are racist, and what is the benefit to white people if white racism were to disappear over-night?
LikeLike
@Riverside_rob
Racism is the huge elephant in America’s living room.
As long as people pretend it isn’t there, there is immense tension in the room as people try to move around to avoid it. Once people acknowledge that it is there, then people can work together to manage it and release the tension. For example, instead of just saying that we have to wait until the coast is clear, we can notice that there is an elephant in our path and mention it. If the elephant stomps on someone’s foot (even if the elephant didn’t intend to) at least we can admit that an elephant stomped on the person’s foot instead of telling the person they imagined their injuries.
We’re nowhere near getting rid of the elephant. It might not even be possible. But we have to start to admit that it is there.
LikeLike
Butter and Bigotry, Paula Deen admits she calls Black people the N-word. I am not surprised. I kind of wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. But somewhere I kind of knew she was a racist. She is an old white woman from the deep south and why am I not surprised by this. I feel she will come with some sorry excuse. She should keep her sorry apology.If she decides to apologize. Oprah loves Paula Deen. I wonder does she think Oprah is the N-word?
LikeLike
I’m not in the USA now, so I had to look up what is going on with Paula Deen.
Sometimes I can consider empathizing with whites to a limited extent (the operative word is LIMITED) as I can see how some feel they have to walk a wobbly tightrope. Any mishap could have the R-word, if not a lawsuit slapped on them and they feel that even if they are careful, they still might get these negative labels pasted on them.
Not that I absolve Paula Deen in any fashion. I believe she is probably culpable regarding most of the allegations.
But, the errors made by Ms. Deen and many white people include:
– that racism is also a problem with white people, not just blacks or “POC”,
– we cannot treat matters such as slavery and Jim Crow as ancient history (and therefore, past tense, over, to be forgotten) if people will promulgate idyllic iconic images of the way things used to be. We cannot solve the problems of here and now by painting over the situation of there and then.
How do most white (and white-washed) people manoeuver this minefield? They become colourblind in public and if the subject comes up, insist it is past history.
Starting in primary school people need to teach and learn about racism and de-white wash history but also teach about and discuss solutions. They have already done tests to confirm that even by age 6, children have absorbed the racist attitudes of the community. Don’t we have a responsibility to fix that?.
LikeLike
@ALL
I am not shocked to hear about Paula Deen but I don’t know if it is true. I don’t know this woman at all nor have I met her so I am not going to judge her but I don’t like the n word and derogatory terms about Blacks. And Blacks, minorities and Whites who aren’t racist should try and get rid of racism in this society.
LikeLike
@ Mary, I sometimes watched Paula Deen’s cooking show when I had cable, and though, as you’ve said, she is an old white woman from the Deep South, she always came off as friendly, good-natured and kind. I was a bit surprised what I read about her; it goes to show that gentility of manner is sometimes just a facade.
LikeLike
And, you are right Adeen, we don’t know if it is even true, as I’ve personally never heard her utter the word…
LikeLike
She admitted in her taped deposition that she had uttered the word before in specified contexts. Her own testimony confirms that she has used it, but it is not confirmed if it was used in the context alleged by her accuser.
LikeLike
never really cared for paula deen. I like Emeril, g.garvin, mr food and foodwishes on youtube. I’m not surprised if this is true, nothing really surprises me anymore. Ppl are showing their true colors.
LikeLike
Well, then thanks for the update, jefe.
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism […]
LikeLike
V-4
@Why?
The thing is; this basically falls under the difference between “Preference” and not at all, its one thing to prefer blonde, but its very rare that any one refuses to go out with anyone “except” for those that have blonde or red hair.
And if you can’t come up with a good reason, like most of the women on this blog, basically comes down to a lack of trust of people from other races or a fear of being used as a cumdumpster.
Whereas with these women they couldn’t even come up with a reason to justify it.
____________________
I’ve dated all kinds of people. However I can understand why some people may only date within their ethno-culture. There is so much already understood that does not have to be explained.
On the other hand, some people no longer date within their ethno-culture because of consistently bad experiences with doing so.
I know two siblings of a certain background. One dates only within her ethno-culture and the other dates only out of. The first because she’s tried dating out and has found the cultural differences too much. She prefers to not have to explain why she does things a certain way and have that common ground from the get go. The other one has dating men within her same group but ever time she did, she kept coming up against the same negative stereotypes of them. So now she only dates out.
Two sisters, two entirely different dating strategies.
I can understand both.
LikeLike
On the flip side of this calling out racism. This is just me. But I don’t want to be like the literary character Don Quixote chasing windmills where there aren’t any. I find it to be exhausting. In other words at the risk of being redundant here,I don’t want to always go looking for racism in every situation where there is none. I don’t always want to be overreacting and being paranoid about everything in society. I want to enjoy living and have some joy. Life is too short.
