Racism: Delusions

[Fat Tony]

You were concerned about your thread title being inflammatory. So I fixed it for you.

-Az

America has always had the reputation of being the country of freedom and equality - the place where everybody has a chance. Up until recently, that claim has not been so true, as various groups have been discriminated against due to their ethnicity or gender, but I'd say we've done a pretty good job at fixing things up. Things were getting better from the '60s on, until we reached a point where not only do minority groups have just as much of a chance as anyone else, but the white male finds it harder to get a job or spot in a college than anyone else. Affirmative action, however, is not the topic of this debate. I am just trying to make the point that, in today's America, everyone has a chance. No matter what background you come from, if you work hard, you can succeed.
Alright, so we've established that this country is full of equality and all that good stuff, so what? Well, it means that we are even accepting enough to elect a man partially of African decent to the highest office in the land because the majority of our citizens admired him and agreed with his policies (note: whether or not one supports said policies or the man at all is irrelevant in this conversation), and the fact that he was of a historically unpopular race did not deter us from choosing him.
I was listening to the radio yesterday (Mark Levin, I believe), and a woman called in and said something along the lines of, "I am white, and my children are white. They have white teachers and black teachers. They have white friends and black friends. They have never been told that there was anything bad about blacks. We have never discussed racism; it is not an issue. They are not "accepting" of the fact that they are of an "inferior race"; they are just friends. That being said, they see that we have elected a new president. They don't see Obama as a black man allowed into office; they see him as our new president. How am I supposed to explain to them why it is such a big deal?"
That's what got me thinking. The only reason racism persists in modern society is because parents, teachers, and popular culture engrave it into our skulls. If no one ever told kids that some people think whites are better than blacks, then they would never have any reason to think it. The only reason they were ever thought to be inferior originally was because, when they were first discovered by Europeans, they were seen as uncivilized savages and, thus, subhuman. Of course, those impressions lasted for hundreds of years because we let them. Initially, it was because we too believed that blacks were inferior, so we taught our children, and they taught theirs, but now we know that all men are created equal, yet we still teach about racism. Sure, we don't advocate it, but we make sure people know that people living today are still racially prejudiced.
Don't get me wrong; I think teaching about the history of racial prejudice against blacks (all the way from 1619 to 1993*) is very important, but it must be very firmly insisted that that is a thing of the past, or else it never will be. It can be taught in a similar way as slavery - something that was perfectly accepted back then, but now is considered one of the greatest evils. Why should it matter that we elected a black president? Why can't we just have elected a president? Sure, mention it as a milestone of how far America has come, but "historic, historic, historic"; that's all I ever hear nowadays. Be proud of the fact that you elected a president that you think will improve our nation. Constantly rejoicing over how amazing it is that we elected a black president is just coming right out and saying, "People hate African Americans, but we elected one anyways, so more people don't mind them than hate them." I do not want to hear those words ever spoken, because so much more than that is the Land of the Free.

*I say 1993 because that is when I came into existence, and I can say that, throughout my lifetime, this has been a country of true equality. Maybe it was that way before, but it's not my place to say.

Also, please note that I am not in the least bit criticizing our new president in this thread; I am simply questioning the uproar about the color of his skin.

[BlackSails]

Racism will always exist because people hate taking responsibilty for things. Its easier to blame "them" and "they" are easiest to identify if they look different.

[Belial]

That's what got me thinking. The only reason racism persists in modern society is because parents, teachers, and popular culture engrave it into our skulls. If no one ever told kids that some people think whites are better than blacks, then they would never have any reason to think it.

No.

You are incorrect. You also don't understand how sociology works.

Racism works because it's ingrained in the way our culture works, because it's in our subconscious assumptions, our media, our entertainment, our products, our advertisements, our memetic thoughts, and in the way our government and private institutions are set up.

Saying "Okay guys, nobody hates black people therefore racism is over, look at all these black friends I have and I totally treat them like people, problem solved!" is a naive, white privileged, childishly simplistic understanding of racism.

Put simply, when you're dealing with cultural problems, a simple understanding or a simple solution is generally hilariously incorrect or wretchedly incomplete. Usually both.

