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Dear White People,
I need you all to listen for a moment, ok? From one white man to the rest of the white delegation:
SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.
I need you all to listen for a moment, ok? From one white man to the rest of the white delegation:
SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.
I feel that it’s my duty as a white anti-racist social justice bleeding heart liberal warrior to jump in and do some of the mental/emotional work that Black people are tired of doing.
So... you have lots beliefs and opinions on the matter of racial justice in America, and the appropriate way to protest, do ya?
But there’s a few things about that you need to understand:
But there’s a few things about that you need to understand:
1. Your tone policing, respectability bullshit needs to stop. Everything you say black people should do instead of rioting? Guess what, Professor Chaos... black people did it!
They sat. They stood. They kneeled. They marched.
They were lynched. They were hosed. They were beaten. They were blackballed.
They were lynched. They were hosed. They were beaten. They were blackballed.
2. Opinions and beliefs that are disproven on a factual basis are no longer opinions or beliefs, just ignorance.
Every ounce of data and every statistic says that Black people are somehow worse off than every other demographic, but especially White people.
Every ounce of data and every statistic says that Black people are somehow worse off than every other demographic, but especially White people.
And it’s not some tiny discrepancy, it’s so disproportionate that it borders on satire and should be asterisked with “*not an Onion article.”
Your opinion that this is an overreaction or that racism isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be is provably false.
Your opinion that this is an overreaction or that racism isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be is provably false.
3. This is the most important point in this thread. Probably more so than anything else anyone tells you on this matter:
White man to white people. Our opinions, our perspectives on this... they just don’t matter.
White man to white people. Our opinions, our perspectives on this... they just don’t matter.
Our perspective is that of the oppressor. It’s not our fault, but it’s true.
We didn’t own slaves. We totally would’ve marched with MLK. We all have a black friend or two.
WE ARE NOT RACIST!
Right? RIGHT?!
But... we do benefit greatly from a system that is rooted in rules set by oppressors.
WE ARE NOT RACIST!
Right? RIGHT?!
But... we do benefit greatly from a system that is rooted in rules set by oppressors.
Ironically, dismantling that system would benefit literally every American who is below the median of the middle class, not just Black people. But the class lesson is one for a different day.
But I digress...
I implore you all, to please understand that this situation needs empathy. You give your sympathy. You feel bad for the families of the victims. Sympathy and empathy are not the same. Empathy requires viewing things from another’s perspective and feeling their pain.
You despise overt forms of racism like racial slurs, hate crimes, the KKK, etc. because they’re palpable forms evil; they make you feel angry and disgusted. That’s empathy!
You need to bring that same energy and anger when it comes to subliminal racism. The systemic shit that’s ingrained in our government, our society, our culture... quit dismissing it.
Start dismantling it!
Start dismantling it!
You can start by asking your black friends their thoughts and feelings. Just don’t be surprised if they’re too exhausted to explain it yet again. Don’t be disappointed if they don’t trust you enough to share their truth.
There’s plenty of other resources out there. Find them.
There’s plenty of other resources out there. Find them.
White people, we gotta sit this one out. When it comes to opinions or advice on racism, we gotta just shut the fuck up and support our friends, our neighbors, our fellow humans. We are only as good as how we treat the least of us.
