This apparently still rather inflammatory headline accompanied one of the articles in yesterday’s Huffington Post. Can Black People Be Racist Though by the year 2019, in theory at least, it should probably no longer be. After reading a few of the extremely tone deaf and unintentionally both painful and comical responses to the article there, I thought it would be apropos to likewise use one of the more unintentionally comical and yet controversial images typically associated with where that type of question typically leads. In order to contrast and exaggerate where I’m very much hoping DK members are far better informed and open-minded, and thus capable of keeping such conversations from immediately descending into the same type of stereotypical chaos.
My understanding at least, is that DK is far better moderated than H P when it comes to blatant right wing trolls and others simply pretending to be open-minded and progressive. So my hope is that based on the multitude of rather disappointing comments there, by comparison members of DK should be capable of having a much more intelligent, enlightening and self-aware conversation about what should be a very healthy conversation.
Their fiasco begins with this question:
As a white mom raising white kids in middle America, I pride myself on being as conscious as possible when it comes to racism. I ensure my kids embrace differences and teach them not to be colorblind. But last week one of my co-workers (who is a black man) told me I’ll never understand what racism is like because I’m white, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. Though I certainly wouldn’t call this racism, I’ve had people of color treat me negatively because I’m white. What should I tell my co-worker if this comes up again?
And it quickly descends into a mostly closed-minded debate into pretty much every other responder’s personal interpretation of the word “racism” itself. Along with an almost complete lack of acknowledgment of the foundational difference in magnitude between individual versus institutional racism.
So here we go — very much with both my fingers and toes crossed — can black people be racists (Or...hint, hint...was/is there a defining purpose that America’s first original steps into racism were/are designed to accomplish)?