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In reply to the discussion: Tim Wise: Race-Talk is a Language White Folks Need to Learn [View all]TigressDem
(5,125 posts)I am looking for hard core examples of how I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
When I was 5 years old, some white lady told me I couldn't play with her daughter if I also played with the Indian girl and I apologized to my white friend because I wouldn't be playing with her because her Mom was being stupid. The Mom tried to make it about some stuff the girl's older brother's did that was wrong and I told her it was still stupid because the girl wasn't part of that.
I made a difference in my neighborhood because our group was multi-racial by choice because we were friends, not colors to each other. Young, simple, but effective.
When I was 6-7 years old I got raped by both white and black. I decided at that time that what people do wrong is on them, not the color of their skin. It makes a difference in how I treat ever person I meet.
I am still overly honest most times.
I am not perfect.
I don't expect others to be perfect either.
In my 20's I accidentally offended a friend at work and learned about how any reference to "animal traits" goes back to blacks being considered property like animals. Light-bulb moment. I apologized for being stupid myself and thanked her for the education.
Was it comfortable? NO
Was there offense and confusion on both sides? Yes and NO.
I thought I was teasing her for running so fast and beating me from the bus stop to the door of our work by saying, "Were you a racehorse in your past life?" TO ME an obvious impossible but light-hearted statement that showed how impressed I was by how speedy she was and how jealous I was that she left me in the dust.
By explaining the past, she brought me into a deeper understanding of how racism is laced in a lot of common ideas.
So I am open and grateful for any way I can be a better person in this world, especially in regards to finding more ways to defeat racism wherever it happens. Even when it comes out of my own mouth.