General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If you are the member of a privileged group AND call yourself progressive [View all]Burma Jones
(11,760 posts)I am in a privileged group. About 8 years ago, I saw a nice purple convertible being driven by an African American Woman. It was cold, so our windows were up. We made eye contact and I said "nice car," she mistook that for me saying the N word. I guess I did not have a smiling face or otherwise gave any helpful non verbal cues. She rolled her window down flipped me off and yelled at me. I quickly realized that "nice car" could be lip read offensively. I explained that I said nice car, and that I felt lousy that given the way things are, she could have interpreted it that way. We got out, shook hands and went on our separate ways....
Anyway, had I been in a crappy mood, maybe it would have been different, but you gotta understand the day to day crap folks can go through if they aren't part of one of the favored groups.