[apeman5291]

Tony, I agree with you here. I can honestly say that sometimes I forget that Obama is black. To me, he's a president. The only thing I can offer to you is that with each generation, the few hold-outs of racism diminish significantly. There are fewer racists in our parents' generation than in that of our grandparents, and there are even fewer in our generation. One thing to remember is that a lot of the voting population of the United States was alive in the '60s, and I'm sure you've heard how the years pass more quickly as you get older. To us, the world has always been a pretty fair and equal place, but to many people, the age of racism was recent. It's almost impossible to filter out the idea that the races are inherently different, when you grew up in that culture, and that era was only forty years ago. So basically, this, like all things, will pass with time. It's gonna take a bit more time than we hope it will, though.

The LTB respects the rules of SB too.

[Fat Tony]

Saying "Okay guys, nobody hates black people therefore racism is over, look at all these black friends I have and I totally treat them like people, problem solved!" is a naive, white privileged, childishly simplistic understanding of racism.

It worked alright with slavery.
The problem with what you're saying is exactly what you said: "...look at all these black friends I have and I totally treat them like people...". You were obviously speaking somewhat sardonically, but what you said is the problem. The problem is that people say, "I'm fine with blacks," "I treat blacks just like everyone else, " or "I'm perfectly accepting of different races." Why can't they just say, "Hey, these are my friends." Why should the need even exist to say that you are accepting of blacks? By advertising your tolerance, you are implying that there would be reason not to "tolerate" them.
Martin Luther King had a dream where blacks were the same as everyone else, not one where they were tolerated. It's the same as the situation with homosexuals*. You "tolerate" them, but why should you have to? They're just people.
Besides, by not teaching her kids about racism, that woman raised children who the concept of racial prejudice was so foreign to that they did not understand why the fact that our new president is black was the least bit significant. Was that not Mr. King's dream after all?

*In case that drew some confusion: yes, I am very conservative; I doubt that is any surprise to anyone. I do not, however, have any problem with homosexuals (of course, I know of some who manifest the stereotypes of being outgoing perverts who touch everything they can on a man because the innocent man in question is expected to "tolerate" it, but that obviously does not represent the entire gay population, just as irresponsible, unintelligent, lazy individuals do not represent the entire black population [or any significant portion thereof]). Just wanted to clarify.

[Quixotess]

I was listening to the radio yesterday (Mark Levin, I believe), and a woman called in and said something along the lines of, "I am white, and my children are white. They have white teachers and black teachers. They have white friends and black friends. They have never been told that there was anything bad about blacks. We have never discussed racism; it is not an issue. They are not "accepting" of the fact that they are of an "inferior race"; they are just friends. That being said, they see that we have elected a new president. They don't see Obama as a black man allowed into office; they see him as our new president. How am I supposed to explain to them why it is such a big deal?"

No.

I am more skeptical of this than I am even of most anecdotes.

If racism against blacks is still prevalent, and I know you don't accept this, but just assume for the sake of argument that it is, then it stands to reason that white folks would know less about it. They are less likely to experience vitriol that is not directed at them. I would try asking some black folks what they think of Obama's election, or of racism in the United States today.

Besides, by not teaching her kids about racism, that woman raised children who the concept of racial prejudice was so foreign to that they did not understand why the fact that our new president is black was the least bit significant. Was that not Mr. King's dream after all?

Again, being ignorant of the concept of racism is a privilege available only to those who do not experience it.

[Belial]

There are fewer racists in our parents' generation than in that of our grandparents, and there are even fewer in our generation.

No.

To riff on a wise person, thinking of it in terms of "racists" and "non-racists" is going to screw with the way you think about things. Racism isn't a binary. It's a property. "Racist" isn't a noun, it's an adjective.

And further, it's not them. It's you.

Racism is a property our society and we, ourselves, have. The question is just in what way and how much.

In other words, you can't just wait for the racists to die, because we're the racists. All of us. We have to actually eliminate it in ourselves and in the spaces between us and in the culture we live in.

It worked alright with slavery.

Slavery was something you could legislate against.

The problem with what you're saying is exactly what you said: "...look at all these black friends I have and I totally treat them like people...". You were obviously speaking somewhat sardonically, but what you said is the problem. The problem is that people say, "I'm fine with blacks," "I treat blacks just like everyone else, " or "I'm perfectly accepting of different races." Why can't they just say, "Hey, these are my friends." Why should the need even exist to say that you are accepting of blacks? By advertising your tolerance, you are implying that there would be reason not to "tolerate" them.

Because, as I am trying to tell you, pretending race doesn't exist, and pretending racism doesn't exist, will not make it go away. It will just make it harder to talk about.

And it will convince privileged white kids that "throughout my lifetime, this has been a country of true equality."

