10 Ways White Liberals Perpetuate Racism

[ZombieHorde]

The whole article is interesting; here's a snippet.

Like many 40-something White liberals, I too assume I’m relatively open-minded and conscious of my white privilege. “I’m not a racist,” I say to myself, when images of police brutality flash on the screen. “I’m not like those white people.”

Or am I?

I wanted to include more, but my phone is being frustrating. 😃

http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/10/white-liberals-perpetuate-racism/

[Nye Bevan]

1. Because it's much more complicated than just treating everyone the same,

regardless of the color of their skin. These days it's all about "microassaults", "microinvalidations", and whatnot.

[cheapdate]

2. Lots of ink spilled these days

concerning "white liberals" and their less than perfect outlook on race, or their less than perfect responses to race problems, or what have you. Meanwhile, an absolute monster is poised to possibly win the presidency and unequivocal, in your face racists are crawling out into the light everywhere.

[ZombieHorde]

32. The article is for those who wish decrease inequality.

Those who desire current levels or greater levels of inequality will require a different approach.

[cheapdate]

36. If you say so.

I say we reduce inequality by organizing for action.

[The2ndWheel]

3. White people can't win

This further draws the attention back to us, and away from the real issue of pain felt by the person of color.

If we truly want a different world, let’s ask ourselves:

Can I simply say: “I wasn’t aware my words or actions hurt you. Tell me more so I can learn?”

You're not supposed to draw attention away from the person of color, except when you are. Which you don't know when you can, because you can't, but you have to.

If a white person listens, that's not enough. If they join in, that could be either not enough or too much. Most likely both at the same time, so that either way white people are wrong.

9. White Guilt

According to The Racism Root Kit: Understanding the Insidiousness of White Privilege, a person experiencing white guilt will attempt “to provide comfort as if to ‘make up’ for the indignation expressed by the person of color.”

“I feel terrible about all the police brutality against black people.”

We may want to “do the right thing,” but because no real change or self-examination is engaged, no awareness takes place.

So basically the entire article is white guilt. Nothing changed, and the author made it all about him and white people in general.

[mwrguy]

4. It's such a tough life being white

[The2ndWheel]

8. Take it up with the white guy who wrote the article

and wrote himself into a pretzel.

[Nye Bevan]

5. #4 in the list says it's bad for a white person to take a homeless black guy to dinner,

because white guilt or microinvalidation or something, and instead you should give him $10.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. And then the article asks "what happens when he steals from you?"

Wow, no stereotypes there, Mr. Sachs...

This article is of no use to anyone who wants to help society, I think.

[Bucky]

41. Thank you

I hate that circular firing squad thing people do when they want to out-liberal each other. Liberals are allowed to disagree with each other without being racists or betraying the cause.

[rusty quoin]

6. Millennials seem know that in the smallest of words is where the greatest of pain lies

I like that.

[lame54]

10. And then they vote Trump

[Act_of_Reparation]

13. By favoring Hillary by a wide margin?

Curious logic. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[lame54]

17. maybe i'm getting bad info...

but i've been reading the opposite

[Act_of_Reparation]

23. USA Today poll dated 8/15/16 shows millennials favoring Hillary 50% - 20%

I'm not sure where the perception of millennials largely supporting trump comes from. Practically every poll I've seen shows young voters favoring Hillary Clinton at or around 50%, yet no one is losing their shit over 57% of the 65+ crowd heading for Trump.

[davidn3600]

30. yeah....the ones who are actually voting

New York Times poll a couple weeks ago showed 1/3rd of millennials are either favoring 3rd party or plan to not vote at all.

[Act_of_Reparation]

35. Neither of which is voting for Trump.

[Albertoo]

7. over-invoking racism can also make the issue worse

Some will want to see racism where there's none to feel good about themselves

(hero status), thereby actualizing/propping up latent divides

[ZombieHorde]

33. Do you feel that is what the author is doing in the article,

and if so, how so?

[Albertoo]

51. Yes, I do, by the very topic

There are many more important issues in life than to redress minor faults of people who mean well.

Trying to dissect the minor ways in which progressives whose intent is to not be racist might be eventually be perceived as expressing in a subliminal way some subtle form of racism that they never meant to express is to magnify something that would solve itself much better by letting minute details just drift by.

Crying wolf over details where there was no harmful intention creates issue fatigue, diminishing the impact of protesting when there is actual, intentional racism.

[LWolf]

9. A worthy read.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

[Cakes488]

11. Racism isn't limited to just white people

There will always be some sort of racism...but it's getting better and it will be a better world when there is a whole lot less of it.

