As black people living in America, we're accustomed to being marginalized

[MrScorpio]

Over the centuries, we've developed quite an array of coping skills for times when things haven't gone our way. Also, our expectations of how those in power will operate, based on many years of observations have given us a pragmatic and sober sensibility for times like this.

Unfortunately, for a lot of white people in this country marginalization, in the way that the Republican minority has imposed it on everyone else, is quite a new and taxing experience.

But not to worry, I have a few suggestions for white folks who are feeling down and out right now in these troubling times. I hope that they'll help.

- Just remember that bad times won't always last. Especially if you work hard to overcome them.

- It's not always about just you. So find others who are unlike yourself, join forces with them and value the unity of numbers.

- You're not going to have all the answers, especially if you're not asking the right questions.

- Sometimes you're going to have to leave your comfort zone and march directly into enemy territory in order to make a point.

- There are times when quiet dignity speaks louder than a shout or a scream.

- It's always smarter to know your enemies better than they know themselves.

- A great people demands even greater leaders.

- Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

- If you don't know your past, it's pretty damn hard to know your future.

- Just because you can't win today, that doesn't mean that you can't win tomorrow.

- You can never give up hope.

And last, but not least: - Find out what and who black people are supporting and join their support as well.

You want to beat the Republicans? You need to understand what gives them power and take that away from them.

There you go. By the way, if anyone can think of some things to add, looking forward for you to share it.

Take care!

[delisen]

1. Thanks and keep reminding the rest of us please. n/t

[Cha]

2. Mahalo, MrScorpio

I appreciate your OP

Main thing is never give up hope.. President Obama gave us that. I don't care what anyone said about "hope not being something we should think about".. "only action". Well, we have had Action and we need Hope, too.. and, of course, continuing Action.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks for the reminder - we sure need it in these depressing and scary times

He have us Hope when we had none before - and he's still around to inspire us!

[Cha]

8. Mahalo, Rhiannon!

So True!

[sprinkleeninow]

3. Thanks for the uplifting words of wisdom.

I did contribute to the Black Caucus when they emailed.

I miss Barack and his family so very bad.

O why has this descended upon us.....

💙🇺🇸🌊

[DFW]

4. A lot of fundamental truths in there

And most of them aren't even inconvenient!

[Quayblue]

5. K&R

[Achilleaze]

7. Thank you Mr. Scorpio

[TheRealistRealist]

9. "There are times when quiet dignity speaks louder than a shout or a scream."

I totally agree with this. When I saw those angry (mostly) white women yelling in the faces of
senators, my first thought was: I would not have been arrested but shot dead. I am outraged by this entitled liar being rewarded with a seat on the highest court in the land. But I feel the 'getting in the face screaming approach' is going to backfire on us.

Yes, as an AA woman I am used to being treated with dismissiveness, apathy, condescension and malicious cruelty. I do not accept it but as I said, I am used to it. So my life has prepared me for this battle. An organized GOTV will be the best response. Turn this anger into votes to win the house. Maybe the senate also.

But in the days leading to November 6 there should be an organized, focused and INCLUSIVE day of marches with a strong and unifying message. These marches should include the suburbs along with big cities. Show them the power in numbers of those they seek to oppress. Women, men, children. Black , white, latino. LGBTQ, immigrants, the elderly and disabled. All marching together. All with the same message. The biggest march in history.

And please leave the pink hats at home.

[bdamomma]

17. Great post Mr. Scorpio

I agree with this too. Our Democratic Senators did portray "quiet dignity" in this sham of a SC unfit nominee.

"There are times when quiet dignity speaks louder than a shout or a scream."

Recently this is what we have witnessed with the Repigs (shouts and screams) on the Judiciary Committee or tRumps extended arm of criminals, esp. Graham and the rest.

