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Rising Star
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Chief
Tell me your top three life lessons so far
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Rising Star
Part of the problem is that a lot of people who want to “end racism” refuse to understand that it’s not a one and done thing. You don’t take one diversity or bias training and all of a sudden you’re “cured.” It takes intentional, repeated education and action. Racism is deep rooted in our cultural DNA to the point where certainly in our lifetime racism will not end. I’m a white person who is totally dedicated to ending systematic racism and I educate myself regularly on how *I* perpetuate or am involved in perpetuating racism. But I also know that I’ll ALWAYS have racist thoughts that I need to be cognizant of because I was raised in this time and place where black lives are not valued the same as white lives. It’s not my fault for being raised in this culture, but it is my responsibility to try to change it.
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Active listening and not becoming defensive immediately is the first step. Educate yourself on the systems of oppression within the country as well as the hidden history of the United States. There are amazing books written by people which delve into this in detail.
Chief
Maybe stop yelling and listen?
Agree on the problem first
Critical. We have not reached this point.
Pro
"I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice [...]"
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
I think it’s hard for someone who outright hates black people (as an example) to change. However, for someone who thinks that they are not racist but acts on subconscious, conditioned racist impulses - that should be the target audience for this imo. Because they can change, and they are often willing to change. For the hardcore racists, all they need to know is that there are serious repercussions if they act on their impulses.
I wouldn’t say it’s on the rise I would just say it’s being publicized now. I have worked with many people who were actively anti-black and got them to think about things from another perspective through educating them on the history and challenging them to think. A lot of people who hold those beliefs do so because it’s what they were taught to but if you unteach them and educate others it helps at least deescalate from the hate. While it isn’t perfect at least it is progress.
Chief
I don't believe the objective to convince racists that Black lives matter or cajole them into understanding that Black people are deserving of humanity and basic decency.
The objective is to remove the white supremacy that has been woven into the fabric of American society since this nation's inception. Stopping systemic racism is a matter of policy and legislation, not arguing with racists on the internet.
The challenge is getting people who are "not racist" (but are comfortable with the status quo) to recognize just how deep the problem of systemic racism is how much we need to change as a nation. These folks are often resistant or in denial because 1) racism doesn't affect them so they don't see it as an big issue; and 2) addressing racial inequality head on means they might have to give up some of the privileges they've enjoyed as an effect of that inequality.
Chief
Definitely. Policy and legislation should address that.
A few words for thought
Reach out to those you disagree with and try to get to know them a little on a personal level. It’s hard to truly hate someone after you sit down with them for an hour or two and just talk like civilized people.
I honestly don’t know anyone like this. I purposefully don’t associate with racists.
Yeah, I agree. Feel like many of the conversations online are a big echo chamber.
Nevertheless, I think the social media shares, especially coming from white allies, are helpful to show how important this movement is. I am independent and wasn’t feeling super excited to vote for Biden, but the amount of activity online is making me more interested in voting for anyone but trump. I’m just one person, but maybe other undecided people will vote differently as well.
Chief
OP don't bother. There will always be peckerheads like Directer 1 who will respond with your highly empathetic request for help in understanding with a comment like "Stop yelling", automatically assuming don't listen because they assume your white - a racist in their own right.
Chief
OP - you asked what to do if you're a racist and it seems like all parties are just yelling. I suggested you stop yelling and listen to the anti-racist side.
I consider myself a white ally. And I say this to you as such because I used to be hold conservative ideas about law and order and repeatedly told people I wasn’t racist. Talking isn’t good enough. Its not enough to just say you aren’t racist or tell someone you’re on their side. What actions are you specifically taking? Are you voting for leaders that advocate police reform? Are you contacting elected representatives about police policies? Or do you turn a blind eye? Do you defend policies that target minorities (e.g. stop and frisk, etc)? Are you donating to causes like BLM that advocate for change if you don’t have time to do it yourself or are you donating to causes that benefit you personally (i.e. Republicans, conservative SuperPACs, etc)? As a consultant, our compensation affords is a larger voice in American politics (since money is speech after all). So I guess really my question to you is, what will you use your money to say?
We need systematic change. Our laws and practices should be anti-racism then the person with racism tendencies don't get the supportive platform and gradually learns how to behave.
On the other hand, feeling more than ever like it’s impossible to discuss any of what’s going on without being crowned racist. Maybe that’s not true, but it’s a side effect of the social sharing I wrote about above
Pro
Honestly, I don't think you're going to change the views of a racist. Not one who has been conditioned for years and years and years. However, I see change happening with people who don't realize the full extent of their unconscious bias. I see change possible with the next generation of those racists. Particularly when racist behavior is punished and cast into shame. You'll always have radicals, but I envision a world where racism and discrimination are not the norm, where any hint of it is stomped out by people of any color because it is understood and accepted as wrong.
I've seen white people who are listening and who are trying to do better. It's a wide spectrum. But those who have been vocal recently haven't hesitated to shoot down stupid comments by others.
Chief
Acknowledge the problem first. Then action. Talk is cheap.
Chief
Rebuild the systems in place so racism and prejudice cannot thrive in this country.
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