[ismnotwasm]

21. Racism is a power dynamic

So while bigotry and prejudice and hatred for the "other" is not limited to white people, in America, and plenty of other places thanks to colonialism, modern racism (there has always been racism, it's forms have changed) exists in white people who all hold that power.

[Taitertots]

28. If you thought about that for 5 seconds, you would realize it's non-sense

Go read a dictionary. Your explaination is incongruent with definition of racism.

[ismnotwasm]

44. Ah. The dictionary

Because racism is just that simple.

[Taitertots]

49. It is that simple

[romanic]

38. A white liberal came up with that definition of racism

So I'd be careful not to castigate a group that birthed your idealogy.

[ismnotwasm]

45. Not a definition, rather a description

Simplistic one I admit.

[jamzrockz]

12. Nothing about

silence on aggressive wars against non friendly nations? Btw, all these "white people bad/ black people good" articles do much more damage to race relationship that they solve. I hate hate hate hate seeing them posted on this site.

[ZombieHorde]

34. How do you think this article is damaging race relations? nt

[romanic]

37. I'll answer that.

Imo these articles inflame racial bigotry and distrust on both sides. I also think authors such as these benefit from poor race relations since it gives them a "market" and a "platform" to write garbage like this.

[ZombieHorde]

39. Did the article inflame racial bigotry in you? nt

[romanic]

40. No.

Because i don't demonize whites or white liberals.

[ZombieHorde]

43. The average reader of Everyday Feminism, where I found the article,

may also try to avoid demonizing others based on biological demographics, and may even think about their own behavior slightly differently after reading the article.

[LanternWaste]

46. Many people claim simply talking about racism inflames racial bigotry

Many people claim simply talking about racism inflames racial bigotry and distrust on both sides. However, as they absolutely never support this allegation with valid evidence, I allow them all the lack of credibility they are in fact due... and bless their little dogmatic hearts.

[The2ndWheel]

48. The whole article says there's no discussion to be had

White people are supposed to acknowledge their inherent racism, and that's it. You can't say you're not racist. You can't apologize for racism or being racist. You can't play the pain game. You can't list what you've done as a white person to not be racist.

4. Masochism

When a white liberal’s guilt runs amuck, it may become a deep-seated need to take his or her racial lumps.

White liberals, who unconsciously seek self-punishment for historical oppression, appear racially sensitive.

But they actually perpetuate racism by simply becoming “a receptacle for potential and actual abuse,” instead of examining their racially-biased behavior.

This was an entry of the article. A lengthy article about how white liberals perpetuate racism. How white people are just wrong, wrong, wrong. You did a bad thing white person! Go to the corner and think about what you've done, and remember that going to the corner to think about what you've done is wrong too. Don't beat yourself up over racism, because you only appear racially sensitive if you do. However, unless you consistently acknowledge your inherent racism, you can't even attempt to not be racist, which you can't be, because you're white. You're also wrong for being wrong.

[romanic]

52. Yep.

And this is why I say articles like these inflame racial tension. I'm sure a snobby know-it-all white academic would slobber in agreement but for other whites who know nothing of the academic rules of racism, an excerpt like this would piss them off.

[Albertoo]

53. Well said.

In transactional analysis, one could say whites are being placed in a role of children who are taught they can never do well: whatever they do, they are guilty.

Tell me how this is supposed to bring about positive outcomes?

Invoking the specter of imaginary inborn racism of whites is eroding the real effort to fight racism when it really exists.

[Shankapotomus]

14. The only thing I object to is

the implied ageism, as if only older white liberals can have these issues. My nephew is a millennial (although he's not liberal) and his tone-deafness is off-the-chart stupid. While although I'm twice his age, I was down with the concept of political correctness the moment I first heard of it while other liberals were and are still on the fence or against it.

Life is full of exceptions.

[yallerdawg]

15. "Racism just won’t die, because its roots are deep."

Somewhere down where we don’t like to go, is a place where racism lives. It’s automatic and hidden. Binding and resistant to change. No matter how well-meaning we are, no matter how open-minded. Like the “root kit” on a computer, racism is hidden and operating without our knowledge.

Hillary has spoken of our 'implicit bias.'

As long as outcomes reflect a racial bias, racism is.

'Equal opportunity' is just a mask.

[romanic]

18. Unrelated but I was looking at the suggested stories on that page.

How White Americans’ Hatred of Racism Actually Supports Racism Instead of Solves It

7 Ways White Jews Can Do Better By the Movement for Black Lives

5 Signs Your Idea of ‘Intersectionality’ Is Anti-Black Racism In Disguise

Jesus Christ what a miserable and racially divisive website. Some people truly benefit from poor race relations - it gives them writing material.

[Exilednight]

19. This sounds like it was written by some psychologist with less than

5 years of actual experience and/or completely practicing in a field outside of mass population psychology.

