Are you familiar with Joy DeGruy's work?

[OneGrassRoot]

I'm a fan of her work. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome was one of the most enlightening books I've ever read.

http://joydegruy.com/

Yesterday I noticed she posted something on FB that was a bit different.

Here is what she wrote:

***Warning some might find this post disturbing -- feel free to skip!***

I'm in the airport watching rain and snow come down. I'm on my way home after working in Battle Creek Michigan with yet another concerned community. The audience was attentive, large diverse and anxious.

They, like a growing number of U.S. citizens now recognize what some of us already saw, already knew, already lived and are still living with...

They now see the 'preponderance of evidence' that virulent racism and hatred is quite alive and growing. Like poisonous venom it is spreading into the very heart of their America.

According to the SPLC 2016 report active hate groups in the country are up 14% ... I decided to list the ten states with the highest number of active hate group and the results were disturbing:

#1 Texas (84) No real surprise here
#2 California (68)
#3 Florida (58)
#4 New York (44)
#5 Tennessee (41)
#6 Pennsylvania (40)
#7 Georgia (39)
#8 Ohio (34)
#9 Virginia (32)
#10 North Carolina (29)

The new comers to this stark reality are expressing considerable distress...for so long many of them have felt a sense of comfort ... a detached assurance that 'they' the privileged "haves" were seen as "nice people" in spite of their unearned and shared legacy of ill gotten gains.

This is no longer the case.

The "nice people" are of late being looked upon with caution and even contempt by the "haves" and the "have nots" alike.

For generations "nice people" sat quietly at the dinner table during the discussion about 'those people' moving in and bringing down the property values and the 'thugs' getting just what they deserve from the hard working police that are simply doing their jobs.

They reconcile their deafening silence at dinner, with their very quiet private thoughts reminding them that they are not like their bigoted table guests!

They are "nice people" so they only 'pass' as racists during such occasions. However the 'others' aren't giving them the "benefit of the doubt" anymore and perhaps for the first time sitting on the neutral fence is not necessarily a safe place to be for them.

Besides, Dante says the hottest places in hell are reserved for those on that spot of the fence. Fear and shame seems to be finding its way into the halls of "nice" America.

"Do not attempt to adjust your Facebook or, Twitter this human drama is 'live' and has reached the outer limits. If you are receiving this message you 'too' have boarded and there is no getting off...Please be prepared to assist or, remain safely buckled in because you can be certain that there is major turbulence ahead!"

Out of words...

Over the last week I'm seeing this sentiment shared more and more by PoC. As a lifelong white ally who can't help but be loud and tenacious in the face of white supremacy, I find it validating. I've started writing about it in a similar vein -- no treading gently, it's time to pick a side. I do get hammered about it but oh well...as Joy said, there is no sitting on the fence about these matters any more. No one gets a pass.

https://medium.com/@denapatrick/latest


Here's what I'm wondering: Have the Trump rallies been the straw the broke the camel's back? I know this has been building for centuries, accelerated since Trayvon's murder. But I do sense a shift in the last month and I wonder if the Trump rally violence has been the final straw.

I've also noticed something else recently, which is totally understandable: In general, there is more distrust than ever of white people as a whole.

An AA gentleman reached out in a FB group re: racism/white privilege, asking if any white people would be willing to engage in skype conversations with members of the AA community:

My thought is that most black people never get to hear people like you and often the loudest voices are the most ignorant. So a conversation would expose them to more progressive voices that actually see what they go through and for some people that could have a huge effect on how they view Europeans and whether or not they shy away from predominantly white groups.

Shying away from white groups because of a preconceived rejection is very real and helps to reinforce the effects of white supremacy.

When I saw that post I burst into tears. I can't even explain how much it meant to me to see his request.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Great post and thank you. One question, though ...

Here's what I'm wondering: Have the Trump rallies been the straw the broke the camel's back? I know this has been building for centuries, accelerated since Trayvon's murder. But I do sense a shift in the last month and I wonder if the Trump rally violence has been the final straw.

