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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 07:16 AM Nov 2014

Most White People in America Are Completely Oblivious

http://www.alternet.org/most-white-people-america-are-completely-oblivious



Not to overdo the medical metaphors, but as with those other cases noted above, so too in this one did a disturbing number of whites manifest something of a repetitive motion disorder—a reflex nearly as automatic as the one that leads so many police (or wanna-be police) to fire their weapons at black men in the first place. It is a reflex to rationalize the event, defend the shooter, trash the dead with blatantly racist rhetoric and imagery, and then deny that the incident or one’s own response to it had anything to do with race.

Reflex: To deny that there was anything racial about sending around those phony pictures claimed to be of Mike Brown posing with a gun, or the one passed off as Darren Wilson in a hospital bed with his orbital socket blown out.

Reflex: To deny that there was anything racial about how quickly those pictures were believed to be genuine by so many who distributed them on social media, even when they weren’t, and how difficult it is for some to discern the difference between one black man and another.

Reflex: To deny that there was anything racial about how rapidly many bought the story that Wilson had been attacked and bloodied, even as video showed him calmly standing at the scene of the shooting without injury, and even as the preliminary report on the incident made no mention of any injuries to Officer Wilson, and even as Wilson apparently has a history of power-tripping belligerence towards those with whom he interacts, and a propensity to distort the details of those encounters as well.

Reflex: To deny that there was anything racial about Cardinals fans taunting peaceful protesters who gathered outside a playoff game to raise the issue of Brown’s death, by calling them crackheads or telling them that it was only because of whites that blacks have any freedoms at all, or that they should “get jobs” or “pull up their pants,” or go back to Africa.
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Most White People in America Are Completely Oblivious (Original Post) xchrom Nov 2014 OP
I would like to just add that not all are. Most? Perhaps. But not all. nt silvershadow Nov 2014 #1
the title says most, not all noiretextatique Nov 2014 #2
"Not all white people." Orrex Nov 2014 #6
I saw it. I added my two cents. Yes, it was mentioned earlier. Is there a problem, or silvershadow Nov 2014 #7
I was addressing your tin-eared response. Orrex Nov 2014 #8
Based on what little I said, not sure how that is possible, but ok. No, I was just silvershadow Nov 2014 #16
well...after reading a facebook page for Darren Wilson noiretextatique Nov 2014 #10
I think you are generalizing. tavernier Nov 2014 #3
racism is an american problem noiretextatique Nov 2014 #11
Excellent. bvf Nov 2014 #4
fact: Most white americans heaven05 Nov 2014 #5
Not true. Most people, of all colors, didn't vote at all. nt tridim Nov 2014 #9
true, very true heaven05 Nov 2014 #17
100% correct. blackspade Nov 2014 #12
Living in California Id so most here come mackerel Nov 2014 #13
I think "most" is accurate gollygee Nov 2014 #14
Post removed Post removed Nov 2014 #19
Excellent post Carolina Nov 2014 #21
It seems to get worse instead of better fadedrose Nov 2014 #15
DO NOT heaven05 Nov 2014 #18
Most are not oblivious. Most know they just don't care because they SweetieD Nov 2014 #20

noiretextatique

(27,275 posts)
2. the title says most, not all
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 08:45 AM
Nov 2014

Not sure if most is accurate either. I prefer some. Too many...that's for sure.

 

silvershadow

(10,336 posts)
7. I saw it. I added my two cents. Yes, it was mentioned earlier. Is there a problem, or
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 09:24 AM
Nov 2014

are you just wanting to roll your eyes this morning? I felt it bears reinforcement. Oh, and thanks for your classy support. Jeesh.

Orrex

(63,086 posts)
8. I was addressing your tin-eared response.
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 09:33 AM
Nov 2014

Some people, when faced with a serious discussion of wide-reaching issues caused by tension between one societal group and another, decide that the first priority is to establish that they certainly aren't part of the problem, no sir.

The message is that they're more concerned about clearing their own names/consciences than about discussing the issue.

This may not have been your intent, but that's how it comes across.

 

silvershadow

(10,336 posts)
16. Based on what little I said, not sure how that is possible, but ok. No, I was just
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 12:10 PM
Nov 2014

simply trying to make clear that there are plenty of people of goodwill who are sickened by the whole situation. There is SO much wrong with the situation I am not sure where to start. My prayers are with everyone.

tavernier

(12,322 posts)
3. I think you are generalizing.
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 08:56 AM
Nov 2014

Reactions are due to many variables, such as region, life experience, education, and even political and religious beliefs.

Sticking labels on people due to skin color is dangerous no matter who does it. We are not interchangeable.

noiretextatique

(27,275 posts)
11. racism is an american problem
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 10:02 AM
Nov 2014

The negative impact of race + power affects people of color. The people who benefit the most are white people. If we cannot even talk about the problem, how can we ever hope to fix it?

