General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUnderstanding white people
A lot of famous activists have stated that we must reach out to white people. Hate can't drive out hate, when they go low we go high etc. etc. And if we reach to them out of love, and reason with them politely, they'll understand that what they've done to women, ethnic minorities, LGBT people, and the disabled, is wrong
And lemme tell you, as a white guy, it's 100% bullshit.
The truth is that for white people, especially of the straight white able-bodied male variety, to give a shit about anything, it has to affect them. Period.
You couldn't pay them to give a shit about police brutality and overzealous Feds when it was happening to minorities. Then Randy Weaver had a bad day. If Weaver were black, all those white people who have used Ruby Ridge as a rallying cry for the last 20 years would have just said, "well he shoulda done what the cops told him." Sam Weaver would have become Tamir Rice before there was a Tamir Rice, and that would have been the end of it.
And it's the same for all other groups really.
White people don't care about disability rights until they get disabled or have a disabled kid. And even then, their involvement will only go as far as it takes to get themselves or their kids covered. The white suburban moms at Little Lobbyists will bail once THEIR kids are safe and promptly go back to voting Republican because the special ed teacher hurt their little feelings or some shit.
Speaking of, all the people saying special education is a waste of money or making excuses for inaccessibility? Sea of white faces. I've never heard black people say that special ed is a waste of money. Always white people.
Hell, let's get REAL provocative. Making false accusations against black men was practically a sport among Southern white women. Then came Duke Lacrosse. And white men have yet to shut up about that one. But at least they recognize that false accusations of rape are a reality. All it took was a couple hundred years and having the sword being pointed at one of their own.
And really, we must accept that if we want to get shit done in this country, we may need to turn some of their shit back on them.
You want white people to care about voter suppression? Just pull that shit in Hillbilly land for a couple years. Close down most of their polling places and send too few voting machines, half of which are broken, have tech support be the stoner from Taco Bell, and rednecks will be at the table.
Want em to care about discrimination against LGBT people in the medical profession? Just have some LGBT EMTs decide that they won't treat white people because of some moral objection.
Response to NCDem777 (Original post)
NCTraveler This message was self-deleted by its author.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)Many white people are simply not impacted as much as people of color or immigrants or women or gays or the disabled.
Squinch
(51,004 posts)but here's the thing, if those white people weren't gay, disabled, or women, they wouldn't care.
Squinch
(51,004 posts)NCDem777
(458 posts)When I'm talking to a crowd of ethnically diverse people about disability rights, they're actively willing to listen and understand.
White guys who don't have a disabled person in their immediate family? They get bored. They complain about how bad THEY have it. They say "Well at least you're not in some third world country."
jalan48
(13,883 posts)NCDem777
(458 posts)it's time to admit that the white race as a whole may have an issue.
jalan48
(13,883 posts)might have a point. How do you know how the millions who didn't even bother to vote think? Are some white people racist? Of course. Are more white people racist in some areas more than others? Probably. Lumping all white people together and making a statement about "all white people" is a reasoning flaw.
NCDem777
(458 posts)And almost always have some lame ass excuses for discrimination and injustice?
White people.
There are only two ways able-bodied straight white people give a shit about anything that happens to a minority:
1. They have to form friendships with minorities and have regular close contact. There's a reason people want segregation in schools and why they hate diversity programs in hiring. Inevitably, white racists lose membership.
2. They have to have a "Paul on the Road to Damascus" moment. Typically involving something adversely impacting him that he thought was overstated.
jalan48
(13,883 posts)they want tax cuts for themselves. It's all about them. I'm not arguing some white people are racist-it's a fact. The word "some" is the important qualifier for me.
NCDem777
(458 posts)"This is bad policy and I'm opposed to it whether or not it affects me" is not a thing you tend to hear from straight white able-bodied folks who have never experienced bad policy.
Being in a majority demographic in any nation is damaging to one's empathy to varying degrees.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)but we already knew that. Last time I checked DU seemed pretty white, and we all seem to care. . .
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Jones actually got a historically high percentage of white votes for Alabama, for a Democrat.
When 80% of white people can vote for Roy Moore
it's time to admit that the white race as a whole may have an issue.
You shouldnt base broad assumptions off of one state. Specially considering you are using flawed statistics to do so.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Generalizations are lazy.
demmiblue
(36,885 posts)Skittles
(153,193 posts)it is disgusting
cwydro
(51,308 posts)In a heartbeat. Smh.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)underpants
(182,877 posts)Was alerted for jury duty in this and wanted to find it and Recommend it. Great piece. I completely agree. Oh I'm as white as you get too.
Sailor65x1
(554 posts)Perhaps you were hacked? Traumatic Brain Injury maybe?
NCDem777
(458 posts)Why did redneckistan change their ideas on drug policy from "Toss all drug addicts in jail!" to "We need more treatment centers!"?
It wasn't because they recognized the jail approach wasn't working.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)Tatiana
(14,167 posts)I have no idea why we don't try this strategy????
Iggo
(47,565 posts)I have one white parent and one very dark brown parent. I look as white as any other white guy, and a good chunk of the time I feel like a white guy because I'm treated like a white guy. White privilege is fucking awesome, don't get me wrong. But I've also been at the table when everybody but me thought everybody there was white guys. It can get real ugly when a subject like homelessness or the police murdering unarmed brown people or homo- or transphobia or gender equity comes up. Not always, but often enough to spot the trend.
LuckyCharms
(17,457 posts)consists of white people. I also would guess that virtually all of these people cannot be stereotyped in this manner.
I am a white male, and while I recognize that some whites in general fit the mold that you describe, I don't think that the majority do. I know that I don't.
The points you describe are excellent, and your OP would hit the mark if you applied these qualities to only some people, instead of using such a broad brush.
VOX
(22,976 posts)Right off the bat, its condescending, and it sparks instant pushback.
I agree that Democrats/progressives have to fight back hard, but picking out and targeting an entire group is NOT a wise strategy. Because, while most racists are indeed white, all whites are not racists.
mia
(8,362 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)And here I thought I was a liberal Social Democrat who is a strong supporter of Civil Rights.
But since I am a straight, southern, strong, good looking(so says my wife)white make, I guess I do not give a shit about things that do not effect me.
And I really thought I hated race and gender based stereotypes.
Who knew.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)all us whites trash POC when none are present, and we all secretly wish we could all vote for Moore
chumpchange
(48 posts)With the word "brown" replacing white and you might start getting a clue why you are getting backlash.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)I wonder...
I'm also against blanket statements but, in my experience, even choosing my words very carefully when speaking of these things -- making sure I say some or many or at times most -- doesn't change the reaction.
Here's a near blanket statement: As a whole, white people are fragile AF.
I'm white and grew up in a KKK environment and thus for my entire life have been more attuned to the overwhelming bias against people of color and the systemic racism than most white people I have known. Trying to get other white people to see the truth of it is my greatest challenge and it's because, in my strong opinion, most (#NotAllWhitePeople...*cough*) white people are too fragile and resistant to the truth of others' experiences. And this is because we are immersed in a sea of white supremacy and white privilege; it's like asking fish to identify water.