News Why It's So Hard To Talk To White People About Racism

[ms spock]

@Ms Spock the directive that you describe that existed in the school system reminds me of the many laws that were written to support racist ideals. I think most people are ignorant to the fact tat such laws existed, which is probably why they don't understand how racism is in fact institutionalized. It's strange to me when people are being taught real history, and still hold on to denial.

I have been aware of my White Skin privilege since I was 15 - and it is hard to come to terms with it. But I was very fortunate to have a Non Aboriginal Aboriginal Resource Teacher and was taught an inclusive Australian History that many Australians never have access to - so I was lucky to learn what I learnt.

We have been taught the history of institutionalised racism in our education teacher's course - and so far I am the only one contributing (other than the lecturer) and basically having a conversation with myself - and I may have said too much but it is important to speak up - so I have - inelegantly as I have. I also should have been doing my assignment but it felt so important to speak about the truth. Thank you for your comments.

 

[ms spock]

This is how certain people are kept out of certain neighborhoods, they are simply not given the chance. She took one look at me and decided it was rented already because she didn't want my pigment ruining the neighborhood.

And it steals people's choices and opportunities as well, that systemic racism is so hard to counter.

 

[Kintsugi]

The opportunity thing cannot be overstated, @Ms Spock. :(

 

[ms spock]

When people have been trained to feel a sense of entitlement of opportunity @Simply Simon - it confounds them that there is no equal opportunity, and to see the curtailed opportunity, is so hard, and understanding the myth of meritocracy is a journey as well. It is not easy.

 

[ms spock]

Act II is about institutional racism. The brief discussion about white space and black space is an excellent summary of the basic issue: http://m.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/557/birds-bees

Such a well produced radio program. Thanks so much for that.

 

[intothelight]

Racism is a tough issue and it is many times insidious. I don't consider myself a racist, but when I see a group of young African American males dressed in a certain way, in a certain location, I tend to have a sense of fear for my own personal safety. Put the same group in a different location and dressed differently and that sense of fear doesn't happen.

In some situations, I see kids (no color) and in other situations I see "gang". Racist or prudent?

 

[Kintsugi]

@intothelight The Verna Myer's TED Talk I link to addresses the shit out of that. She and her collegue, who give talks about bias and prejudice etc., are lost in a rougher part of the city, and they see a black man walking down the road. Her Asian collegue shrinks, but Myer is happy to find him so she can ask for directions. She addresses how she realizes in that moment that she is connecting because the man looks like so many of the men she was raised around, and her collegue is understandably uncertain because they are two women lost in a rough part of the city.

I worry a lot less in the area I'm in now than I did in NJ about people of different races. As I mentioned, not enough separates people down here. No one assumes I'm automatically better off because I'm white. I am less likely to be a target because I'm more likely to be just as broke as they are (and I totally am).

In NJ, it would really depend. I was called a rich bitch in NYC because I was dressed to see a play and wouldn't give a beggar money. I was, oh, twelve? I didn't have any money. It's all about perception. I was white and well dressed in the city. I've been to the city a million times dressed casually and never had a problem.

Not that black people are the only ones begging in the city, but because of overwhelming risk factors associated with existing as a black man in white society, you know, it affects the population's numbers inevitably.

 

[RussH]

I have not yet read the article, but I do have an opinion on the subject.
I am not afraid to talk about racism. However one of the difficulties in discussing this subject with a person of a different race ( I am white) comes from statements by men like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They have claimed in recent history that people of color cannot be racist, because in order to be racist you must be in a position of power ( or similar terminology.)

We cannot carry on a meaningful about racism until we recognize that racism is not just a white problem, but a people problem.

I racist is someone who judges another by the color of their skin and not by the content of the character. And if I, a white person, look at a person of color, and I make determinations about strictly on their color, then I am a racist.

If they see me and make determinations about me based on the color of my skin (or the lack thereof) then they too are racist.

So for us to have a meaningful discussion about racism, then we must both set aside our preconceived ideas, our prejudices, and discuss the subject as equals.

 

[joeylittle]

So for us to have a meaningful discussion about racism, then we must both set aside our preconceived ideas, our prejudices, and discuss the subject as equals.

I understand what you are saying, in theory - but I actually don't know if it's possible to discuss these things as equals, given the concept of white privilege - which I do believe is very real in many parts of the world.

If you look for my other post on this thread, there's a link to a great cartoon that does a very, very good job articulating white privilege and how hard it is for white people to see it.

ETA: why not be helpful, joey?
http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/white-privilege-explained-in-one-simple-comic/

 

[Kintsugi]

@joeylittle That comic was amazing. Yes. Exactly that.

ETA: just randomly stumbled upon an example of this. (White man vs black man legally carrying an AR-15)

 

[joeylittle]

@Simply Simon - that video is so sad, and so true,

 

[RussH]

@joeylittle I read the cartoon, and yes white privilege exist, but the point I made is still valid. Until people of color are willing to admit that they too can be racist, then having a meaningful discussion is very difficult.

As for the cartoon there are some comments that I would like to make.
1. The percentage of whites admitted to universities verses the number of P.O.C. ; how do those numbers compare with the population ratio? Are they doing a comparative analysis with students that have the same gpa?

When it states the percentage of whiles in prison verses P.O.C. it does not give the percentage of crimes committed by whites verses P.O.C.
And as for the percentage of whites with crimminal records that find employment verses P.O.C.(5%) that number is negligible, but given that it does not say what kind of crimes the five percent of whites committed, verses all the other people with records committed.

Again, I am completely opposed to racism. I firmly believe that a person should be recognized because of the character, and not their color.
so don't take my comments as me being racist, I am not.
However I am tired of being told the only reason I have a job, and I am not in prison is because I am white. It takes away from the fact that I worked hard, I studied hard, and I haven't committed any felonies.

Does racism exist? Yes Have people of color been denied jobs because of the color of their skin? Yes. Have, in the past, People of color been denied service in restaurants because of their color? And shame on us for this.

Now to conclude, when I see a white person, I see a person. When I see a person of color; I see a person. All of us as our own strengths and weakness, and it is up to us as individuals to maximum the potential our strengths give us, and recognize and work to strengthen our weakness.