The final straw for whom?

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Actually, good question. Thanks...

I was wondering if the Trump rallies have been the final straw for PoC as far as making the distrust of white people as a whole even more heightened.

I know the animosity between many Bernie supporters and Hillary supporters has elevated this as well.

It may just be me and I'm finally noticing something that has been evident all along, but in my small circle (of who I read, talk to, etc.), there has been more clear statements about black people not being able to trust white people. Again, huge generalization, and I know it has been there to some degree all along, but I hope you know what I'm trying to awkwardly say.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Ahhh ... that's what I thought you meant; but, was hoping ...

you were referring to the white folks seating on the fence.

Sadly, the trump events ... and even the Bernie supporters/HRC supporters animosity ... has the Black folks I know, any less trusting of white people ... this is par for the course and the SSDD, only now, what we feel is more out in the open.

Now, perhaps, our white "allies" of the Left will stop telling us it is our imagination, now that they, for their political affiliation, a they are the targets of what America has always dealt us.

I think that what you are noticing is because you have broken through, and have earned a measure of trust that allows those around you to speak what we have always thought/felt.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Thanks, 1SBM.

No, sadly, I don't see more white people speaking out; most are on the fence, still playing nice. But, as I tell them repeatedly, silence equals consent. I only see those who have been with me all along. More may be supportive and privately express their support of my outspokenness, but I haven't succeeded in encouraging (or shaming) more to join me.

Not that I know of, at least.

But I'm not going anywhere. I'm just regrouping.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Another question...

I wasn't totally sure what Joy was speaking about in what she wrote, and I just re-read your reply and have the same question.

Now, perhaps, our white "allies" of the Left will stop telling us it is our imagination, now that they, for their political affiliation, a they are the targets of what America has always dealt us.

Who is being targeted because of their political affiliation? If it's Dems in general, it seems to me it's always been that way, at least since the early 90's with Limbaugh and right-wing radio.

Are you referring to supporters of one Dem candidate?

If so, I admit that I'm dense about the internal war right now on the Democratic side. Obviously I'm aware of what happened, starting with the #BlackLivesMatter Seattle rally, where Bernie was speaking. As a solid Bernie supporter at that time, I was appalled by the pretty friggin apparent patronizing racism that came to the surface amongst many of my white friends. I always knew it was there -- it's everywhere -- but I was surprised to see it in specific people I considered friends. And peripherally I know about the Berniebros thing. (I can't imagine how much of a kick in the gut it must have seemed to members of this AA group...what I felt wouldn't even come close to what you all must have felt and have grown accustomed to.)

I say peripherally because I'm pretty detached from this primary war. I support Hillary or Bernie. Either one. There are things I like about both and things I dislike about each of them. I'm trying not to let the supporters themselves impact me too much, so I'm staying out of it because this shit is so nasty, just like last time.

All I know is that the current slate of GOP candidates are not an option. Period.

I'd really appreciate you fleshing out which white allies you're referring to, as I have a feeling it's the same ones Joy is referring to and I'm just clueless at the moment.

Thanks in advance if you feel like spelling it out for me...lol. No worries if you don't.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. Shoot...now I'm wondering...

if me being noncommittal in terms of Hillary vs Bernie is part of what is perceived as sitting on the fence?

Didn't think about that until just now.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. By targeted because of their political affiliations ...

I am not talking partisan, I mean targeted because they are anti-trump.

The white "allies" that I am referring to is really tongue in cheek. These are the folks that insist they are down with Black folks because they can quote snippets of Martin and Malcolm; but, think nothing of, or even applause, the calling of Black folks, race-baiters/naggers for daring to interrupt the only really important discussion with talk of racial/social equality. And then, whine when Black folks give them the side eye.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Gotcha, gotcha....

Thank you! I was overthinking it...lol

Thanks much.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. This post

Distrust - it's real.