General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsExplaining “I Can’t Breathe” to White People
"I Cant Breathe is about more than police brutality. It is about the basic unfairness many African Americans experience every day in America through no fault of their own. Let that sink in for just a moment.
Through no fault of their own, African American shoppers (even Barack Obama) are suspected of being shop lifters and are stalked by store owners or store security. Though no fault of their own, African America drivers are often targeted by police and pulled over and harassed without probable cause. Through no fault of their own, African Americans who want to rent an apartment in a nice neighborhood with good schools are told that there are no apartments available.
Or, that the apartments have just been rented. Through no fault of their own, the average African American child who acts out in school is given a more punitive punishment than the average white child who acts out in school. Through no fault of their own, African Americans who are completely qualified for a particular job are told untruthfully by employers that they are not qualified. If you had to live in this reality, wouldnt you feel like, I Cant Breathe.
Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/12/oped-explaining-i-cant-breathe-to-white.html#ixzz3MCCe4Xd3
Follow us: @iunewstalk on Twitter |
brer cat
(24,640 posts)Thanks for posting, LovingA2andMI.
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)And no problem Brer Cat.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)not all white people are STUPID
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)That wrote this wonderful piece, so WE THINK HE GETS IT.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)You did not write the article and with such, you have no right to form your opinion for the writer thoughts should have been. The Writer practiced what is called Free Speech along with the Free expression of such thoughts.
Meanwhile, the article (and its' writer) stands as a factual opinion based piece.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)*DONE HERE*
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)joeglow3
(6,228 posts)It is ironic when one is discussing the stereotypical grouping of an entire race of people by stereotypically grouping an entire race of people. Maybe that is what they were going for.
whathehell
(29,102 posts)all the white people who certainly do "get it" and have shown that by
marching in large numbers in the protests all over the country,
beginning with Ferguson.
Response to LovingA2andMI (Reply #4)
Name removed Message auto-removed
foo_bar
(4,193 posts)whathehell
(29,102 posts)Is it like "Not all Black people"?
Stereotyping is Stereotyping. e.g. It's always wrong.
foo_bar
(4,193 posts)When white people read this writing, there is an instinctive reaction that begins and ends with Not all white people. That is the defensive response I hope we can do away with.
Heres the problem with that response: Racism is not about white peoples understanding of the nuances and varieties of white people. It is about the lived experience of people of color.
https://christopherdanielson.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/not-all-white-people/
http://flowerhorne.com/2013/12/20/not-all-white-people-and-derailing-conversations/
I'm not sure I agree 100% (at least with the 'spoiler'; it might be an issue of semantics, but I think racism/sexism are what they are even when they don't substantially impact their targets' fortunes, although it's goofy to draw a false equivalence ("misandry!" just to invalidate the very real effects of institutionalized -isms), but I still find it helpful to read things that I might not agree with initially (such as your post. stereotyping *isn't* stereotyping, or rather you seem to be stereotyping stereotypes as though they're all equally pernicious and destructive, which sort of recalls Colbert's color-blindness schtick (well, I guess I'm white, but it's not like I have any way of knowing!) ... but maybe you're suggesting that stereotypes are just "bad" regardless of their consequences to society, which I half agree with, I don't like making judgments from a position of ignorance (or willful ignorance) but we all do it, constantly, from the day we're born, so I think it's worthwhile to examine the effects of collective human stupidity on the categories of people likely to be killed or denied rights as a result of that stupidity.)
whathehell
(29,102 posts)and I've seen that business of some white people, as you put it, barging into discussions of racism with the bit about "not all white people are like that", and it certainly CAN signify
defensiveness, but not always -- You kind of have to a 'feel' for the post, and perhaps even more likely, the website, because in literal terms, it IS true -- ALL White, or Black, or Asian or Whatever people are NOT 'like that' whatever the negative "that" signifies, because the fact is, people of all races ARE individuals and it can be hard to remember that as all of us have a tendency to generalize.