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism […]
LikeLike
White people don’t care about racism because it doesn’t affect them. I bet you if a very powerful group of Aliens were to land on earth with the sole intention of exterminating and enslaving the white race you would see how quick they would want the whole world to fight for them, because we are all humans. White people have effed over every group since they crawled out of the mountains of Europe. Every continent has felt their hatred, lust , hunger for power, unspiritual, base animalistic tendencies.
These are people who had no sense of love or compassion, no reverence or care about nature or spirit. It is through their intermingling with the so-called savages that the learned these things. Even basic hygiene they did not practice, they had to be taught how to bathe themselves and wash their hair. Yet, in white people’s eyes the very people who humanized them were the enemy. All they got from every place they visited was love, peace and welcome and they paid back everybody with death and destitution and generations of poverty. Even wiping out entire groups of people right off the face of the earth. How can they call out racism when they have not even condemned the acts of their forebears and work toward making reparations to the generations of people who were affected by their actions?
Look into that picture, those are the faces of the good Christian people who went to church on Sunday, and on Monday they are terrorizing an innocent teenaged girl.
LikeLike
Riverside_rob, you asked: “Serious question for the philosophers – what is in it for me to call out racism? Why should I care if other whites are racist, and what is the benefit to white people if white racism were to disappear over-night?”
The fact that you are asking this question makes it obvious to me what the answer to your question is. The answer is that there is NOT anything in it for you to call out white racism (at least not yet). There’s nothing in it for you because you don’t genuinely desire that white racism disappears, and you are OK with the fact that the United States is a white supremacist society. You’re OK with the fact that, compared to white people, people of color are more likely to die young, earn far less money, be forced to live in cages, and suffer all other sorts of oppressions and indignities. So naturally, since you are OK with white supremacy continuing to exist, you feel no need to do anything that helps undermine white supremacy.
I am also a white person, and I was exposed to socialization around race that in many ways was similar to your socialization around race, Rob. So, like you and 99% of white people, I am also racist and have a tendency to have these sorts of “what’s in it for me?” type thoughts. And deep down I believe (despite the lack of any actual evidence) that I am superior to people of color, as I would hypothesize you believe deep down as well, Rob. Deep down I also feel loyalty to my race and steadfastly guard my white skin privilege.
And yet I have come to recognize that these beliefs and feelings within myself are WRONG. Although I continue to be racist, I have also come to develop a commitment to assist (when possible) people of color in their struggle to free themselves from white supremacy. So I DO CARE when other whites are racist because their racism harms people of color, causes people of color to suffer and DIE, and I recognize that this is wrong. And there might not be any benefit to white people, in general, if white racism were to disappear overnight. . .but I individually would experience a great deal of satisfaction (along with some unease, I’m sure) because white racism is something I’ve wanted to see disappear for a long time, and it’s something I’ve worked hard to undermine. It would be nice to feel like my efforts in some small part helped accomplish something important.
LikeLike
Thank you Becky for coming out strong on your people and your ideas of being superior to others. Your loyalty is noted and when the day comes that you may need some help I hope that you don’t get any! When reality sets in please don’t call.
LikeLike
rowestusi63. . .I agree with you. I hope people of color don’t waste any time helping me or other white folks. This is why I’m honest about the nature of my racism, because my racism is dangerous, and I want to give people of color a chance to protect themselves from me. Even though I recognize that white supremacy is horribly wrong, and I strive to be a traitor to the white race. . .I recognize that I still am white and was still socialized to be racist toward people of color and so y’all best not trust me too much.
LikeLike
@ Riverside_rob
Assuming that you are asking that as a White American:
I wrote a post on how racism helps and hurts whites:
In that post the part about whites voting against their class interests is not fleshed out, but, roughly speaking, the lack of equality in America is:
1. Why education, health care and the courts only seem to work well for people with money.
2. Why wages and income have pretty much stood still for the bottom 80% since the 1970s – even though the economy has more has doubled in real terms since then.
3. Why the Democrats and Republicans now represent, at best, only the top 3% of the country.
All that was brought to you by the Southern strategy:
which plays on white racism like so:
LikeLike
@Why?
The problem with conflating ethnicity with culture is that a black person and white person from the same area in the same state in the south will have more in common with each other than a white person from the north and a white person from the south.
But I doubt thats reflected in dating practices.
LikeLike
[…] That means calling out racism. […]
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism […]
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism (abagond.wordpress.com) […]
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism […]
LikeLike
[…] calling out racism (abagond.wordpress.com) […]
LikeLike