9 clueless things white people say when confronted with racism
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rokkerkory
Member
Might just be where I live (cali) but I sense less racism here or the notion that people are too put off / scared to even bring it up.
Shit. I'm white, I gotta step up my game. I've not said any of these things! I'm a failure to my entire race.
Try Satellite. You could fill an entire Hannity or Mark Levin show with all of these.
Try Satellite. You could fill an entire Hannity or Mark Levin show with all of these.
Deified Data
Banned
A hardened heart.
Such as?
PhoenixDark
Banned
Mentalities like this are the reason race isn't going away anytime soon.
Many of those 9 points boil down to the general idea that racism has one specific definition, and anything that doesn't meet it isn't racist. It's the reason why the "I have black friends" argument will never die. If someone isn't burning crosses or wearing KKK robes they aren't racist, according to many (if not most) white people in the US.
The idea of institutional racism is completely rejected by them, and more and more we're seeing many white people associate "diversity" with "anti-white."
and will be written again in this one
people are asking you to listen to them and understand not to feel bad about something. Stop making yourselves into some kinda victims when you aren't even willing to have a discussion in the firstplace
If I was bragging or thinking solely of the benefits I've received in my life while talking about those suffering in war torn countries, I think I definitely should be told to check my privilege.
Vermillion
Banned
Nah. When minorities talk about their experiences, you shouldn't be talking in circles trying to shut them down. It really means just listen before you respond.
PeskyToaster
Member
Isn't saying "all white people say clueless things" just another facet of racism? These blanket statements are part of the problem because they just make one side defensive. I don't know, there's a better way to make this argument.
No. It's a list to show you shouldn't be making ignorant comments about racism. It's really not hard to understand.
You can't see how most of these are problematic?
i don't see anything wrong with that because all minorities suffer from racism
Silent rage.
pants
Member
"Please try and see this from my point of view" a very simple and much less toxic way of saying the same thing
Perspicacity
Banned
It isn't even a contentious thing to say, it's pretty neutral. But for the sake of argument, why do you think that if it were contentious that invalidates the sentiment behind it?
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
I'm not sure I understand this either.
Check your privilege.
pants
Member
Thats not ever the context the phrase is used in though
It's the same thing.
pants
Member
I've experienced more racism than probably 99% of the people that's posted in this thread. Another reason this is a dumb thing to say is people assume because someone disagrees there has to be elevated levels of privilege involved.
GingerNathan
Member
Read them in one form or another online, don't recall anybody using them around me in the physical world. Anonymity does bring out the worst in people :/
you're literally doing the same thing with this sentence
PhoenixDark
Banned
High blood pressure.
Deified Data
Banned
Biscuit and milk compound.
pants
Member
I thought we automatically had that? :x
Vermillion
Banned
Lmao
Yeah I don't get number 2.
And OP worded it in such a way that it seems to be a clickbait site and I don't want to give them clicks.
samus i am
Member
#8 is my most hated argument. It makes my blood boil.
I grow optimistic at the increasing diversity of the nation's population, but have a very strong suspicion that Latinos will just be the next Irish, Italians and Jews. Millions will probably assimilate with white majority culture in the coming decades and turn around to treat blacks and darker Latinos less favorably.
My thoughts:
1) Agree with the article on this point, except that it's not always wrong to claim this. But yes, it often is.
2) Agree with the article.
3) & 4) (They're kind of the same point.) Disagree. We have a term for what he's trying to define as racism: institutionalized racism. The sole purpose of trying to redefine racism to exclude certain types of racism is that the word "racism" now carries such a strong negative connotation that people want to say it's actually impossible for them to be racist. So they try to redefine the word to only apply to people other than themselves or the group they sympathize with. That's not to say that educating people about the gravity of institutionalized racism isn't a worthy cause; it is. But other types of racism exist, and to redefine those types out of the definition of racism is doing a disservice to struggles against those other types of racism.
