Zerlina: If you're white and you're not a racist, what are you doing today to combat Trump's racism?

[StarfishSaver]

Link to tweet

Good question.

[PJMcK]

1. Well, this question never occurred to me

I’m a white male with a masters degree. In my company, I employ an African American man and an Hispanic woman. They are both excellent at their jobs and they are compensated fairly and equitably.

Is there something else I’m supposed to do?

Ms. Maxwell’s tweet seems somewhat shallow since she hasn’t presented a suggestion.

[ismnotwasm]

2. Black people have literally written books on what to do, or not to do

Sometimes it’s up to us to find such suggestions and information

[PJMcK]

3. I honestly do not understand your response

Please enlighten me.

Respectfully, thank you, in advance.

[ismnotwasm]

11. From what I read, and have come to understand

Black People are tired of having to educate us, of also, being critiqued about HOW they educate us. At some point, it’s up to white people to take responsibility for ourselves. You sound like you made a great start, yet, you got a little defensive, and at a fairly mild Twitter comment; maybe because you HAVE made an effort.

I was raised by racists, I was raised working class; I have few protective mechanisms when it comes to being white, or the topic of Whiteness. I will never be able to hire people of color and feel satisfied because “I did something” I have to openly correct relatives and redefine relationships in a very uncomfortable manner. I will cut someone out of my life if they are a bigot and not look back.

Now, this is a personal opinion, but one based on study. White people are so immersed in Whiteness as the most powerful social construct in the world, watching it start to fail makes most of us uncomfortable. It’s an invisible standard, we haven’t ever been taught, until recently how destructive it is. It makes murderers out of children.

An example, In Washington state, violent White suprematist groups and gangs have been running the prison systems for years. YEARS Yet, nobody hears about this, they hear about Black or Hispanic gangs.

I wasn’t trying to attack you, sorry if it came across that way.

[PJMcK]

14. Thanks for your thoughtful response

Sorry if I came across as defensive. I'm not but I do see racism around me every day.

That's not how I was raised nor is it how I think of people. The white supremacists in our country offend me and they are the most un-American of our citizens. Some of my family embrace those ideas and we no longer speak because of their offensive attitudes.

It's profoundly disturbing to me to see this development in our country.

[treestar]

30. How can they be tired of it?

Are they giving up in exhaustion? How insulting to them. Now they have to depend on white people to help them combat racism? This line of thought or whatever it is does withstand scrutiny well.

If people want something, they have to keep fighting for it, as we all do.

It's like I am tired of explaining to men that I am equal, now they need to do something about it. They being the ones who agree with me - I think it is high time they came up with their own ideas - how soon before their own ideas are found to be inadequate and sexist?

I don't know who feels better by this line of thought or what emotional traction it gives them, but it is unrealistic. Guilting the liberals is such a great way to solve the problem - not.

[ismnotwasm]

32. Not guilt

Information. For information to be effective, one has to be open to it. Recently I got a TicTok account. I will never make a video. Started following this Black guy who talks about racism. He gets his videos taken down because people don’t want to hear it. He’s NOT giving up. He’s not lightening up either.

Other thing is, I can’t speak for Black people. I follow trends, so if casually I google right now and find something this, I’m going to listen.

http://www.instituteforwomensurfers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Eddo-Lodge-Why-Im-No-Longer-Talking-to-White-People-about-Race-_OceanofPDF.com_Why_Im_No_Longer_Talking_to_White_People_-_Reni_Eddo-Lodge.pdf

Or more recently this.

https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/04/09/race-in-america-2019/

That was a VERY casual google, by the way. I combine this with things I’ve read and comments I’ve heard. Literally repeating comments

[StarfishSaver]

35. Yes we do get tired of it

And yes, I do expect white people to take some initiative to do something about it without me having to ask or draw out a road map for them. Racism isn't a problem limited to black people. It's an American problem and everybody should be dealing with it, not just us with the benevolent help of some white people but only when they feel like itwhen they feel like it , only if they're asked in just the right way.

[StarfishSaver]

22. Your question suggests you may see racism as a black person's problem that white people can help

but have no responsibility for addressing. That's not an unusual view but I think it's misguided. It's like saying that women are responsible for telling men how to prevent rape.

Racism is everyone's problem and everyone's responsibility. And while it's fine to ask the people who suffer from it most for their ideas on how it can be dealt with, it's not fair to expect us to or criticize us when we don't feel like doing it again and again. Especially since often when we do, we're attacked for it. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. It's exhausting.

[PJMcK]

24. Okay (n/t)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Do you talk with your white friends and family members about anti-racism?

Do you donate your expertise or money to anti-racist causes? Do you attend anti-racist lectures?
What kind of work have you done to learn about the racist underpinnings of business development and real estate in your city? What kind of work have you done to learn about whose land it was before it was colonized? How it was colonized?
How do you spend your privilege? Have you thought about spending your privilege?
What kinds of readings have you done around anti-racist work?
Have you thought about the concept of anti-racist work? What do you understand about the concept of anti-racism?

