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Showing Original Post only (View all)Ten Ways (not all!) White Liberals Perpetuate Racism [View all]
Denial:
Denying we could ever have racist thoughts, or that we reap the benefits as a member of the majority race, is a common defense of liberal White Americans. By denying the existence of our racist thoughts, we negate the depth of the racial divide.
"But I don't even see color."
As if by being color-blind we can resolve the racial pain people of color live out. Pendler and Beverly note, "An inability to be open to the possibility that the experience of the other could be valid is a consistent element of white supremacy."
2. Shame & Hurt:
When focus remains on the White person, and our emotional wounds, this is classic deflection and redirection.
"I'm so embarrassed I said that!"
This common phrase can be heard when something hurtful may have been said to a person of color. The truly injured party, however, remains unrecognized. By having the courage to confront a racial slight, a person of color is made to feel that they have misread us, or hurt our feelings.
We might also say: "I'm hurt that you think of me like that." This further draws the attention back to us, and away from the real issue of pain felt by the person of color. When sympathy transfers to the white person, no awareness or learning occurs. No trust is built.
Try this next time you're confronted with something insensitive: "I hear how my words or actions hurt you. Thank you for pointing that out to me."
Denying we could ever have racist thoughts, or that we reap the benefits as a member of the majority race, is a common defense of liberal White Americans. By denying the existence of our racist thoughts, we negate the depth of the racial divide.
"But I don't even see color."
As if by being color-blind we can resolve the racial pain people of color live out. Pendler and Beverly note, "An inability to be open to the possibility that the experience of the other could be valid is a consistent element of white supremacy."
2. Shame & Hurt:
When focus remains on the White person, and our emotional wounds, this is classic deflection and redirection.
"I'm so embarrassed I said that!"
This common phrase can be heard when something hurtful may have been said to a person of color. The truly injured party, however, remains unrecognized. By having the courage to confront a racial slight, a person of color is made to feel that they have misread us, or hurt our feelings.
We might also say: "I'm hurt that you think of me like that." This further draws the attention back to us, and away from the real issue of pain felt by the person of color. When sympathy transfers to the white person, no awareness or learning occurs. No trust is built.
Try this next time you're confronted with something insensitive: "I hear how my words or actions hurt you. Thank you for pointing that out to me."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-sachs-psyd/10-ways-white-liberals-pe_b_8068136.html
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"Look at all the work I've done on behalf of people of color! I'm one of the good ones!" - too true!
scarletwoman
Nov 2015
#77
Really. WTF does racism have to do with BS? Can't we have a break from him? Please?
Cha
Dec 2015
#172
When you hear an alleged "liberal" use the term "race baiting" or "race nagging", you know exactly..
Tarheel_Dem
Nov 2015
#38
You're looking for discussions about primary candidates in all the wrong places.
pnwmom
Nov 2015
#33
The author could have had Donald Trump in mind, why did your mind go directly to BS? Hhhmmm.....
Tarheel_Dem
Nov 2015
#39
AFAICT, The best response is to STFU, listen, and agree by repeating every word exactly.
aikoaiko
Nov 2015
#81
LOL I'd love to say I'm surprised by that jury but I'd be lying through my teeth
Number23
Nov 2015
#75
Someone calls a poster a race baiter, a jury doesn't hide it, I comment "I wish I was surprised by
Number23
Nov 2015
#155
They were looking for people who do not see "You $% $#$%# NI%$&*(" as being racist
LiberalArkie
Nov 2015
#134
The key problem in this country is white supremacy, and white liberals are not unaffected by it
MrScorpio
Nov 2015
#60
many are compelled to view discussions and concerns about race in America as a "daily harangue
LanternWaste
Nov 2015
#150
Great piece, b! I love the bit about "microinvalidations" which I mentioned in another thread
Number23
Nov 2015
#73
LOL. One woman, bullying the entire forum? On her own thread? LOL NO. Makes no sense.
bravenak
Nov 2015
#144
It seems to me the left has replaced debate with the idle manufacture of neologisms as if inventing
Monk06
Dec 2015
#164
And thank you for microvalidating my succinct criticism of pointless vocabulary inflation/
Monk06
Dec 2015
#166
A pithy comment is succinct by definition. Are you attempting to be ironic? If so your irony lacks
Monk06
Dec 2015
#178
As in pregnant pause. Lacking depth and fullness. Is English your second language?
Monk06
Dec 2015
#180
The person who wrote, apparently without a trace of irony himself, "your irony lacks pregnancy" is
Number23
Dec 2015
#181
When I see stements like the following, it makes me question the authenticity of the person:
jonno99
Nov 2015
#76
"it may simply indicate that their own behavior and attitude is off-putting"
jack_krass
Nov 2015
#124
We don't need them to do that. But they feel awful, I undérstand why some try.
bravenak
Nov 2015
#99
I was glad the author of the piece provided a link to a pdf of "The Racism Root Kit"
m-lekktor
Nov 2015
#97