figured i would post this here

[mark414]

i just stumbled across this forum today when i saw the Tavis Smiley thread up on the main forum page and have since read some interesting stuff in these threads. i had my own thread on "reverse racism" awhile ago and got the shit kicked out of me for it by so many good white liberals.

but i wrote this article for my college newspaper this week and like i said, just figured i'd post it here.

for the record, i am white like rice.

Tips for White People
by Mark Sullivan

Sometimes there are things in life that just make you cringe. And so it was the other day in the Union when a friend of a friend showed me a presentation that they had prepared for class. The presentation was simple, a piece of construction paper with some words written on it. They explained that, in a rush, they decided to make their presentation on the African-American vernacular. Now, I am fully aware of the many differences between white Americans and black Americans, differences that go beyond just the color of our skins, but I can tell you that this presentation was not about exploring those differences.

Instead, using what appeared to be some sort of “ghetto slang” dictionary they had found on the internet, they went on to point out common everyday english words and phrases, and then gave me the ebonics translation, as if to say, “This is how white people talk, and this is how black people talk.” I waited for a second to try to detect even the slightest hint of sarcasm, but found none.

Now I don’t think that this person’s presentation was done with any sort of negative attitude towards black people. Rather, I think it boils down to ignorance, plain and simple. So with that in mind, I decided to put together some tips for white people, something that would be useful for every occasion, even if you’re in a room full of other white people (And for the record, I’m white too).

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is this: just because one black person says it doesn’t mean that’s what all black people think. Guess what? Black people are just like white people in that each and every one of them has their own ideas and opinions about the world we live in. And perhaps even more importantly, don’t criticize the black community using the words of another black man, as way too many people did with the words of Dr. Bill Cosby after his visit here a couple months ago.

Next, unless it is absolutely necessary to understand the context of a situation, don’t ever use someone’s race as an adjective. If you were to refer to every white person you saw as “Hey look at that white guy over there,” it would sound pretty stupid. It sounds pretty stupid when you’re talking about someone who isn’t white too.

Third, if you have to start a sentence with something like, “Not to sound racist, but...,” then you should probably stop talking. That’s usually a pretty good sign that you shouldn’t be saying what you’re about to say.

This next one is a really little one, and I’ll be honest, I’ve caught myself doing it before. But don’t change your slang or the way you talk just because you’re talking to a black person. If you don’t use a word or phrase in your everyday vocabulary, why change it with skin color?

Finally, try not to get offended if someone calls you cracker. Yes, it is a negative word with a negative connotation, but try to just smile, and don’t take it personally. From my experiences and conversations with black people and black friends, usually things like that are said not out of hate, but rather out of frustration at a hypocritical system where “white is right.” There is a legitimate historical and cultural backdrop to provide reason by itself for black people to distrust or even hate white people. This is not to say that such prejudice is okay or acceptable, but it’s not completely irrational either. One must understand that this context of mistrust is, for many, reinforced on a daily basis. And considering the many horrible things that white people have done to black people over time, especially since slavery ended, we white people should be relieved when all black people do is make fun of us. It could be a lot worse.

And for the rest of you out there, who aren’t black or white, I’m sorry for leaving you out. I’m sorry that race relations always boil down to a black vs. white issue, forgetting all the other beautiful colors and countries we have here in America. But given my inspiration for this and, as I mentioned earlier, the historical and cultural race relations of black and white Americans, I chose to keep it focused exclusively as I did.

I’d like to end this by saying that I’m not trying to play the race card. I’m not trying to make white people feel guilty or stupid. I don’t feel guilty or stupid for being white. The concept of race, in and of itself is of course an invention of mankind. This alone should be reason enough to stop all this ridiculousness. But using that argument denies the reality that race has become in our society and denies the reality of how it affects real people in real ways. I wish it wasn’t a problem, and it shouldn’t be, but it is. And if we want to work towards solving the problem, then remember: sometimes it’s the littlest things that go the longest way. I don’t think that white people are racist. I really believe that most white people don’t want to be prejudiced. I believe that most things that are construed as racist are to due ignorance, not insensitivity. We all have prejudices, no matter how hard we try to eliminate them, no matter how sensitive we are. To this day I still struggle with shedding myself of my deeply ingrained prejudices and I’m sure I will be for a long time. Recognizing your own prejudices is the first step (and the hardest one too). But once you do that, it gets pretty easy.

So come on everyone. Take a step forward.

[GOPFighter]

1. Race is a tough subject to write about

Thanks for treading on thin ice to help clueless whites communicate better with African Americans. IMO, a lot of whites prefer to avoid blacks rather than take a chance of saying something that might be offensive.

I grew up as a white male in Indiana (1950s and 60s) with absolutely no contact with blacks. My first contact with anyone of another race was in the Air Force and I'm sure my ignorance showed. I was fortunate to make friends with a number of bemused blacks who set me straight whenever I blurted out something stupid. Not everyone is as lucky as I was. It's hard to believe that a column such as yours is needed in 2004, but it is.

[msgadget]

2. Interesting article,

what sort of response did you get. You say, "...most things that are construed as racist are due to ignorance, not insensitivity...' and it's the only thing I have a question about. I've known the smartest people - white and black - to say the stupidest things because their lips were moving faster than their brains. IOW, what's ingrained in them will come flying out every once in awhile.

We lived in a multi-cultural little Utopia many years ago and were having a picnic for the arrival of our neighbors' parents. These fine old folk hailed from Florida and traveled around in a beat-up station wagon with netting over the grill and the requisite tube shaped housing unit. Okay, everything's going good, we're talking about our careers, how tough it is to start and sustain a business and they're both still sharp as whips, giving us a lot of old school advice. All of a sudden Pops, in describing the sudden success of a friend says, "Well, old Bobby acted like he was niggah rich when he made all that money." We all stopped dead and I'm sure a few eyeballs rolled on the ground but Pops kept on talking as if he'd said nothing untoward. He wasn't at all an ignorant man but he gave no thought to the insult of the phrase because it didn't occur to him that those of us of color would be offended by the remark.

Or, I had someone say to me, "I don't like black people. Oh, not like you...you know what I mean..."

Is insensitivity ignorance?