[PJMcK]

12. It sounds like you expect me to be an activist

I support Democratic candidates at every level of government and I donate what money I can afford.

How about this? I work honestly. I employ people and compensate them fairly. They receive health care benefits and retirement benefits. We get along very well and our annual holiday parties are attended by our families who all get along well.

Why do I have to do the kind of historical analysis you've suggested? My ancestors came to this country at the end of the 1800s. What difference does it make today who colonized New York City? Is there something I could do to change that history? Incidentally, none of my family-- who were all poor-- owned slaves or property so the privilege you're projecting is a bit confusing to me.

I have no idea what you mean by "spending my privilege." Kindly explain what you think I should do.

As far as anti-racism work, once again, I'm baffled by what you are asking of me.

The only discussions I have with my "white friends and family members about anti-racism" are the ones where we agree that the Republicans are the problem.

Respectably, WhiskeyGrinder, your response to me is quite aggressive and given my personal history, it verges on the offensive.

In any event, enjoy your afternoon.

[StarfishSaver]

19. Donating money or expertise, talking with people, asking questions, reading isn't "activism"

It seems like the minimum that a decent, thinking person can do.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. .

It sounds like you expect me to be an activist

Not at all. Unless you see being anti-racist as activist work? Critical race theory holds that it's not enough to be "not racist" in this environment to fight racism; more active anti-racist work must be done. If you don't feel if it's for you -- if you find yourself getting defensive, if you don't see the point of it, if you don't see how you could possibly do it -- then no, it probably isn't.

I support Democratic candidates at every level of government and I donate what money I can afford.

It's important to understand that when we live in a white supremacist society, our institutions have been built upon white supremacy. Party work may not be enough to untangle racism from our institutions.

How about this? I work honestly. I employ people and compensate them fairly. They receive health care benefits and retirement benefits. We get along very well and our annual holiday parties are attended by our families who all get along well.

Okay?

Why do I have to do the kind of historical analysis you've suggested?

You don't! I hope you don't feel obligated to do anything, because no learning comes from that mindset. You asked what anti-racism is, or what a person could do to further the work; historical analysis is a great place to get started, as it can be done from the comfort of your own home and in your own time.

My ancestors came to this country at the end of the 1800s.

Okay!

What difference does it make today who colonized New York City? Is there something I could do to change that history?

Of course not! But we can't change our present or future unless we understand our history. Learning about how the ownership and control of the block of land you live on has changed over the years -- who was prohibited from living there, and why -- can give you a better understanding of the role race has played in the development of your neighborhood, city and state, and how we can work to keep from it continuing to happen.

Incidentally, none of my family-- who were all poor-- owned slaves or property so the privilege you're projecting is a bit confusing to me.

Owning property is a huge, historic part of building white privilege, as it becomes inherited wealth. But even if your entire family has rented all your lives, the neighborhoods and ZIP codes you had access to keeps you on a certain path. Learning how is anti-racist work.

I have no idea what you mean by "spending my privilege." Kindly explain what you think I should do.

Spending your privilege means examining the kinds of networks you have access to -- financial, social, political -- and using them to bring others who don't have that privilege within your circle.

As far as anti-racism work, once again, I'm baffled by what you are asking of me.

I'm asking nothing of you that you don't want to do. I'm telling you what some examples of anti-racism work are.

The only discussions I have with my "white friends and family members about anti-racism" are the ones where we agree that the Republicans are the problem.

Do you not discuss next steps? Or is it just sort of a "what can you do" discussion?

Respectably, WhiskeyGrinder, your response to me is quite aggressive and given my personal history, it verges on the offensive.

You're not telling me anything I haven't heard before.

In any event, enjoy your afternoon.

Likewise!

[pangaia]

27. +++

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. I should have started with the most important question, really:

Are you interested in doing anti-racist work?

[PJMcK]

17. What do you mean?

I can only live my life and try to do the right things. I'm not an heroic person and I'm not going to participate in electoral politics as a candidate.

Other than treating people honestly and fairly, what kind of anti-racist work are you suggesting?

[brush]

10. You're doing good. Keep it up. She's not shallow though. She's putting it out there...

for people to figure it out. Racists are stupid. She's counting on non-racists people to be able to figure out something like you have.

[StarfishSaver]

16. Why does she need to make a suggestion?

And be accused of being shallow at when she doesn't?

If not giving white people a suggestion of what they should do to fight racism in 2019 makes a black person "shallow," how should we describe white people who can't figure out on their own what they should do about it?

[PJMcK]

20. Okay, fine

Yet my question still stands:

What am I expected to do?

I treat people around me fairly and honestly without regard to their own backgrounds. Beyond that, I'm not sure I understand the point of her comment. (Incidentally, I didn't realize Ms. Maxwell was an African American until I was on my computer; I didn't look at her photo in the tweet because I was on my phone.)

[StarfishSaver]

23. See my comment below.

And FYI, there's not a white woman anywhere on Earth named Zerlina.