[Kind of Blue]

10. Excellent post.

I'd like to add that white people should study themselves as dispassionately as possible because we've been down this path many, many times that always revert to the same problem of misogyny and racism. Study whiteness at comfortable spaces from many white groups on the Web who do this, like healingfromwhiteness.blogspot.com, https://whiteawake.org,

Study whiteness studies leaders besides Robin DiAngelo, Judith Katz, Roybal Rose, Susana Rinderle and Paul Kivel. These are just a few people and groups that come to mind because but there are many, many others.

Kivel wrote, "It is sobering for us as white people to talk together about what it really costs to maintain such a system of division and exploitation in our society. We may even find it difficult to recognize some of the core costs of being white in our society."
http://paulkivel.com/resource/the-costs-of-racism-to-white-people/

Susana Rinderle, "I don’t equate Whites’ suffering with the suffering of people of color. I don’t believe Whites’ suffering earns us pity or absolves us of responsibility for the harm we've collectively done – and are still doing – to people of color. False dichotomies and 'either-or' thinking are dominant threads in the fabric of racism that suffocates everyone. However, I do believe in 'both-and' thinking and empathy for all who suffer." https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-dirty-secret-of-racism-it-hurts-white-people-too_us_59133f53e4b0e3bb894d5c93

Roybal Rose, uses personal approaches of remembering...
"I follow such stories by suggesting that people in my audience broaden their
focus to apply examples of the family to other institutional frames of reference, and to
now start looking at patterns of behavior, also originating from survival, that manifest
in other oppressed groups. I say to them: "If you locate the mistreatment in your own
lives, you won't become confused, you won't wonder why, you will remember analogous
experiences. You will have a landmark, an index for oppression. You will remember
having folded the socks." Impacts of Racism on White Americans by Lillian Roybal Rose http://www.roybalrose.com/book.pdf

From White Awake, "White supremacy and colonization are rooted in European problems.
Phenomena such as the British colonization of Ireland, the Crusades, witch-burnings, and the privatization of commonly held land illuminate ways in which a culture of conquest was refined in Europe before it was exported abroad. White Awake affirms that the exploration of these deeper, historical roots of supremacy culture empowers white people to better understand ourselves, including our own loss and pain, and engage in deep, ancestral healing that strengthens our commitment to end the current cycle of destruction. https://whiteawake.org/waking-up-to-race/

And just a final quote from author Toni Morrison that she applies to racism but can't be disconnected in my view from misogyny, "A good deal of time and intelligence has been invested in the exposure of racism and the horrific results on its objects. … [Understanding] the mind, imagination, and behavior of slaves is valuable. But equally valuable is a serious intellectual effort to see what racial ideology does to the mind, imagination, and behavior of masters”

[Gothmog]

11. Great advise

Thank you

[menenski]

12. it also should be added

that we(black people) are not building you another country

[mountain grammy]

13. I watched King in the Wilderness again last night

because I'm starting to forget what real leadership against real evil looks like.

[smirkymonkey]

14. K&R

Great advice! Thank you!

[LWolf]

15. Thanks, I think.

I hope you don't think that women of any race have not felt marginalized throughout history, all over the globe. That the anger and betrayal of today is somehow different because the public face of this particular betrayal, Dr. Blasey Ford, is white.

It's not at all a new experience, although it is always "taxing."

[Maeve]

16. Altho you somewhat incorporate it, may I add 'Don't let anger cloud your thought'

The trolls want us to rage and scream, so they can point and say "See? What did we tell you about them?"
We don't win by becoming them.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

18. Thanks

We needed that.

[HipChick]

19. No lies were told..

K&R

[roamer65]

20. Pieces of advice I would give other white people like me.

In particular the Trumpist ones...

Get off your high horse and just be civil and compassionate for a change. We will be judged by our creator by how well we treat the less fortunate among us. Love conquers hate.

Imagine if you were in their shoes in this day and age. Would you not be fearful? Show them you are an ally, not an enemy. We are all human beings.

As Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

[nolabear]

21. Thank you. I think I'll leave it at that and just listen.