Do you know of any private online groups...
where people are discussing the issue of racism? People from varied backgrounds and perspectives, with the common denominator being they at least admit that racism is still prevalent and systemic...and is destructive? A safe, open space to explore this and learn from one another's experiences and perspectives?
(I can create such a safe, private space, if one doesn't currently exist that is recommended, if anyone is interested.)
Thanks. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
Someone else PM'd me, suggesting creating a private group with this intent on Facebook.
I don't mind doing that at all; I'm pretty active on FB, but realize many others aren't...for good reasons.
It's just that, for ongoing discussions -- versus simply sharing info -- I'm not a huge fan of FB's layout for discussions, mainly the difficulty retrieving posts/interactions after the fact.
When I mentioned in the OP that I could create the space, it wouldn't require the creation of a site. One of the tools at Wishadoo is a Group module, which has privacy setting options, with a forum layout that's more similar to what we're used to here at DU, along with other tools as well (event module, a media module to gather pics/videos, etc). It's all set up. Secret/private groups have been created there before to be able to discuss sensitive matters that tend to invite trolls.
There are so many things I want to discuss -- and ask -- yet am hesitant to do so publicly given the nastiness all around right now and how the nastiness derails genuine conversations.
So, if others are interested and don't know of an existing place to gather that fits the bill, we could do it on FB or at Wishadoo.
If FB is preferred, I wouldn't even have to create it. One of you could, if you'd like.
Thanks for the replies. Glad I'm not alone. Maybe others will chime in soon as well.
Last edited Wed Aug 14, 2013, 08:56 PM - Edit history (1)
people tend to be more civil and more open to seeing things differently...opening up to other perspectives...when it's a small group of people having a private discussion, like sitting around a kitchen table. Having an actual back-and-forth discussion rather than just broadcasting, trying to convince someone else of their views.
I want to learn more about others' experiences and viewpoints.
Public, online forums are a free-for-all. If you don't word every single comment or question perfectly, you're open to attack and it derails the whole conversation. I swear, most online forums have people who lie in wait to attack others. DU is no different. I'm really weary of the whole thing, to be honest, but I still long for authentic conversations with people from all over the world, and these intertubes make that possible. 
I should clarify that I'm white, but having lived with racists up close and personal my entire life -- and having witnessed the horrific effects of that racism -- it's a subject I've never shied away from.
I fully realize that my perspective is very, very limited, as a white female, immersed in a white-centric country. There's a lot I want to explore and learn, but I prefer to do so in private, because it could be a very awkward process on my part. Plus, I'm one of those lucky people who is stalked rather frequently online, so I am always super aware of what I say on public forums.
EDIT TO ADD: I would, ideally, love to discuss, not only racism, but various forms of institutionalized bigotry. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that ever go very well; it seems that, for some reason, discussions of bigotry somehow end up being used to diminish (whether intentionally or not) the atrocities of racism.
I find that very odd but it's definitely a pattern.
I can't imagine telling anyone what they should believe or that their experience isn't real. About anything.
That's just it: I'm hyper-aware that our opinions and views and perspectives are based on our individual life experiences, which vary tremendously. I've always been sincerely interested in others' perspectives, and the experiences which led to them, so I can have a better "big picture" view of the world and humanity.
I feel fairly comfortable that my perspective is one that is pretty fully informed about the mindset of many (though certainly not all) white people in the United States who hold racist views, regardless of where in the country they live or their socioeconomic status. Not only did I grow up in a viciously racist environment, I've been "blessed" throughout my life to always find myself around people with those views to varying degrees. It didn't take long to realize how pervasive it is and that it's institutionalized and systemic.
Still, it's only in the last five years or so that I've been focused on the flip-side of racism and discrimination: white privilege. It's said that trying to explain white privilege to white people is like explaining water to fish. As a white person, I'm so immersed in it that I would appreciate help waking up to the specifics even more.
Shoot, I'm sharing so much in this thread that it may be possible to have these discussions here, if people don't feel I'm intruding in doing so and if people realize my intentions are not to convince anyone else of anything, but to learn about others' experiences and views and feelings about many things as it concerns racism.
As it concerns racism, the only time I get forceful in interactions is when anyone says or implies that it isn't a huge problem any more or denies that it's institutionalized. I know that is not true. Period. End of story. So I speak up to share my perspective and experiences in that regard.
Thanks.
On some of those threads too . . . And hope it is making an impact.
locally. Plus, scheduling issues always make such gatherings even more complicated.
I'm one of those people for whom the Internet has been a huge blessing in terms of friendships. Probably 90% of new friends made in the last decade have started online.
I've been fortunate to eventually meet most who I consider good friends in person.
But, I hear you.