5) I haven't witnessed this, but if it does occur, agreed.
6) Agreed, but it's also somewhat understandable, as if you try to self-educate on the internet, the loudest voices tend to come from extremes, and are not necessarily representative of the group as a whole. So it's understandable if someone feels their friends are more representative of the Average Joe of said group than tumblr sites. But still, I agree you should be aware that your friend might not be representative of the group, either.
7) I hate the notion of "privilege" so much, but I'm not going to touch on that right now.
8) Mostly agreed (except as "privilege" comes into play).
9) Agreed. I don't know too many people that actually feel guilty for being white. Even when I disagree with something, it bothers me when that something gets dismissed as "white guilt."
1) Agree with the article on this point, except that it's not always wrong to claim this. But yes, it often is.
2) Agree with the article.
3) & 4) (They're kind of the same point.) Disagree. We have a term for what he's trying to define as racism: institutionalized racism. The sole purpose of trying to redefine racism to exclude certain types of racism is that the word "racism" now carries such a strong negative connotation that people want to say it's actually impossible for them to be racist. So they try to redefine the word to only apply to people other than themselves or the group they sympathize with. That's not to say that educating people about the gravity of institutionalized racism isn't a worthy cause; it is. But other types of racism exist, and to redefine those types out of the definition of racism is doing a disservice to struggles against those other types of racism.
5) I haven't witnessed this, but if it does occur, agreed.
6) Agreed, but it's also somewhat understandable, as if you try to self-educate on the internet, the loudest voices tend to come from extremes, and are not necessarily representative of the group as a whole. So it's understandable if someone feels their friends are more representative of the Average Joe of said group than tumblr sites. But still, I agree you should be aware that your friend might not be representative of the group, either.
7) I hate the notion of "privilege" so much, but I'm not going to touch on that right now.
8) Mostly agreed (except as "privilege" comes into play).
9) Agreed. I don't know too many people that actually feel guilty for being white. Even when I disagree with something, it bothers me when that something gets dismissed as "white guilt."
pants
Member
It should be plainly obvious to you, given the way people react to it, that it is not a neutral statement. People take it as an insult or an attack on their upbringing. You may not interpret it that way, but some do and a lot of people at that. Words are what people interpret it to be, and just from observation, it's clear this phrase rustles a lot of jimmies. Why not just substitute it with something else, like I posted above, instead of starting a discussion off with an inane fight over something that has no real importance(phrasing)? The message is important yeah, so why start it off with something people perceive as an insult?
Well, that would require you to know what everyone else in the thread has experienced, so I'm just going to suggest you're talking out of your ass.
People only use it when it's necessary.
Your whole argument here is ridiculous. Then again this isn't the first time you've argued something suspicious.
Check your privilege was a harmless and basic statement until racists (and other offended who misunderstood it) declared it as "toxic" to discussion. Much like how "feminism" sets off alarm bells in the heads of sexists despite the lack of any ill intent. Whatever other new way it's phrased to make you happy will eventually become vilified too.
I say we stop making concessions to the racism deniers who demand that any opposing group be a certain level of nice and polite before they're willing to listen.
Are you white? Did someone call you a cracker once? Please tell us.
Fucking Huh?
pants
Member
I'm sorry mate, but my family was forcefully evicted out of our home because of our race. We could only be employed in a handful of jobs, because of our race. We were not allowed to pursue any education apart from teaching or nursing, because of our race. Couldn't play sport with whites, cant ride the white bus, cant go into a white neighborhood. etc. I watched my friends being beaten up by cops for being black at the wrong time of day. I grew up in apartheid, so I definitely have checked my privilege mate.
Also you miss the point of me saying that. It's the exact same thing as saying 'check your privilege' it's a nonsense statement
Deified Data
Banned
I suppose that would apply to anyone who's asked a stranger on the internet to check their privilege too, huh.
It's never necessary. It makes assumptions about how the larger trends of privilege affect the person in question while also adding nothing to the discussion.
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