It isn't, and it hasn't. Pretending it is won't help it get there, it will just make you blind.

[++$_]

*In case that drew some confusion: yes, I am very conservative; I doubt that is any surprise to anyone. I do not, however, have any problem with homosexuals (of course, I know of some who manifest the stereotypes of being outgoing perverts who touch everything they can on a man because the innocent man in question is expected to "tolerate" it, but that obviously does not represent the entire gay population, just as irresponsible, unintelligent, lazy individuals do not represent the entire black population [or any significant portion thereof]). Just wanted to clarify.

The fact that you feel the need to disclaim these stereotypes shows that racism (and homophobia) are still alive and well in today's society.

[The Great Hippo]

*I say 1993 because that is when I came into existence, and I can say that, throughout my lifetime, this has been a country of true equality. Maybe it was that way before, but it's not my place to say.

No.

You do not speak for this country. You do not speak for my experiences; you do not speak for my friends' experiences; you do not speak for my friends' friends experiences. You speak only for yourself--no one else. If you had been raised in the right parts of the country during the 1960s, you could make the exact same claim. Fuck, if you had been raised in the right parts of the country during the 1930s, you could say exactly the same.

The problem with what you're saying is exactly what you said: "...look at all these black friends I have and I totally treat them like people...". You were obviously speaking somewhat sardonically, but what you said is the problem. The problem is that people say, "I'm fine with blacks," "I treat blacks just like everyone else, " or "I'm perfectly accepting of different races." Why can't they just say, "Hey, these are my friends." Why should the need even exist to say that you are accepting of blacks? By advertising your tolerance, you are implying that there would be reason not to "tolerate" them.

No.

Claiming to be 'blind to race' is not a solution to the problem. It is a failure to even acknowledge the problem's existence. It's also condescending as all fuck to have someone blatantly go out of their way to avoid acknowledging the fact that, yes, you are African-American. Or Hispanic. Or a woman.

What's worse, though, is that you seem to think that racism occurs in some sort of vacuum; that if we all stopped saying things like "black", "white", so on--that racism would magically disappear. Racism is a systematic form of oppression that is so intuitive, so sublime, so ingrained in the system that you can't even see it until you step well outside of it.

[/ATTACK HIPPO]

[Megatriorchis]

Again, being ignorant of the concept of racism is a privilege available only to those who do not experience it.

This is utterly true. As a black female from a low-income household, I have experienced all kinds of prejudice, racial or otherwise. Racism still exists, and is impossible to erase from history. You have to account for the fact that you're in a different position than most black people in America, so you experience very different situations.

So, no. Even though you don't experience it, it still exists and is still a big part of society. This is a truth that you must accept. Schools have to teach about the effects of racism because of this fact. Besides, racism starts in the home. Not teaching about it in schools just wouldn't work for children whose friends, relatives or neighbors are racist.

[phonon266737]

I agrre with the OP - making it a big deal implies that racism is still strong, and exists in the country. What if, theoretically, everyone who didn't vote for him was racists? Then you don't have a country without racism - you have a country with a large minority of racists.
Personally, i would have felt this election must more "historical" if the media wasn't making the fact that he was black such an event. I didn't hear anyone say "you shouldn't vote for Obama, he's black!" (But, i'm sure someone, somewhere, did) what I did hear was that I should vote for Obama to prove to the world I'm not racist.
But, whatever. If people want to look favorably on the election of of Barrack Obama as the day racism ended, go for it. But it isn't really over until our law stop differentiating minoritys from other people. If it is truly over, let's see the laws amended, Washington.

[SecondTalon]

I didn't hear anyone say "you shouldn't vote for Obama, he's black!"

Were you on Mars or something? Because you never heard that?

Seriously?

..and the current laws are doing their best to even out the playing field, and they pretty much suck at it as is. Possibly because they're attacking the problems from the wrong angles, I don't know.. but that's a separate discussion.

[Fat Tony]

Again, being ignorant of the concept of racism is a privilege available only to those who do not experience it.

