Read on Twitter
1/ Thread: I am white and racist. Not the kind of racist that proudly and hatefully supports white supremacy but the kind that grew up with little (and big) things I didn’t notice because as a white person, I didn’t personally experience it. https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879136931/interrupt-the-systems-robin-diangelo-on-white-fragility-and-anti-racism
3/ Even the way we are taught about avoiding racism perpetuates racism: decent people don’t want to be lumped in with people who are racist by choice. https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/yes-all-white-people-are-racist-eefa97cc5605
4/ We know we sincerely want people of all skin color to be happy and have the same opportunities as us so it’s reflexive to get defensive instead of listening and helping when they try to tell us ways that is not happening. https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/white-fragility-why-its-so-hard-to-talk-to-white-people-about-racism-twlm/
5/ I never asked to become racist and frankly, I’m fairly pissed off about it. I’m no longer embarrassed to admit I’m racist because I DON’T WANT TO BE and I couldn’t help my subconscious being shaped by the society I grew up in. https://www.vox.com/2020/6/17/21284527/systemic-racism-black-americans-9-charts-explained
6/ There’s this “AH-HA” moment that so-called “woke” white people have where they finally realize the label “racism” doesn’t mean what they thought it meant. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/racism-concept-change/594526/
7/ I mean, if you admit you are racist or make racist mistakes, it’s all over—right? The population of the US (and world) is full of good people... if everyone grew up with these racist influences, you’re in good company. https://theracecardproject.com/everyones-racist-in-their-own-way/
8/ Once you realize that, it becomes a lot easier to stop being defensive, absorb data/statistics, and LISTEN to people’s experience. https://www.businessinsider.com/us-systemic-racism-in-charts-graphs-data-2020-6
10/ Somewhat ironically, the problem with ending racism is that almost no one *WANTS* to be racist. It’s hard to communicate with someone who is too busy proving they aren’t bad to hear they’re causing, perpetuating, or ignoring racism—which is harmful. http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/
11/ White people who get past the idea that “racist” automatically means you revere the KKK are on the right path but often still want to succinctly be told how to act the “right way” so they don’t have to worry about it anymore. https://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/a-call-for-moral-courage-in-america/
12/ Recognize there’s no silver bullet or simple switch to suddenly become “not racist;” eliminating racism involves humility and continual growth. Accept that it’s something added to your subconscious against your will & choose to to be “anti-racist.” https://www.self.com/story/white-ally-resources
13/ There’s a fear of “being canceled” if you get it wrong—guess what, you’ll make mistakes. I’m probably making some right now as I write this thread. Forgive yourself, learn, and grow. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/opinion/antiracism-what-comes-next.html
14/ If you have trouble with knee-jerk defensiveness, maybe pretend you’re unlearning something less emotionally charged—like practicing a more efficient, ergonomic method of typing; hard but clinical. Calm down, think about why it matters, do the work. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/158-resources-understanding-systemic-racism-america-180975029/
15/ There’s also the issue that people who experience racism on a constant basis are exhausted. As a white person, try to direct your questions and feelings about your journey with unlearning racism in ways that don’t dump your emotional labor on them. https://www.scarymommy.com/stop-asking-people-color-explain-racism/
16/ Read/watch the vast amount of media already created by people of color on this topic, talk to other white people who are actively trying to shed racist behavior, & always keep “ring theory” in mind when expressing your frustration or your successes: https://www.dailyshoring.com/circle-of-grief-ring-theory/
I’ll probably keep adding resources along the way, feel free to comment with suggestions (and corrections, because I accept I will make mistakes). https://medium.com/fractured-atlas-blog/resources-for-white-people-to-learn-and-talk-about-race-and-racism-5b207fff4fc7
I decided to link this semi-related post here, too: https://twitter.com/iron_eliza/status/1290750572338073600?s=21 https://twitter.com/iron_eliza/status/1290750572338073600
This clip from John Oliver is better than much of the journalism from actual news shows. My jaw still isn’t off the floor from the footage of the #Kenosha sheriff publicly advocating genocide of Black people or that he posed kneeling with #BLM. WTAF https://twitter.com/iron_eliza/status/1300686303110062080?s=21 https://twitter.com/iron_eliza/status/1300686303110062080
