A little something for your tool box...

[MrScorpio]

28 COMMON RACIST ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS



(By Debra Leigh, Organizer, Community Anti-Racism Education Initiative)

Below is a list of 28 common racist attitudes and behaviors that indicate a detour or wrong turn into white guilt, denial or defensiveness. Each is followed by a statement that is a reality check and consequence for harboring such attitudes.

1. I’m Colorblind.

“People are just people; I don’t see color; we’re all just human.” Or “I don’t think of you as Chinese.” Or “We all bleed red when we’re cut.” Or “Character, not color, is what counts with me.”

REALITY CHECK + CONSEQUENCE:

Statements like these assume that people of color are just like you, white; that they have the same dreams, standards, problems, and peeves that you do. “Colorblindness” negates the cultural values, norms, expectations and life experiences of people of color. Even if an individual white person could ignore a person’s color, society does not. By saying we are not different, that you don’t see the color, you are also saying you don’t see your whiteness. This denies the people of colors’ experience of racism and your experience of privilege.

“I’m colorblind” can also be a defense when afraid to discuss racism, especially if one assumes all conversation about race or color is racist. Speaking of another person’s color or culture is not necessarily racist or offensive. As my friend Rudy says, I don’t mind that you notice that I’m black.” Color consciousness does not equal racism.

The rest: http://odinsblog.tumblr.com/tagged/28%20common%20racist%20attitudes

[qwlauren35]

1. Soooooooo.

Does this get posted in General Discussion?

The message needs to include how a person can be "not racist", because the list is VERY long. I think there are a lot of people who don't want to be racist, and need some help in giving up some attitudes.

For example, instead of thinking X, think Y. Instead of believing X, see Y. The article breaks it down in such detail, but it starts with "sound bites". Maybe there are "sound bites" that resonate with "not racist".

Otherwise, in order to be "not racist", you have to put a LOT of effort into it. The article also suggests that you can't be "not racist" by default. The average progressive person does NOT like to be called racist. But the article paints a very black and white picture. Either you make yourself knowledgeable about the situation of African-Americans, or you're going to have racist attitudes; it's too ingrained in society.

I could spend my life angry at white people for white privilege, but I just can't bring myself to live that way. And so I find myself feeling sorry for them because our society is racist, and there's no easy way not to be.

[MrScorpio]

2. I've been on this site long enough to know that some efforts are pointless...

Especially when it comes to discussions about privilege and bias with some of those who have benefited from those same privileges and biases during their entire lifetime.  Some people simply refuse to be educated, no matter how straight-forward the message is. The standard reaction from these people is to behave as if they're being attacked, even if they're not being specifically named.

At this point, I think that the best we can do is look after ourselves in the struggle.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. In agreement

No use even trying in GD.

Woman gets fired for being married to a black man - two 'usual suspects' show up and zone in on 'Club Audrey'.

Usual suspects will read this post and get pissed it was posted in black font.

[ismnotwasm]

14. ....

[onpatrol98]

4. Not to mention...

I think I have the DU angst against the concept of white privilege figured out. DU has a number of high achieving African Americans. DU also has a number of white people who haven't necessarily had an easy time of it. Many of them have struggled. So, in pops a few of us...suggesting the system is "rigged" in their favor.

Hmm...I imagine it stinks to feel like even in a rigged race, you couldn't win.

Not only that...but, even in a race rigged with pitfalls designed to delay and stall the progress of minorities...some minorities succeed, in spite of it. Many post, in fact, about that very thing on DU.

So...consider that. If you don't feel like you were able to win, in a race someone else says was rigged in your favor...you're not going to feel good about yourself. It's an oversimplification for sure. Mature individuals realize that life happens. Perhaps you had illnesses or other issues that got in your way. Perhaps your family situation or upbringing didn't lend themselves to a better life. Maybe your lifelong career aspirations were stalled by a rotten economy. Anything is possible.

But, these realities aren't what some reach for when minorities complain of the rigged race. Nooo. They simply argue (to the astonishment of their cohorts) that the race isn't rigged...can't be rigged. They'd be succeeding too if it was rigged. Because the alternative is...something was wrong with them.

If I'm failing in a rigged race...what does it say about me? Me! Me!

