Not seeing racism and feeling its offense is a privilege only white people can have.
When I was very young, I learned to skip rope to a simple tune my best friend taught me with the words “eenie meenie miney moe, catch a (n-word) by the toe.” Even now, every time I hear that tune, those words come to mind. I’ll never shake that. I’ll always carry that and other remnants of the racial norms and racism of the culture, neighborhood, school, and family I grew up in. It’s what I choose to do with it that defines my character, allows me to shape loving friendships across racial lines, and contributes to the collective evolution of our community.
My hometown of Rochester, NY has made national news at least two times in the past six months on matters of race and racism. Two white male college students breaking down and stealing a full-size statue of Frederick Douglass and an on-air meteorologist dropping a racial slur into the middle of pronouncing the name of Martin Luther King Jr. In both cases, people have argued that what those white guys did wasn’t racist at all but rather examples of either drunken stupidity or a slip of the tongue. Let’s be clear, whatever the excuses for dropping our guard and exposing our racism, it remains just that: racism. And our hurt at being exposed crumbles in the face of the hurt among those offended.
Even if we assume the two students and the weatherman were unconscious or unintentional in their behavior, the ancients remind us: “in vino veritas.” Perhaps, when our minds are clouded or we’re speaking fast we don’t see that racist tidbit sneaking out of our past and, therefore, don’t stop it before it comes out. Not seeing it and feeling its offense is a privilege only white people can have. Recognizing it, accepting responsibility for it, apologizing for it, learning from it, and working hard to make sure that you – and those whose behaviors you can influence – never do it again defines the quality of our commitment to fighting racism. Let’s take a second look at that last sentence:
1. Recognize the behavior as racist.
This means seeing it through the eyes of those we’ve offended and feeling the pain of the offense.
2. Take responsibility.
When there’s no one else to blame, we become responsible for change.
3. Apologize.
This connects us to the people we’ve offended or injured. It must be authentic, truthful, and timely (no one believes a long-delayed apology; it’s insulting and feels inauthentic, as if it were contrived for public relations). And the apology cannot be conditional (no one believes an apology that begins “If I offended you …”).
4. Our lessons must be life-changing.
Whether we committed our offense or injury consciously or unconsciously, our lives and behaviors will change only if we work to understand why we committed it in the first place.
5. Commit to change.
We want to be better, and we want our community to be better. If the students and their college, the weatherman and his station, learned from these experiences, then their next step is to work to change their behaviors and the behaviors of those around them. They will work to model anti-racist behaviors and – within their friendships, professions, organizations, and communities – they will become agents of change, standing against racism, preventing it, and calling it out when they see it.
There is no denying the racism that exists in us and around us in neighborhoods and communities like Rochester throughout the nation. The conscious and unconscious racism in our hearts and the racism that undergirds the structures and systems that shape our lives are bound in an unending cycle of cause and effect. Experts put this at the heart of our intergenerational poverty and education troubles.
It exists because we – you and I – let it. We can change this. Indeed, in Rochester, only we can change this.
Change will happen when each of us works on the racism in ourselves, challenges it when we see it in others, and takes steps to undo it when it’s evident in our schools, healthcare, politics and economy.
Silence is not an option.
Gail Brown / August 27, 2019
Racism does not apply to white people. Racism is about power, the power one group exerts over another. Categorizing and stereotyping perpetuates racist beliefs and behaviors. Refusing to acknowledge racism also maintains the status quo. We will never find peace or progress in denial.
I’m a white woman. Here is what I’ve learned. It’s not about “us.” The color of my skin has never been a “thing” but gender has, so I know what discrimination feels like. And when people in power (e.g., men) insist gender doesn’t matter, I know how it feels to be ignored or worse, patronized.
Black people aren’t the ones being hyper-sensitive. It’s white people who get bent out of shape by the mere suggestion they may be biased, much less racist. Maybe we need to acknowledge our history, the terrorism of lynching, the subjugation of person’s of color, and what it did to generations to come.
This will sound harsh but I can think of no better way to say it. Get over yourself! It’s not about you! Hang out with people of color. Make some new friends with people that don’t look like you. Go out into the world with them. You’ll see it and once you start seeing it, you can’t turn it off.
Whatever you do, don’t make it about yourself. No conflict is ever resolved without admitting there is a problem
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Karen Winford / June 17, 2019
I did not read this blog because I disagree with your first statement (the caption on the picture.). I do not know what race you belong to, nor do I think it matters. However, if you define racism as prejudice against a race or nationality, do you not agree that there is much prejudice against “white” people?” I happen to be of European ancestry, with a little Native American in the mix, and I am getting very tired of being portrayed as the “bad guy,” and portrayed as “racist because I’m white.” That is also “racism” in my opinion.
Until folks start seeing people as people and quit being so hyper-sensitive and easily offended, there will be no peace or progress.
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