 

bvf

(6,604 posts)
4. Excellent.
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 08:58 AM
Nov 2014

I think that, of those white people who are not oblivious, the majority exists on the RW. Hate certainly gets out the vote.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
5. fact: Most white americans
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 09:16 AM
Nov 2014

voted for the racist, homophobic, woman hating/fearing RW on Nov. 4, 2014. Hence conclusion: most white americans prefer to remain oblivious to the racist nature of american culture and/or society. No other conclusion about the nature/preference of most white americans is possible.

mackerel

(4,412 posts)
13. Living in California Id so most here come
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 10:20 AM
Nov 2014

from mixed families and have some level of empathy. I'm white but all three of my kids are brown.

gollygee

(22,336 posts)
14. I think "most" is accurate
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 10:22 AM
Nov 2014

Most doesn't mean 95% or 90%. It means more than 50%, and from what I've seen and heard, that seems easily true.

And very sad.

There is a lot of cluelessness in general from white people about racism. Even from those who are horrified by racism. We assume other white people feel how we feel until we see very strong evidence to the contrary, and we so want to assume other white people aren't racist that we search for other excuses for them. That's being oblivious, but it's a kind of cluelessness rather than intentional or something we understand we're doing.

I remember going to a coffee shop and being behind someone in line, and being asked what I want, and my immediate thought was that the person first in line must have been being helped already, because there's no other reason someone would ask me what I want first. But I had just gone to anti-racism training and I thought about that, and I said, "She was here before me." The barrista said the other woman was already being helped, and the woman said that no she wasn't. I don't know if it was an honest mistake, or if it was intentional racism, or if the barrista was oblivious, and there's no way to know. I also have no way of knowing how many times in my life I've assumed someone in line in front of me must already be being helped if I was getting helped before them.

We don't always even see it, and we really want to assume other white people aren't being racist. I think we as a group really need to wake up and see the world as it is. Things can't improve until we white people work on that. There's such strong denial.

But anyway I think when white people read something like this, they might hear it as "most white people are racist" and picture someone thinking most people are intentionally and overtly racist, like white supremacists. They aren't aware of how the obliviousness plays out because, of course, they're oblivious. I've felt that obliviousness and I know how it feels.

Response to gollygee (Reply #14)

Carolina

(6,960 posts)
21. Excellent post
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 06:11 PM
Nov 2014

For black people, there is no escape from the prism of race. Ever.

When I talked to my white friends about Ferguson when it first happened last August, they all felt (and some said): let's wait until the facts come out. I countered, however, that if a black cop had shot a white kid and then that kid had been left in the street, in the August heat for hours, there would be a different reaction by them, by the media and yes, even by fellow police. I also asked them to name one white male shot down (or otherwise killed) by a fearful cop/cop wannabe in the past year or so. And how is it that whites can assemble with guns or threaten violence (Cliven Bundy) and nothing happens... Crickets

Now they are mute; they don't even mention Ferguson other than to say they are appalled at the destruction. Meanwhile, I remain suspicious of the cops, the awful prosecutor, the timing of the announcement of the GJ decision, and the fact that there was allegedly so much preparation for an unruly reaction, yet the cops stood by, let buildings and cars burn, etc. I cannot help but feel that they were provocateurs who wanted violence -- perhaps even started the fires with their tear gas -- to confirm white peoples' general attitude that blacks are destructive animals and ergo, Michael Brown got what he deserved.

Very sad



fadedrose

(10,044 posts)
15. It seems to get worse instead of better
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 11:05 AM
Nov 2014

'.....telling them that it was only because of whites that blacks have any freedoms at all, or that they should “get jobs” or “pull up their pants,” or go back to Africa.'

Interesting comment. I wonder how long it will be, not in my lifetime or yours, before one of two inevitable things happen:

(1) A complete breakdown of relations between the black and white races, and whites are no longer able to legislate control measures that try to stop injustices against blacks and all hell breaks loose. It's conceivable that many of both would be killed.

(2) Blacks will reclaim their ancestral home, its gold, diamonds, oil, exotic plants, animals, forests, deserts, mountains, and rivers, end their tribal differences, and remove all whites from the continent, except those of mixed families. With so many blacks educated in all fields, who, with brethren on the African continent who know husbandry, could lovingly transform it into the most prosperous gigantic hunk of land on this planet, instead of being treated here worse than dogs by some ignorant white ass-wipes. Isn't it wondrous that rich whites pay a fortune to vacation in Africa who want to "save it for posterity" by taking control of it. If I were black, this would make me furious.

I've often thought of going back to my parents' birthplace just to get away from Republicans who are against immigrants except those who work for low wages doing the worst jobs...except I love the idea of America. The idea and reality are two different things.

I will in all probability delete this post because it may offend people, and for that, I apologize. I feel really for blacks. Same goes for those coming over the southern border to live here - If more Spanish were educated in every field and got rid of murderous drug gangs, could build a paradise where they don't need to be "accepted" by whites who are no better than they.









 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
18. DO NOT
Wed Nov 26, 2014, 04:24 PM
Nov 2014

delete your post. It's the truth. To hell with worrying about offending still born sensibilities. Been offended in this country for generations not because of some truth about the offended ones, the offending is based on a shallow criteria, skin color. Do not delete your post, please.

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