Nope...no need to put this in general discussion. The white privilege conversations were quite enough.

[Number23]

7. Yep. See it here all the time. 1SBM was accused by some dude of only caring about rich black people

because allegedly, as one himself, that's all he'd think were important. Incidentally, haven't seen that dude post on DU since then and damn sure haven't missed them.

More than one person has "accidentally" stumbled into this forum to allude that because the black posters here are educated and/or more successful than others that we are somehow "not representative" and are now out of touch with our own communities. I don't give these people the time of day. The racism implicit in their ignorant, stupid assed "observations" about black people says everything that needs to be said about them.

But you're right that there are alot of white people here that seem to be really struggling. And most of them are the same ones that scream and shout the loudest about what a corpo-fascist Nazi Obama is and of course, Hillary now too. These people are also the same ones that holler that the Powers that Be won't "let" their candidates of choice win elections oblivious to the fact that their candidates of choice may just simply not have the following that is needed to win.

Look at the reactions of far too many Sanders supporters, both here and "out there". Whenever someone dares to say something about Sanders that doesn't douse him in warm kisses, they scream their psychotic heads off and out comes some of the most unhinged and often times RACIST language. And when the poll results come out and show the guy everywhere from 20-40 points behind nationally, you better believe there will be endless braying about how once again, the Powers that Be won't let their guy win instead of him being perceived as someone with not nearly enough support and who's also beseiged with the most destructive "supporters" a candidate could ever conjure up in their worst nightmares.

[qwlauren35]

17. Regarding the polling...

I have noticed that the fact that Sanders is polling well in 2 states, Iowa and New Hampshire, is supposed to mean that he has things sewn up. What about South Carolina? State #3 in the race??? I don't see anyone bragging about THOSE polling numbers. And how about California and New York? Ditto...

[Number23]

18. I am neither officially nor unofficially a Clinton supporter and even I laugh my ass off when these

people scream about his "surge" in the two least representitive states in the entire country, like you said, as if it means hardly anything. Someone pointed out that Pat Buchanan won New Hampshire once too. How did that work out for him???

It has been said over and over and over and over again that Bernie's national support has a ceiling of about 20-25%. Those numbers have been tossed about since he first entered the race and people are still saying them today. And the polling still bears them out.

And all of the screaming, wailing and piling on every single person or organization that doesn't wrap their candidate in loving kisses isn't going to change that though it has been absolutely hysterical watching these people act like it will.

[JustAnotherGen]

20. And they always dismiss

The elbows that had to be thrown.

They also dismiss the fact that we are NOT isolated . . . Our families - include the entire financial spectrum. And I think we all feel a "good pressure" to help those in our own families when we can. I think that is imprinted on black Americans all of these generations after the implementation of Jim Crow . . . Especially those of us whose families were not part of the Migration. Or - were the tail end of it. I was born abroad then my family moved to Western NY in the late 1970's.

From my mom - I definitely got the "go West young man!" values and sensibilities.

From my dad - I got "charity begins at home in your own backyard".

[Number23]

21. Sounds like you truly got the best of both worlds.

I honestly can't believe some of the shit that I'm seeing on this web site today. There must be something in the water in this place lately. It has been bad for years but it has become absolutely bat shit lately.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. There is a white DUER that makes point ...

In every single privilege thread, even to the point of actually saying that a Black man and a Black woman, neither of whom, he knew of they qualifications, "took 'his' job." And, "if there was a war on women, they must be winning" because his sister and his brothers' wives were doing better than him and his brothers.

He seemed to not recognize his every utterance screamed the white and male entitlement he insisted didn't exist.

When I finally tired and told him, "Dude, sometimes are really is about you", he whined about me hurting his feelings.

[qwlauren35]

15. OMG

That is so painfully true.

But I think it's one of the things that's on the list. The American Dream is attainable by all Americans. Nope. It's not. There are many things that get in the way. The system is rigged against black folks. But it's also hard for poor people, disabled people, people with health issues, people who weren't able to get to college, and end up in low-paying jobs.

A lot of people win the race to the American Dream. But it's becoming a tighter and tighter demographic.

This reminds me of the whole anti-Affirmative Action movement of the 80's. People who couldn't compete with other white folks got mad when they couldn't compete with other black folks.