My guess is that they're either an ADD counselor or relationship counselor.

[ismnotwasm]

22. This is an excellent read

The push back replies here validate the points of the article

These knee-jerk defenses are actually how we as white liberals end up perpetuating racism. Thus, true self-awareness and deeper relationships with people of color never really happen.

This is what young people know instinctively. And what older white Liberals like you and me have a hard time understanding.

There’s a problem when we champion change, then hide from it when it really counts. Like it or not, White superiority is well defended and protected. It may be unintentional. It’s likely unconscious. Without more introspection and sincere interaction, the racism train keeps rolling.

Right now, you might feel angry and misjudged.

Maybe you’re a white liberal shaking your head, feeling slighted and angered by the lack of acknowledgment, regarding your efforts and accomplishments concerning racial sensitivity. After all, white liberals are the white folks who really get it. Right?

Wrong. This is, in fact, another microinvalidation. Beverly and Pendler call that particular microaggression “attack by racial resume.” We say, “Look at all the work I’ve done on behalf of people of color! I’m one of the good ones!”

[loyalsister]

24. Denial and defensiveness are two of the most insidious elements of racism

As most white people, I have thoughtlessly done it. Gaining some awareness has been productive for me. To oppose racism is to also oppose the denials and defenses that are the first resorts for people who aren't willing to consider themselves as being part of the problem.

Some people are misusing the concept of implicit bias as a defense of their racism. "Everyone has biases. Everyone is racist."

Implicit bias testing measures quick reactions. However when we are given time to reflect and show bias, it is not implied. It is deliberate. And it is bigotry.

[The2ndWheel]

25. Maybe you can list the things you've done to gain more awareness?

[loyalsister]

26. Listen without judgement for one thing

Read articles such as the one posted with an open mind. Listen to people who live it to give me insight, and asking if I have done anything that could be interpreted as racist without the usual defense and denial.... "but you misunderstood" or "that's not how I meant it."

Instead, "I didn't think of it that way. Is there a way to do better?"

The person who lives with racism is the expert in these situations. I am trying to learn from my friends who know more than I do.

[Rex]

27. Racism is alive and well, I was living easily with my white privilege before 2008.

I was shocked to find so many white folks I knew were more than ready to make sure it was anyone but a black man in office. It reminded me of how easy it is to think we are progressing merely due to time. I forgot how easy it is to be white in this country.

Racism is kicking and screaming in this country. It is alive and well and thriving.

[Taitertots]

29. It's super easy

1) Don't have feelings of racial animus or superiority

2) Don't try to convince others to have feelings of racial animus or superiority.

The article is non-sense.

[GulfCoast66]

31. Keeping their gravy train rolling

Kids ever increasing tuitions paid for this gobbledygook. I wonder how many months they sat around coming up with this, stuff. Drawing a paycheck the entire time.

Good work if you can get it.

[hfojvt]

42. so funny that this article was written by a white guy

Here's an idea. If somebody has reached the point in their life where they are all worked up about MICRO-problems, then they may not have any real problems.

Of course, the article said we should not create a contest of pain. So any white people with no feet should just sit there and sympathize with a black person who has no shoes, or has an even smaller microproblem. It's all about me needing to bow and scrape to them. Anything else just perpetuates racism. We cannot be friends if I do not accept that their complaints and problems are more important than those of everybody else.

[ZombieHorde]

47. That wasn't my interpretation of the article.

I think the article was saying we shouldn't invalidate people's feelings, especially when we're not in their situation. The article specifically uses POC as an example, but think the advice applies to any marginalized group.

[hfojvt]

50. apparently though their "marginalization"

consists only of micro-problems.

I still do not think groups are marginalized. In 2011, 21.5% of black households had more than $100,000 in net worth. Those are the people who are probably worried about micro this and micro that. The 48.1% who have less than $5,000 in net worth - they probably have real problems.

People's feelings can often be blind, like is always said about white people taking their privileges for granted. In the same way, richer people can forget how fortunate they are and still find micro-problems to complain about.

Don't invalidate people's feelings? Really? Because many low income white people probably FEEL like the notion of "white privilege" is an insulting crock of crap. Are their feelings validated by higher income college graduates? Or are they told that they are wrong to feel that way? And by people who are not walking in their shoes.

[ZombieHorde]

54. White privilege doesn't mean you don't have grueling, depressing life of struggle.

White privilege just means that out of all your myriad of problems, your skin color isn't one of them. Liberals suck at branding, and the term "white privilege" is another example our horrible ability to label shit.

The problems of racism and bigotry aren't "micro," but some expressions of racism are micro, but can be painful because of the larger, serious problem.