As for the 'spoiler' that Minorities 'can't' be racist", that's just not true, and I'll tell you why:
The reason generally given for this supposed "impossibility" is that white people in this country are the majority and Racism is "institutionalized"...It's what might be called "the macro", or "sociological" view and on a certain level, it does have truth to it..The only
problem with it is that people, whatever their relationship to the majority,
don't LIVE in sociological abstractions -- They live as Individuals, one to one, so on an INDIVIDUAL basis, and that is generally how we live and interact with each other, anyone can be racist, showing it by mistreating a person of another race badly,
and yes, it's happened to me, and more than once. I've also spoken to quite a few people of color about this and most have agreed with me.
First, I have to explain that I worked my way through college doing 'temp' jobs.
It took me seven years and that put me in MANY different workplaces, many more than the average person.
I've been in a number of situations, some of them employment, where I was the "minority" in that group and been treated badly, simply because I was the only white person, or the only one at a particular level. As a younger woman, I remember walking around a schoolyard minding my own business, where some black guys were playing hoops and being called a "white bitch", for no reason at all -- Racism AND sexism, bingo!
On the other hand, I've been in OTHER situations, mainly workplace, where I was one of few, if any, white people, and was treated great, with genuine fondness and friendship. It's individuals.
*These examples, btw, do NOT even come close to representing all of my relationships or interactions with people of color -- I've had a number of relationships, personal and professional, I'm just trying to keep from writing a book!
vankuria
(904 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Response to LovingA2andMI (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
steve2470
(37,457 posts)What do you think of that ?
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)Response to LovingA2andMI (Original post)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)It's a wonder I made it through half a century, most of it in the diverse DC area.
MellowDem
(5,018 posts)Always come across as arrogant and small minded, which is a shame, because the articles are usually more nuanced and I almost always agree with what is written.
But the way the title is worded seems to make the issue seem more narrow and dogmatic. It also presumes that if whites understand this, then things will get better. What about Asians, Hispanics, other black people? There are plenty who don't "get it", and narrowing it to only whites seems to betray a certain naivety or ignorance about the country, or a certain fealty to "white people" as the ultimate arbiters.
If the intended audience are people that disagree with you, why would you use the term "white people" in the title? It's a presumption and a bit narrow for the complicated world today IMHO.
marble falls
(57,427 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)The Guest Blogger who wrote this article, is WHITE! So, did you have any other questions?........Next......
ProfessorGAC
(65,337 posts)Or not.
MellowDem
(5,018 posts)Changes nothing in my criticism of the title.
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Will change or alter this post, who wrote it or the facts it had had thousands of views with numerous positive comments -- on our social media platforms. So, yea.....
MellowDem
(5,018 posts)Or to be an Internet bully?
If you disagree with my opinion, offer your own and say why.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)that explanation, but I hope that those who do take heed.
Response to LovingA2andMI (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
BootinUp
(47,209 posts)further, I would say there are lots like me and more all the time. I will still read the article though.
BumRushDaShow
(129,889 posts)There was a live one in here although I expect it reflects a good number of DUers.
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Amazing..... and insulting (not you, the quote). Thanks for catching this quote for all to see....
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)You barely notice it, when you receive it. When it's taken away, it's a shock to members of any empowered group. I once -- ONCE -- was targeted and tailed by store security. Some rack of discounted T-shirts I apparently perused for too long. A rather obvious, albeit street-clothed employee, parked himself a couple of feet away and scrutinized my every move until I left. It made me feel angry and embarrassed, and also vaguely more willing to actually do something inappropriate. For one second, someone suspected me of ill intent or bad character for no reason. I can try to imagine having that happen over and over again, but there is no way to feel the full impact without living it.
Response to DirkGently (Reply #32)
Name removed Message auto-removed
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)But I am able to understand that non-whites in America are routinely harassed or beaten or denied work or paid less or wrongly convicted, or wrongly sentenced to death. And that this is an actual, serious wrong that hurts everyone.
Are you?
Response to DirkGently (Reply #37)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Response to LovingA2andMI (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Response to LovingA2andMI (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)MuttLikeMe
(279 posts)some white folks go APESHIT over that before going into twitter rants about "ALL LIVES MATTER" smh