Well of course they're not going to experience it; they're white.
Regardless, how can anyone say that a lack of comprehension of how racism could possibly be justified or even considered slightly reasonable is not the goal here? Racism will not die until it becomes such a foreign concept to our population that it seems just as ridiculous and evil as slavery and invading a country and killing innocent civilians just because you want the land.
Also, you people are acting like I have never been subjected to racism. My ancestry is Italian. People, upon meeting me, assume that I am loud, obnoxious, greasy, Catholic, and in the Mafia. It gets bothersome.
Another important point: nearly every time I have been in a group of friends where someone makes a racist comment about blacks, it is coming from the black person! Not the white man! White men (or, at least, the ones I associate with) are perfectly accepting of blacks, but the blacks choose to support those stereotypes that have been bestowed upon them by whites in the past. This just goes to show that African Americans are still taught that they are inferior to whites. Well, not directly, but they are taught about how terrible some whites can be with their racism, which directly leads to them assuming that they are expected to live up to these stereotypes.

Besides, racism starts in the home. Not teaching about it in schools just wouldn't work for children whose friends, relatives or neighbors are racist.

Exactly, which is why racism must not be taught by family members either. You teach about the past evils, not about how terrible it is today. You can destroy any army by preventing it from recruiting, and, by not telling kids about how terrible people are, they will not say, "Hey, those guys are horrible, so it's no big deal if I'm a little bad too," thus cutting off the supply of new troops to the army of racism.
No, it will not be until a long time from now when racism truly dies, just as slavery still exists, but it can be suppressed to the point of near-nonexistence.

[apeman5291]

To riff on a wise person, thinking of it in terms of "racists" and "non-racists" is going to screw with the way you think about things. Racism isn't a binary. It's a property. "Racist" isn't a noun, it's an adjective.

OK fine, let me define a person's "racism" as a number between 0 and 1 that measures the degree of prejudices based on race in the way that they think. Define the expected value of racism in a culture to be the sum of each of these numbers for every person (similar to how you would sum up the population with 0s and 1s in a binary system to get the number of racists). The expected value of the racism in each generation decreases with time. Does that clarify what I meant to say?

We have to actually eliminate it in ourselves and in the spaces between us and in the culture we live in.

And to go around saying "it's perfectly OK that he's black, black people are fine with me, why wouldn't they be?" doesn't speed up the process at all. To say "this person is the 44th president," disregarding race as a factor completely, is a much more effective method to eliminate the biases of our culture. Also, culture is the sum of individual attitudes. As individuals have less prejudices, the culture will have less prejudices.

Claiming to be 'blind to race' is not a solution to the problem. It is a failure to even acknowledge the problem's existence. It's also condescending as all fuck to have someone blatantly go out of their way to avoid acknowledging the fact that, yes, you are African-American. Or Hispanic. Or a woman.

You can acknowledge a problem's existence without taking it into consideration at all when making choices. Thus being "blind to race." It's also condescending for someone to say "he/she did [insert accomplishment here] and they're black/hispanic/female".

[SecondTalon]

Another important point: nearly every time I have been in a group of friends where someone makes a racist comment about blacks, it is coming from the black person! Not the white man! White men (or, at least, the ones I associate with) are perfectly accepting of blacks, but the blacks choose to support those stereotypes that have been bestowed upon them by whites in the past. This just goes to show that African Americans are still taught that they are inferior to whites. Well, not directly, but they are taught about how terrible some whites can be with their racism, which directly leads to them assuming that they are expected to live up to these stereotypes.

So, the reason black men experience racism is.. their fault?

[TheGrammarBolshevik]

Again, being ignorant of the concept of racism is a privilege available only to those who do not experience it.

This is utterly true. As a black female from a low-income household, I have experienced all kinds of prejudice, racial or otherwise. Racism still exists, and is impossible to erase from history. You have to account for the fact that you're in a different position than most black people in America, so you experience very different situations.

So, no. Even though you don't experience it, it still exists and is still a big part of society. This is a truth that you must accept. Schools have to teach about the effects of racism because of this fact. Besides, racism starts in the home. Not teaching about it in schools just wouldn't work for children whose friends, relatives or neighbors are racist.

I'm not sure if you're trying to argue with Quixotess, but I'm pretty sure that she agrees with you.

[Fat Tony]

So, the reason black men experience racism is.. their fault?

No, but they cannot claim that the White Man is the solitary force responsible for the perpetuation of the problem.

[SecondTalon]

And the White Man is not. Society is. Culture is. Everyone is at fault.

It just happens that it was started by the White Man. And as it benefits the White Man, many people who fit the bill of The White Man continue to take part *without even realizing it* because that's how it's always been done and they don't see a problem.

[Belial]

Regardless, how can anyone say that a lack of comprehension of how racism could possibly be justified or even considered slightly reasonable is not the goal here?

Because failing to understand the problem won't make the problem go away.