Yup, you hit it dead on, and would probably REALLY piss off some people if you posted this in GD.

[brer cat]

5. There are some of us who come here frequently to read

and occasionally to post who will benefit from this thread. I guess we are the ones most likely to want to listen and learn, so probably not typical of the reaction you would get in GD. At any rate, I appreciate the thread, and see much food for thought and personal improvement.

[MADem]

19. I must say, that's something that everyone would find useful reading.

It might make some think...if they could drop the defensiveness long enough to let it sink in.

[leftofcool]

6. Wow! That was a learning experience for me.

Some things there I hadn't thought of. Must re-read about 10 times to keep it in this old memory. Great article!

[Number23]

8. "I’m not racist, because… my lover is black or I marched with Dr. King"

FOR THE WIN!!!!!!

Followed by this one as a close second. See it here on DU every freaking day of every freaking week:

10. Of course, racism is terrible, but what about sexism? Or classism or heterosexism?” or “Racism is a result of classism (or any other oppression), so if we just work on that, racism will end, too.”

REALITY CHECK + CONSEQUENCE:

I agree with Audre Lorde’s statement, “There is no hierarchy of oppression.” I would not establish a rank order for oppressions. At the same time, we cannot attempt to evade recognition and responsibility for any form of oppression.

Statements like the ones above divert attention from racial injustice to focus on some other form of oppression. They are usually said by white people, (women, working class people, lesbians, gay men or others) who experience both white privilege and oppression in some form. Whites are more willing and more comfortable decrying our oppression than scrutinizing our privilege. Oppressions are so inextricably linked that if whites allow their fear, guilt and denial to constantly divert them from confronting racism, even while we work to dismantle other forms, no oppression will ever be dismantled.

[freshwest]

12. I see skin color as more important than the others because unless someone's covered head to foot,

the difference is right out there.

That's why 'miscengenation' is so hated among some, they can't tell who 'the enemy' is, not that there's a science to it. The whole thing shows the herd instinct.

But even animals have different colors of fur and don't react to it. They follow behavior and smell, which shows behavior. At least we aren't stuck with sniffing each other's behinds, but it seems at the rate we're going, we'll be there soon enough.

Sorry, not intellectual. Just get tired of dissecting the craziness that we're surrounded by. And whatever oppression one feels, SHOULD produce empathy for others, but there's that damned stupid wall.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. On a related note ...

I was listening to the Breakfast Club radio show the other moring. They had a distinguished Black Clinical Psychologist (his name fails me) talking about how the school system sets Black children, and particularly, Black male up for life long failure, using the labeling of Special Ed.

But one of the hosts asked him why so many in his profession, and educators in general, hated him so much. His answer surprised me ... He talked about his resistance to multi-culturalism as the root. He talked about how multi-culturalism detracted (Black folks) from effectively addressing the "ism" that impacted us most, as we are convinced to sing, "we are the world", as the world passes us by.

I pulled my car over and said, "Damn!"

[OneGrassRoot]

22. Interesting...

I see Christina Beltran appear on the MHP quite frequently. She's the author of "The Trouble with Unity."

The word "unity" has always bugged me but I never explored why I felt that way until seeing her talk about it.

The push toward commonality diminishes not only the individual struggles of marginalized groups, but also the unique history, strength and beauty of the different groups.

I use the word "harmony" rather than unity now.

BTW, reading the posts in this group helps maintain my sanity.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Yes ... I far prefer the term "Harmony" ...

because, like in music, we can do our own thing, at different timing, and as long as your note doesn't clash with my note, the song can be beautiful.

Unity is more of a Gregorian Chant.

[qwlauren35]

16. Oh man, I HATE that one.

I argued my ass off about the classism fixes solve racism bullsh*t. Every recent news example I saw was twisted into a "if there was no classism, it wouldn't have happened". Until the kids at the pool. They just couldn't make that a thing about class.

But only a few eyes opened.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Here's a short cut one:

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[freshwest]

11. That's like what Obama said about Clive Bundy:

“As a general rule, things don’t end well if the sentence starts with, ‘Let me tell you something about the Negro,’” Obama added. “You don’t really need to know the rest of it.”