(That's a joke)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. It's not enough to be not racist. We must be anti-racist, and we must work to dismantle

the white supremacy our institutions are built upon.

[Fullduplexxx]

6. What have i done ? I have refused to be racist. Now if everyone else does the same thing ....

[PJMcK]

13. Agreed

That's about the best I can do, too.

[StarfishSaver]

26. That's not enough, unfortunately

Racism has been so institutionalized that it is easy perpetuated without people being intentionally racist. Racism has been built into the system so deeply that it will continue unless white people go well beyond just not being racist, buy actively and purposefully go out of their way disrupt the systems in order to root out the racism.

[Fullduplexxx]

33. I believe it is and if everyone did what i did there wouldnt be the problem

Blaming racism on non-racist white people saying they arent doing enough is wrong ,imo, it implies that somehow we have the power to end racism and it takes the focus away from the real problem .

[WhiskeyGrinder]

34. Racism takes several different forms. Many white people focus on interpersonal racism -- insults,

attacks, direct oppression, direct harm. And because they don't engage in any of it, they figure that's enough.. There's also calling out your co-worker who tells racist jokes or your uncle who says racist things at Thanksgiving.

But systemic racism is much harder to eradicate -- the systems of oppression that can't be attributed to one person, that are directly and indirectly supported by inaction. That's why anti-racism work is so important. It's not enough to be a good person -- unless you include dismantling racist institutions in the definition of "being a good person."

[struggle4progress]

8. I'm posting online about my idea to sell Moscow Mitch hoodoo dolls

with bags of pins to stick in the shoulder and a free book of talking points "Boys will be boys!"

[brush]

9. Very good. I like.

[sir pball]

15. I just don't have much chance for direct action

There was that time the NYPD caught me pissing on a dump truck while we were drinking beer and smoking weed on a stoop after work; they went for the dreadlocked, tattooed Black guy who was literally the only one of us not doing anything wrong, I got a little mouthy and told him if he wanted to bust somebody, he had seen me urinating in public but Joey was doing nothing wrong, so he better arrest me first. They just told us to disperse.

It's the only time in my privileged as fuck, WASP-ass life that I've ever been able to stand up for someone and it felt good. 10/10 would do again.

[SamKnause]

18. I call it out.

I don't have racist friends.

I can choose my friends.

I do have racist family members and I call them out.

I spoke to my niece about it and she calls them out.

What else can we do ???

[NickB79]

25. Loving my Hispanic wife and daughter

And doing my best to raise our daughter to be a smart, strong woman who won't take racist shit from anyone.

[Amimnoch]

28. I am racist. Everyone is a racist. Question is what will you do about it?

One of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard.. from an episode of Designing Women back in the early ‘90’s.

When you really delve down to it, how is it possible to be completely not a racist in some form?

You have your traditional, and extreme racists. Ones like the El Paso shooter, or the self avowed white supremists supporting Trump. No question at all about their racist ways. Up until this presidency, I was horrendously mistaken in believing this was a dying breed..

Then you have those who claim to have no racism in them. These are the ones that are “color blind”, and will treat and view everyone “equally”. But I say, if you are “color blind” then you don’t see the systemic racism going on around you. If you refuse to see white privilege, and treat everyone equally without consideration to the extra steps that minorities (or women for that matter) have to endure just to get to equal footing, then yes, your “lack of racism” is in and of itself a form of racism.

Then you have racists that see the injustices and inequalities, and will go the extra distance. Will call out those in the first 2 categories for what they are. Will tend to have a predisposition of disdain especially of those in the 2nd category who willfully remain ignorant and blind. These will hire on a minority who may be lessor qualified due to understanding some of the disadvantages our culture and society have provided. Even if more enlightened it is still a form of racism.

Until we as a culture diminish the first two groups down to insignificant numbers, and get our country to a real point where laws don’t target minorities, law enforcement no longer targets minorities, justice is distributed to all equitably, our education system is elevated to a point where minorities gain equal education and development opportunities, and our employment/private sector eliminates discriminatory hiring practices.. it is not possible to have a truly non-racist population.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

29. It's a constant battle. Hence why the concept of "anti-racism" is so important.

[Kurt V.]

31. the main hurdle is implicit bias, as Hillary Clinton pointed out in 2016.

[pecosbob]

36. I have a pretty simple rule

Bring that garbage into my business and you're eighty-sixed for good. Push it further and you're going out on a stretcher. I'm done with this shit. I was raised in a pretty strict Southern Baptist household, a religious group known for it's intolerance and promulgation of racism. Left both the church and the state of Texas as unredeemable. These days I'm pretty much ashamed to be an American. But don't think for a minute that I won't make every attempt to win back our country from the haters.

[moondust]

37. Have abandoned old friends.

Grew up with some guys who were not overtly racist growing up but later found out at college parties, etc., when they sometimes cracked racist jokes. Walked away from them 15+ years ago and never made contact again.