And failing to understand how racism works is not the same as failing to be racist. In fact, the more poorly you understand it, the more susceptible you are.

And to go around saying "it's perfectly OK that he's black, black people are fine with me, why wouldn't they be?" doesn't speed up the process at all. To say "this person is the 44th president," disregarding race as a factor completely, is a much more effective method to eliminate the biases of our culture. Also, culture is the sum of individual attitudes. As individuals have less prejudices, the culture will have less prejudices.

Much like ignoring the problem won't make the problem go away, erasing Obama's race isn't the same as respecting it.

He is the first black president. It is a huge step forward for our society (though it most certainly isn't the end of racism, no matter what some people are going to insist constantly over the next few years ::massages temples::). Pretending it's no big deal is intensely disrespectful to what happened here.

[apeman5291]

Simply *being black* isn't his only accomplishment, though. He's also (arguably mainly) a big deal because maybe he can bring the country out of a recession, or maybe he could end a war or two, or maybe he could greatly reduce the country's dependence on oil by replacing it with renewable resources.

[scwizard]

Anyways the way I see it is that America has freedom of speech, and if people want to celebrate that this is the first person with African ancestry who has become elected president, I don't think that it's ok to tell them that they can't do it because it might possibly maybe theoretically contribute to racism.

Also some people do think that white people are better than black people even in this day and age. Also people thinking white people are better than black people has been a historic part of our country. Should we turn a blind eye to it?

I mean what are you proposing exactly? That school curriculums be changed? That the government censor the media?

the white male finds it harder to get a job or spot in a college than anyone else

This is patently false and it won't be true by any stretch of the imagination until the percentage of minority group X who get into college is larger than the percentage of white males who get into college.

[Fat Tony]

Because failing to understand the problem won't make the problem go away.

I don't understand how people could have thought it was ok to order around slaves; that doesn't cause me to go out and start subjugating Africans.

[scwizard]

Because failing to understand the problem won't make the problem go away.

I don't understand how people could have thought it was ok to order around slaves; that doesn't cause me to go out and start subjugating Africans.

But it does make you more susceptible to having problems related to racism...

[Azrael]

Alright, so we've established that this country is full of equality and all that good stuff, so what?

When you say things like this in Serious Business and mean them, then you get a mocking thread title.

No, we certainly have not established anything of the sort.

[TheGrammarBolshevik]

Anyways the way I see it is that America has freedom of speech, and if people want to celebrate that this is the first person with African ancestry who has become elected president, I don't think that it's ok to tell them that they can't do it because it might possibly maybe theoretically contribute to racism.

Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you shouldn't criticize people for what they say. After all, you're doing the same thing right now.

[scwizard]

Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you shouldn't criticize people for what they say. After all, you're doing the same thing right now.

Good point, disregard that section of what I said.

[Megatriorchis]

I'm not sure if you're trying to argue with Quixotess, but I'm pretty sure that she agrees with you.

I wasn't arguing with Quixotess, I was agreeing. Does every post in this thread have to be argumentative?

Exactly, which is why racism must not be taught by family members either. You teach about the past evils, not about how terrible it is today.

Do you honestly believe that people are going to do that? Teaching children about how bad racism is today is very important. Not teaching them about it will just make them more susceptible to it.

[Belial]

Simply *being black* isn't his only accomplishment, though. He's also (arguably mainly) a big deal because maybe he can bring the country out of a recession, or maybe he could end a war or two, or maybe he could greatly reduce the country's dependence on oil by replacing it with renewable resources.

Yes, you're right, it's not his only accomplishment. I don't recall saying it was. What it was, however, was historic. And he certainly had to overcome quite a bit of racism to get where he is. Pretending he didn't, that he faced the same things as the 43 people before him, is disrespectful.

I mean, among other things, what did you think that whole "He's a terrorist" thing was about? Just because it's not socially acceptable to say "Gee Willikers, Don't vote for him, HE AM A NEGRO" (and yes, that is a step forward), doesn't mean there wasn't a whole fuckton of thinly veiled racism going on there. A whole 104 articles worth, for one thing.

[scwizard]

What this thread seems to be about is whether color blindness is a good strategy for combating racism or not.

I don't think that color blindness is the answer. It basically says that we should teach people that there's no difference between black people and white people. The problem with teaching people this is that it's FALSE. There are differences in their appearances and their cultures. And if a kid is taught that there are no differences, instead of being taught to understand differences, then they'll grow up with screwed up ideas.

