Trying to tactfully expose racists that claim they are not racist

[Ohioboy]

I know this is totally anecdotal, but please take it for what it is.

Lately, my work has put me in contact with a number of Trump supporters. As people, I have nothing against them and have actually enjoyed the chance to talk politics with a few of them.

When it comes to race relations there is one thing that many of them complain about. They complain that they are unfairly being labeled as racists.

So, as a the devil's advocate, I ask them how they would feel if Blacks and/or Hispanics were to ever become the majority in this country?

Again, this is totally anecdotal, but so far I haven't met a Trump supporter that would be totally OK with that. When they get over the initial impact of the question, their answers vary, but one thing is very apparent- race matters to them when it comes to what group is in the majority, and the idea of whites in the minority is not "American" to them.

My plan is to be nice and keep talking. The job I'm doing will last until the end of September and I want to keep it and get along with everyone else I'm working with. I am never going to call anyone a racist, but I fully intend to have them think a little about themselves.

[drray23]

1. Sounds like a plan, however

I am not sure they will have the capacity to "think a little about themselves ".
One of the characteristics of being a Trumper is being completely devoid of introspection and empathy for others that they don't consider part of their clan ( immediate family mostly).

[EYESORE 9001]

2. A common fear I've heard over the years

is that minorities would become oppressive once they come into power. That’s projection on an OmniMax scale.

[Ohioboy]

4. That sounds like an admission

[Dan]

8. I wonder have they ever figured that

In some cases, people that have been oppressed, really don’t want to do the same harms that have been inflicted on them?

[EYESORE 9001]

10. Due to projection

they cannot fathom that not everyone else is as vengeful as they are.

[brush]

12. That's also consciousness of guilt.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. One of my ex boyfreinds

Was a racist who said he wasn't racist.

He hid it for a time from me.
But it eventually slowly it showed itself.
With off side comments that were ambiguous.

When I heard him say

"I respect the hard working black man"
Bullshit..

He got dumped that day.

[alphafemale]

5. When they something that is thinly veiled racism

That dog-whistle type of thing, act stupid like you don't understand.

Try to make them say it OUT LOUD.

They usually stammer "never mind" after a couple of times repeating themselves.

[leftstreet]

6. +1

[Wounded Bear]

7. The underlying fear is that they will be treated like they have treated minorities...

[wryter2000]

9. Don't know if it applies here

When I hear someone say something racist, I don't say "you're racist." If I can, I point out an indisputable fact that contradicts what they've just said. I was with a bunch of people sitting around an RV a long time ago. Obama had just made a statement about the murder of Trayvon Martin. One of them said "Obama made it worse. He made it all about race." I guess the others agreed because they didn't say anything.

I came back with "Trayvon Martin would still be alive if he was white." The whole crowd gasped. I'm not exaggerating. I followed that with "George Zimmerman called the police every time a black person walked through his neighborhood." My first statement was more an opinion than a statement of fact, but the second was a verified truth.

So, if they say something like "they're all on welfare," quote them the statistics that prove otherwise. Or, "they're all here illegally," say "most Latinx people are second, third, fourth generation and have never lived anywhere but the US."

Telling someone they're racist just brings up all kinds of defenses. Good luck.

[brush]

11. Try asking them how they'll feel when whites are no longer the majority in the nation...

which is actually going ot happen in the next 15-20 years. That's real and not a hypothetical question, which you should let them know. It'll be interesting to know their reaction to this upcoming reality.

Report back to us if you can.

[Amishman]

13. I think there are a lot of Trumpers that aren't racist, they're culturally intolerant

They are actually ok with people of other races and ethnicities - as long as they share cultural values. You can be brown skinned - as long as you speak English with the same accent as them, have the same religion, listen to the same music, dress the same, etc.

It fits the overall pattern, look at how right wingers openly bash and hate Californians / New Yorkers, even when those individuals are also white.

It also fits with how popular prominent non-white conservatives like Clearance Thomas are on the right.

It also isn't anything new, the right has reviled multiculturalism for decades.

It's very hard at a glance to tell the difference as culture and race/ethnicity tend to have a strong correlation, especially with immigrants.

[Ohioboy]

14. I like your observation

[NickB79]

15. I had a coworker refer the the Mall of America as the "Mall of Africa" once

I knew exactly what she meant from prior interactions, but I played dumb and asked her what that meant.

She stammered a few times before saying "Well, it's always such a jungle there!"

Riiiiggghhhtttt.......

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Why would you want to be tactful?