The Undercover Introvert

You are here: Home / Activism / If Black Folks Could Fix Racism, We’d Have Done it Decades Ago

If Black Folks Could Fix Racism, We’d Have Done it Decades Ago

by 155 Comments

I recently wrote a blog post about what it’s like to be black in America. As usual, there were shitty comments from people that I blocked immediately, because ain’t nobody got time for that. But there were also a few seemingly innocuous comments that were actually pretty terrible. Anytime I write about my experience of being a person of color in a country with a long history of treating folks who look like me poorly, I invariably receive the same kind of unsolicited advice:

You should try harder to make white folks understand. Be patient and give them the benefit of the doubt. Don’t alienate your allies.

It literally happens every time. Without fail.

White folks, let me clue you into something you might not have considered before: if black folks could cure racism, it would already be cured.

We would have dealt with that shit decades ago. Believe me. And telling me to be nicer to white folks, or to not get offended at racist shit in an attempt to keep from rocking a boat that’s been on rough seas for centuries is utter bullshit. Stop doing it.

Let’s use an example to illustrate how wacky and ignorant this kind of a suggestion is:

Woman: Jim made a joke about my breasts again in front of everyone in the meeting. I’m getting really tired of the sexist crap in this office.

Man: Whoa, do you ever think that you’re just being too sensitive? Jim was probably just being funny. Give him the benefit of the doubt.

Woman: *stabs man*

Okay, maybe not that last part, though we can all agree he deserved it for those ignorant statements. But do you see how that kind of exchange puts the onus for fixing the problem squarely on the person being oppressed by the nonstop barrage of sexist behavior? It’s not just a case of blaming the victim, but of suggesting that the victim is the one who needs to do better.

Get a sense of humor. Wear different clothes. Smile more so no one thinks you’re an uppity bitch.

Here’s what I need you to do from now on, white folks: stand the hell up and collect your people. All of them, especially the ones showing their asses on the daily. White people created the widespread systems of oppression that POCs are experiencing in this country and it’s going to take white people to tear them down. Instead of suggesting that I get a sense of humor (already have one, thanks) or undertake the emotional labor of teaching the offending individual how to be a decent human being, how about you confront the people who look like you when they spout racist crap or treat POCs like garbage? It’s really that simple.

Sexism would have ended a century ago if women could’ve just rolled up their collective sleeves and rabbit punched some sense into the men around them. But men created the patriarchy, and they need to do the work of dismantling it. In partnership with women, of course, but we need you to step up, gents.

Collect. Your. People.

So, no, I’m not going to give a white person the benefit of the doubt when she says something blatantly racist or treats me like a second class citizen. It doesn’t matter if she didn’t ‘mean to be racist’. Impact trumps intent. Every time. I am under no obligation to treat you with kid gloves when you literally didn’t take a second to weigh the impact of your words before you said them. Why should I consider your feelings when you couldn’t care less about mine?

And if you don’t like being called out, then make like a POC and learn to weigh every word you speak and action you take, all day, every day, because a misstep could result in devastating consequences for you. And I’m not talking about hurt feelings. I mean life and death. Asking you to do better pales in comparison to that, now doesn’t it? And if you’re the ally you say you are, it’s really the least you can do.

Image Source

Comments

  1. My husband and i ended up being cheerful Albert could carry out his analysis because of the ideas he acquired from your blog. It’s not at all simplistic just to always be freely giving facts a number of people could have been making money from. And now we acknowledge we’ve got the blog owner to appreciate because of that. All of the explanations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the friendships you aid to create – it’s all amazing, and it’s aiding our son and our family believe that that article is amusing, and that’s especially essential. Many thanks for all!

    Reply

  2. My husband and i ended up being cheerful Albert could carry out his analysis because of the ideas he acquired from your blog. It’s not at all simplistic just to always be freely giving concepts a number of people could have been making money from. And now we acknowledge we’ve got the blog owner to appreciate because of that. All of the explanations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the friendships you aid to create – it’s all amazing, and it’s aiding our son and our family believe that that article is amusing, and that’s especially essential. Many thanks for all!

    Reply

  17. Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; many of us
    have created some nice procedures and we are looking to trade
    methods with others, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
    0mniartist asmr

    Reply

  18. Hi this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to
    know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.

    I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone
    with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
    0mniartist asmr

    Reply

  22. Howdy wօᥙld you mind stating whicһ blog platfoгm
    you’re woгking with? I’m looking to staｒt my oown blog soon but I’m having a tough time selectіng between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    Tһe reasson I ask is because yoҝur design and style seems diffеrent then most blogs and I’m ⅼooking for something unique.
    P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    Have a look at my page :: guaranteed payday loans

    Reply

  35. You have made some decent points there. I checked on the net for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

    Reply

  36. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is excellent,
    as well as the content!

    Reply

  43. Hi there! I realize this is sort of off-topic but
    I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established website such as yours take a large amount of work?
    I am brand new to blogging but I do write in my diary daily.
    I’d like to start a blog so I can share my own experience and views online.

    Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for
    new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!

    Reply

  45. Hi there to every body, it’s my first visit of this weblog; this webpage contains awesome and actually fine
    data designed for visitors.

    Reply

  46. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
    I’m quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff
    right here! Good luck for the next!

    Reply

  47. I am actually delighted to glance at this website posts which consists
    of lots of valuable facts, thanks for providing these kinds of
    statistics.

    Reply

  58. scoliosis
    This is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly professional blogger.
    I have joined your feed and sit up for in search of more of your excellent
    post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks scoliosis

    Reply

  80. My partner and I stumbled over here different web page and thought I may as well
    check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
    Look forward to exploring your web page repeatedly.

    Reply

  83. You really make it appear so easy with your presentation however I find this matter to
    be really one thing which I feel I might by no means
    understand. It sort of feels too complex and very
    vast for me. I am having a look ahead for your
    next submit, I’ll try to get the hold of it!

    Reply

  85. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you’re talking about!
    Bookmarked. Please also visit my website =). We can have a
    link exchange contract between us

    Reply

  86. Hi! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone!
    Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look
    forward to all your posts! Carry on the outstanding work!

    Reply

  90. Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how
    could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.

    I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

    Reply

  117. When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a
    comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
    Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  128. I know this web site provides quality dependent articles and additional stuff, is there any other
    web site which offers such data in quality?

    Reply

  149. I’m extremely pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for
    ones time for this particularly fantastic read!!
    I definitely enjoyed every part of it and I have you book-marked to see new things in your website.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *