So, there is this thing going on that nobody is talking about. (/s) Where NFL player take a knee before the Anthem. According to some to protest inequality and … “start a discussion”.
At first I was a bit triggered, by the flag and anthem thing, but I was willing to push past it and try to get involved in the conversation.
Yet, if we want to talk about racism and equity we have to talk about the whole issue. There are reasons it is difficult to have the discussion.
Small Town White Woman starts to try to talk about it…
Me: … black person… Interrupted
Other person: “I am a person not a color”...
Me: ugh, gosh I am sorry.. African American.
Yet another person: Person - I am not from Africa, do you call yourself a German American?
Me: Ugh, I am sorry… (sweaty now, still trying).. Eh.. Person of Color?
Other Person: What the fuck Barbie?
Me: Uhhh…
Other person: why you gotta label everyone anyway..
Me: I thought we were talking about racism…
Other person to his friends: You believe this shit? (somewhere in there he throws around the N word)
Me: I’m out of this discussion, why don’t you talk about it.
(disclaimer, this was actually 3 different conversations, but this was an easy way to show the issue)
Yikes.. This is no place for a calm discussion and working out issues.
However, you made me think about it, so now I want to talk about it..
I resent having to have the conversation so often. Yes, I know those who experience the prejudice resent having to deal with it also. Just being honest it might be unfair, but it is true.
I am letting the resentment go, many have asked that we talk about it. I also have to choose my terms carefully, because if I say something a bit off instead of asking for clarification or attempting to enlighten me to where you disagree you will label me a racist or say that I just don't understand because I am not black so you are invalidating my entire position ad-hominem. If I slip up badly enough, it could go viral on the Internet and my entire personal life and job and all that I hold dear is on the line.
It is insufficient to acknowledge the issues, and I do acknowledge there is racism and prejudice, I acknowledge a disparity in the justice system from officers to the courts and jails... and in too many other places to list. Yes, people have died due to both fear and hatred. Yet when I ask what I can do... The answer is we just want to open a discussion. But.. Do you?
The manner in which we are having the conversation is terrible. Why hate a racist? Why attack what is precious to him? Why just try to silence them? Why not say, where did you get that point of view, or why do you think that? The call to action I hear is "call it out". The reaction to someone being less than perfectly sensitive often is ridicule and anger. I don't understand how that helps. How about talking it out? We are all fed negative propaganda about minorities all of the time through TV. Movies, Media and even this discussion. If a person hasn't had any positive personal experiences and they are learning about black people via culture what do you think they see and hear? Why is it so surprising and hateable that they get the wrong impression? Why answer that problem with disgust and an attempt to silence? Silencing someone does not change their view. What happens when they are silenced and not changed? They freak out in a pullover situation and kill a black person; due to fear or even hatred. Or they don't hire minorities, don't promote, don't lift up, don’t give the benefit of the doubt. Silencing it isn't enough change is what is needed and isn't easy and it also takes time.
There are real prejudices I struggle with. I can't control how other people think. So, it feels like you are holding me accountable for someone else's bad behavior. (which is exactly how blacks feel judged by whites) I'm told listening to people fling N word around is environmental, if it is - so is.. As a product of my own environment, I don't understand what you are saying, and I don't know the rules, so this is not a conversation I enjoy. I don’t hate you for it, but I don’t want to hear it. I am disliking your behavior though, not your race. I acknowledge some will call this racism. Sometimes the issues we talk about are related to poverty, environment and a lack of education or a personal choice and is not about race.. So, it can get quite confusing, is this environment, poverty or racism.. ? Often I am not sure.
We tend to talk about racism by lumping people together which is exactly what we are fighting against. I don't want to be lumped in with all women, or all whites, or all.. I get you don't want to be lumped in either. Yet, I have caught myself making generalizations. I am a work in progress. If you wish to talk about it with me, understand I am not trying to be offensive and I am willing to hear what you were saying and consider it.
To me saying I have black friends matters. What I am trying to say is I know black people that I truly love and like. I know I care about them and love them and want them to do well and I treat them the same as I treat my other friends. How is that possible if I dislike people strictly on their race? I don’t claim to understand all issues that black people have I just said.. Hey, I know for a fact I like black people. Why do you discount this or call me a liar?
You can ask me to not prejudge, and I am doing my best to find the areas where I do and challenge them. If you want to talk about it, you have to free me to be able to talk about it without attacking me. How can I get your feedback about my point of view, if I am afraid to say it and get your input? I am willing to be challenged, but.. If I try to talk about it and you just decide I am a shitty person and hate on me, how did we move the conversation forward. So, let’s not talk about the flag and the anthem and how much money people make. Let’s really talk about it, but we both have to be free to speak and free to be wrong and free to adjust our opinions.
Yes, I know this was awkward and uncomfortable and broke many rules. I am willing to talk about it and maybe really awkwardly, but it is a start, because I KNOW I have ZERO intent to harm anyone or hold anyone down based on their race. I may not be perfectly PC, but I know my heart.
It would be amazing if the conversation could be had by actual adults speaking reasonably without getting triggered every other sentence. The problem I see is that it's all just segregation and refuses to acknowledge the fundamental fact that we are all humans. I feel like it's easier to start on common ground and fix a problem from that direction, but we live in a society that glorifies oppression and victim mentality. The question isn't about how can we fix it, it's about someone validating they have it worse than someone else and are therefore owed something. Life isn't fair, circumstances aren't all equal, and we all have our hardships. Even if they aren't the exact same lessons, we can all grow and find common ground to become fully functioning and caring individuals if we try.
Agreed, We are all humans, the talks have been going so badly I think it is getting worse, not better. And I agree we can't make things fair.
It is a difficult topic and one I am not sure it is a good idea to discuss. Yet, here I am. :)
Racism is stupid ... For example, a panda, at the same time, and white, and black, and an Asian animal ... .and then.
It's good that we are on Stimeti people of different nationalities and we are friends.
The US seems to be going through a half century trauma and there is no relief in sight. I sense that rasism is part of both the left and the right and many of the current resolutions are completely totalitarian.
I would wish for the american people that there were a better and more constructive way of discussing these things, but they would have to involve so many other things too - like social equality, the historical roots and also need to give other some slack... aggression is only creating more aggression
its become a talking point on account of the NFL/news in the last year...social media has given us a platform to voice our opinion with very little actual effort...and outside of promoting the conversation online (which will have no real ability to change anything) its really pointless if people are not already engaging the issue or have a gameplan to actually engage the issue...
I posted a few weeks ago about the topic and included some ways to get involved to make an impact - if anyone is interested in addressing the issue outside of just the online platform check it out heres a link to the article -
thanks for pushing the convo https://steemit.com/racism/@breakthrough/racial-reconciliation-main-stream-media-being-politically-correct-discussion
Cool, I will check it out.
Face to face most people are reasonable.... It's the media and elites that get everyone all worked up and divisive. Celebrating diversity is de facto segregation... We should be celebrating our shared humanity. Imagine BLM and alt right types joining forces , rallying around the fact that we have all lost our constitutional right. Can't have that. Divide and conquer... Get people segreagated and infighting while the top 1 percent continues to screw over everybody.
haha! incredibly relevant to the fact that you are a 'regularguy'
I am sometimes asked how I treat people with different skin color? I always say this:
People will destroy racism in yourself and it will disappear itself, throughout the wor.
I avoid these kinds of conversations with people who I can't build a kind of repoire with first. There is just too much mistrust in the world and people (especially Americans) are hyper sensitive about everything, not to say there isn't some justification for sensitivity with race. It's also important to note that a lot of what gets posted on the internet is meant to incite arguments.
I don't really do PC and most of my black friends appreciate my perspective. It's really all about having and properly showing empathy, when you do that, reasonable people hear you out, and if they aren't reasonable, there isn't much use in engaging with them.
We are living in totally different realities and we all pretend to be living in the same one objective reality. We think our imaginations are pretty awesome, but in most cases, they aren't unless we quiet our own egos when we try to understand the issues.
I was a pretty strong supporter of BLM in it's early days, because I think as a loose movement, like Occupy, most people's hearts are in the right place. But since most movements are hijacked by those who want to discredit them, I think many people have misunderstood the movement and it's better to show support for the cause without names and labels and slogans.
Just try to work with the people you can get close with, no reason to mess with everyone else.
Become triggerless ;-)
Such a huge amount of common sense and reality in what you said. I agree. Nice POV.
Your article reminds me what Lord Buddha said! I am describing it in my language!
"Rich or Poverty, Color of skin, The place he born, Who is father and mother" not decided he (the person) is a bad guy or a good one! Act, thought, way of behave made perfect man!
So, I think it has the answer for the racism! Personally I hate racism!@whatsup,
Cheers~
GOD have made us and if we are white than its not our proud we didnt do anything to get white colour same with the black colour !
More over Black is the famous colour of religious building ( MAkkah ) in Saudia Arabia why would people add that cover to it ? because colour does nothing but value of that person or thing does many things ! #Sorry-for-bad-english lol i hope you got my point :)
As a white male I've lived a privileged life. I grew up in a racially mixed community and try to get on with everyone. I hate to hear anyone being judged by their genetic heritage. What matters is how we act to others. There are plenty of white people I hear spreading hate and I want nothing to do with them. The UK has its own race issues. We should be over that by now, but people are retreating into their own tribes
@whatsup - Ma'm, Racism is one of the most hated word for me.... Look at the image you shared.... can you see any different of those two little faces.... only color.... no difference in humanity.... World needs to understand it ma'm.... You discuss this issue very well.... Therefore, I wish to ReSteem your post.
+W+ [UpVoted & ReSteemed]
In last presidential election of US we have seen a conflict between racism and politics. Black people doesn't mean bad people. Some people made this racism for their survival. Therefore, your discussion against this racism is incredible. Exceptional article...!!!Hi @whatsup,
50% Upvoted by @MinnowsPower
Racism is indeed the most disgusting infirmity among the various uglinesses of humanity.
Hello @whatsup.
Are you a woman? I am just knowing you are a woman. Hahahahahaha.
I think you have said this issue of racism in your country very well. You need to take this your article about racism to a real life national discuss, so that the work of enlightenment can start. As a black man i think black people are exaggerating this issue of racism, duo i know where they are coming from. But it you cant try to silence people who you think are racist but find out why they are racist, if not racism will never go.
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences
There is not a single sign of goodness in racism. It must be stopped and eradicated completely.
While I can't disagree, I am not sure we know how to stop it or eradicate it. :)
Great topic, I am not PC and flat refuse to carry a label. Don't strap the words spoken to your back and be carrying it along as a burden of proof on your shoulders. You can't have a conversation if all you get is pre judgment.
We are all the same, not matter what the color of our skin, the language we speak or any other thing . The most important thing is that we came to this world as a human being and we all deserves the same rights to live as everyone else..
Cheers!
The left is not interested in solving the problems of racism, they are interested in reviving them. They are based on the tactics of the Frankfurt School, so they seek to increase the population discontented to have a political muscle and are not interested in solving problems.
That is why they never bring solutions or vain to do, they will only try to have minorities declare war on the majority, to divide the country between left, right and minorities, and get two good slices for their political objectives.
Racism in the United States is even less than that of countries where there is a white minority, but neither politicians nor the media will ever do that, but rather focus on the American racist minority.
Make it clear that I am not denying the existence of racism in the United States, but ending it can only be achieved through mutual cooperation and ending the politicization of racism.
Race is always a touchy subject everyone tends to get defensive and close out other opinions and points of view. I think that even over years of mixing of race and culture there is still a large divide. When more cultures become mixed it helps to break down the barriers of Racism. That't why regardless of race racist people hate mixed race couples. I like your discussion Here is my #discussion post.
I was going to type out a long MLK Jr like Message here, but..Well said @whatsup.
And something I want to point out ( I am black/ African American )
is the fact that us blacks are actually pretty racist...Against ourselves and the rest of the world.
#FACTS. #IfYourANiggaThenIamANiggaNoMatterTheColor <-- okay maybe went overboard but chea!
I think that black people have lower IQ in average.
I met many smart black people much smarter than many others I met , but in the same time average is what I see also.
I don't have anything against the any race.
I travel the world up and down. I visited many African countries and I can tell you that you can't attribute things to the white privilege.
In the same time the smartest person I met in life is African man from Zimbabwe. I am stating that in order to understand that I am trying just to observe things.
Our problems are about not recognizing those differences. What is intelligence at the end
I wonder if this will ever stop .
i personally hate anyone being judged we all are one kind of a family and things like this is just ridiculous