Tweet: "What if we just elected the black woman?"

[Bucky]

93. Fair enough

1. I think it's unnecessarily harsh to say that if I've benefited from institutional racism, I am therefore racist. I'm sorry, but that sounds like self-flagellation.

Just like some Libertarians go to the most severe form of anti-government beliefs to show there 'comrades' that they're sincere in believing what the rest of the group wants, just like Republicans swallow the BS about voter fraud (all the way up to believing Black Panther voter intimidation tactics and mass conspiracies of illegal aliens voting in California) just to rationalize their support for voter suppression efforts... There are people in the left who embrace extremist rhetoric like "all white people are racist" out of a commitment to rejecting racism. But it's misguided and divisive to the left and insulting to everyone.

Racism is something you believe. People do not believe things because of their skin color. We have free will. Sure, our experiences shape our understanding. But I've never met a problem that could be fixed by throwing labels around.

Sustaining the argument all white people are racist requires a complete redefinition of what "racism" means. I would very seriously doubt if you have any intentions of promoting racial discrimination. I very seriously doubt there's any part of you that buys into ideas of racial hierarchies. I sure know that these things don't apply to me. I am not a racist. Throwing pejorative terms around doesn't do anything to promote social justice.

2. Institutional racism is obviously a problem. But just like you don't feed starving people by giving up food, you don't end discrimination by sloughing off your white privilege.

For that matter white privilege isn't something you can actually give up. That's why it's called institutional racism, it's cooked into the American casserole. And obsessing about its impact on white people seriously distracts from where the focus should be, on those Americans who are being deprived of equal treatment under the law.

Besides which, framing all aspects of the American experience in terms of race tends to promote a victimization view of African Americans. That is demeaning to the full personhood of someone we are supposed to stand as allies with.

I guess what I'm saying is sweeping generalizations are not conducive to improving the country. Like any full plate, you can only tackle it one bite at a time.

3. I think the origin of this labeling approach to social justice comes from a genuine desire to challenge people's experiences and understanding. But you challenge stale notions and open peoples' eyes by offering a fresh understanding of events that demonstrate racial inequality. That requires opening a dialogue and building communication

Telling someone is they're a racist and don't know their own mind doesn't promote a dialogue, doesn't challenge anybody's perspectives, and works to shut down communication.

Here in Texas I'm involved with a group called SURJ (which stands for something something Racial Justice). Our work involves doing things and showing up, not diagnosing things from the sidelines, and not self-indulging in non-productive self-criticism. We build partnerships with other activist groups and take direct action where racist authorities need to be challenged.

I recommend being actively involved in building bridges with all people. Labels and gratuitous social divisions helps sustain injustice. People learning each other and connecting is always the first step in undermining injustice