[TheGrammarBolshevik]

I'm not sure if you're trying to argue with Quixotess, but I'm pretty sure that she agrees with you.

I wasn't arguing with Quixotess, I was agreeing. Does every post in this thread have to be argumentative?

Haha, no. I got confused because you used "you" after quoting Quixotess, but your post makes perfect sense now that I realize that you were talking to the OP.

[Fat Tony]

Anyways the way I see it is that America has freedom of speech, and if people want to celebrate that this is the first person with African ancestry who has become elected president, I don't think that it's ok to tell them that they can't do it because it might possibly maybe theoretically contribute to racism.

You cannot and should not tell people not to celebrate, but they should cheer him on for his decisions that improve the nation, NOT for the color of his skin. By acting like he is a better president than he really is, that implies that you are giving him "bonus points" due to a handicap he is, implying that a black man is not as fit to rule a country as a white man.

Also some people do think that white people are better than black people even in this day and age. Also people thinking white people are better than black people has been a historic part of our country. Should we turn a blind eye to it?

No. We must acknowledge it as a past evil of our society.

I mean what are you proposing exactly? That school curriculums be changed? That the government censor the media?

Refer to the above point.

the white male finds it harder to get a job or spot in a college than anyone else

This is patently false and it won't be true by any stretch of the imagination until the percentage of minority group X who get into college is larger than the percentage of white males who get into college.

There is a very simple reason there are less people from minority groups in colleges than white men: there are less of them! That is why they are called minority groups. As it is, colleges and workplaces do not deny, but they flaunt the fact that they favor applications from blacks and women over those of whites and men because it shows that they don't discriminate.

Quote tags: fix them. -Az

What this thread seems to be about is whether color blindness is a good strategy for combating racism or not.

I don't think that color blindness is the answer. It basically says that we should teach people that there's no difference between black people and white people. The problem with teaching people this is that it's FALSE. There are differences in their appearances and their cultures. And if a kid is taught that there are no differences, instead of being taught to understand differences, then they'll grow up with screwed up ideas.

No. No one ever said we should teach that there are no differences.
What should be taught is that no race is better than another.

[scwizard]

There is a very simple reason there are less people from minority groups in colleges than white men: there are less of them!

Dude, I meant proportionally...

No. No one ever said we should teach that there are no differences. What should be taught is that no race is better than another.

So what you're arguing for is that we shouldn't teach kids that there are people out there who think that white people are better than black people?

The problem with teaching kids that is that it's FALSE.

[Belial]

No. No one ever said we should teach that there are no differences.
What should be taught is that no race is better than another.

Yeah, cause we totally don't do that already.

[Fat Tony]

The problem with teaching kids that is that it's FALSE.

What I am suggesting is not teaching kids false information; it is that we should not teach them true information that will carry on a wrong tradition.
We don't teach kids that there are people out there who create improvised explosive devices and then continue to tell the students how to make them on their own, do we?
Then why should we teach them how to hate based on color?

[scwizard]

The problem with teaching kids that is that it's FALSE.

It is that we should not teach them true information

How about we don't teach kids about war so that they don't get the idea to become soldiers and kill people.

Or how about we just teach the history that actually happened without glossing over or leaving out bits for dumb reasons...

The problem with teaching kids that is that it's FALSE.

We don't teach kids that there are people out there who create improvised explosive devices and then continue to tell the students how to make them on their own, do we?

I don't recall being taught how to tie a lynching noose in school...

[SecondTalon]

Hey, Tony.. know how people occasionally say things like "Man, if I could go back in time and meet myself when I was 15, I'd kick my ass for all the stupid shit I thought back then"

Stop being me when I was 15. Ponder why it is that a black man is less likely to go to college than a white man.

[Belial]

Then why should we teach them how to hate based on color?

Racism isn't just about hate. It's about assumption, and representation, and misunderstanding, and privilege, and blindness, and exclusion.

Hell, most of the time it doesn't even stem from hate, or even dislike, and that's why so many people have so much trouble getting their heads around it.

It is *really complex*, and you don't need to *learn* how to do it. You're already soaking in it. Our entire culture is. Our only hope is to learn enough about it to extricate ourselves as much as we can, to examine and dismantle the thought processes that lead to it.

Ignorance is the exact *wrong* way to do that.

Stop being me when I was 15. Or I'll kick your ass.

I know, right?


Locked. Not that anyone should be surprised.

-Az