"The new threat: 'Racism without racists'"

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. The conversation usually goes something like this

The US is a racist society
- Not every white person is bigoted. In fact, I know I'm not.
As a member of this society, you are a inextricable part of it.
- What can I do besides not being racist myself?

... this is the point at which dialog falls apart.

I find it obvious that there's an element of cultural racism (call it white or asian privilege if you will) at work and that many individuals are racists. The problem comes from "then what? What should I do to help mitigate the problem?"

I think that a better conversation is this;
There are still racist institutions and attitudes in the US.
I agree, and it bothers me too.
Let me tell you about my racial experience so we can explore how they differ from yours.

At that point we can create allies and raise awareness instead of shutting down into perceived personal attacks and retreat into tribalism.

I think the OP is right, and I've experienced it here. "Racism" to white people is the individually mediated form. Racism to black people is primarily the institutional form.

To a white person "racist" is a finger in the chest. To a black person "not racist" denies the reality of their daily life.