Read on Twitter
all white people are racist.
you probably read that and thought "not me!" and got really mad, but let me explain:
you probably read that and thought "not me!" and got really mad, but let me explain:
racism is not a "yes" or "no" person-by-person case, racism is a much more complex issue that drives the world we live in. if you are white and brought up in a racist society, you are inherenetly racist. yes me, and yes you.
i know "racist" is a very strong, panic inducing word. but you need to look at this topic beyond just yourself. this is bigger than you. this is bigger than all of us white people. this is what we are doing that effects EVERYONE else around us.
recognizing this is very important: the more aware you are of how the world around you shaped you to think certain ways, the easier it is for you to unlearn all of these predetermined ideas that were set before you, and evolve.
one of the most common things i see white people saying when things like this happen are "but you can be racist to white people too!"
well, no you cant.
cause racism is a much bigger picture, not a person by person case.
well, no you cant.
cause racism is a much bigger picture, not a person by person case.
for example, when a POC says "white people suck!", the worst that can be is a & #39;hot take& #39;, maybe pissing a few people off.
it cant HURT anyone.
where as a white person saying "black people suck!" not only gives them and fellow whites more power, it takes away power from POC.
it cant HURT anyone.
where as a white person saying "black people suck!" not only gives them and fellow whites more power, it takes away power from POC.
when i lived in oakland i was one of 3 white kids in my ENTIRE school, but when i transferred there i wasnt scared. yeah i was nervous, but the fear i felt was nothing like the fear i wouldve felt if i was black switching to a mostly white school.
and that is a feeling i, as a white person, will never be able to feel. all i can do is listen to the perspectives of my black friends and peers and hear about their experiences.
my friends and i would be skating and theyd head into certain areas, and they would tell me to go home, and that it wasnt safe for me tocbe there because i was white.
and while this hurt me deeply and broke my heart, IT WAS NOT RACISM.
and while this hurt me deeply and broke my heart, IT WAS NOT RACISM.
white people that hate other races do so because they benefit from a society that puts them first, which makes them feel superior to other races.
other races that "hate white people" feel that way because of what WE have done to THEM.
it always boils down back to us.
other races that "hate white people" feel that way because of what WE have done to THEM.
it always boils down back to us.
white people subconciously love their privledge, and when they feel it slipping, they retaliate. this is the institutionalized racism that you must UNLEARN.
examples of this subconscious desperate grab to keep power can look like this:
examples of this subconscious desperate grab to keep power can look like this:
- white people digging up the past of unarmed black men to villify them
- talking about "revese racism"
- "why do you have to make everything about race"
- looking for excuses for the cop
and the big one:
- not listening to black people& #39;s point of view if they disagree with it.
- talking about "revese racism"
- "why do you have to make everything about race"
- looking for excuses for the cop
and the big one:
- not listening to black people& #39;s point of view if they disagree with it.
if a black person says that you, a white person, are doing something racist, or that makes them feel inferior, even if it intiially sounds ridiculous, LISTEN TO THEM ANYWAY. while i cant sit here and say they will be right 100% of the time, you MUST listen to their point of view.
white people as a majority will only take a stand as far as the level of ""woke"" that theyve reached. anything being said that they dont agree with, they will instantly write off. stop this. listen. even if it sounds "radical" or "ridiculous", you MUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE OF COLOR.
and i also want to add, im not saying any of this because i feel that im any better than anyone else in this aspect. while i feel that ive definitely had a good head start from being raised by a progressive family, i still have a long way to go. AND SO DO YOU.
you are not excused for what you have done to help the cause. you cant just make a couple tweets and get some "woke points" and be done as a white ally. you must constantly educate yourself, learn more, and grow.
and one last thing i want to add: if you have been reading this and kind of rolling your eyes, or you still believe "white privilege" is over exaggerated, try this.
buy a black lives matter shirt, and wear it in public for one day. take notes of all the dirty looks you get.
buy a black lives matter shirt, and wear it in public for one day. take notes of all the dirty looks you get.
that feeling that you will get from doing this, feeling like people are judging you (even if you dont care about thier dumbass opinions!) is probably more than youve ever been used to, but it is still not even mildly comparable to the struggle of any person of color, every day.
if you& #39;re white and you actually read through all of this, thank you. i know to a lot of people that arent in my inner circle some of this may seem "radical" at first, but at the very least, let it sink in over time. but the last thing i will ask:
LISTEN. TO. PEOPLE. OF. COLOR.
LISTEN. TO. PEOPLE. OF. COLOR.
