You’re going to be hearing a lot of talk of racism. And you might think that we’re talking about white cops who murder black people. And although we are, that’s not it. Yes, racism turns into hatred and violence, but it also manifests in a myriad of other ways. Also to clarify the term “racism”, I’m not talking about racial prejudice that any race can have for any other. In academic and usually political realms, the word “racism” means the systemic oppression of a race. Which black people can’t do to white people, as opposed to racial prejudice which of course can and does happen. Here are other examples of how white people are racist.
Dismissive Racism: Dear white people, when a person of colour tells you you’re being racist, listen, absorb and change your behaviour. If you defend what you said, you’re not only still being racist, but you’re now defending your racism. Take this time to listen, learn and change. When white people say “why is this about race?”, it means that the white person doesn’t want to see the flaws in the system that favour them.
Electoral Racism: If you voted for Trump in the USA, or Scheer or Ford in Canada, you’re kinda racist. Many right wing politicians on both sides of the border have either explicitly racist pasts, or vote against any movement that help the advancements of communities of colour. If voting for known racists is a better option than paying a bit more in taxes.. yeah, you’re kinda racist.
Apathetic Racism: Everyone is posting, writing, pledging, protesting, donating, etc. right now. If you’re not doing any of these things, your apathy is helping the racists, not the people who need your help.
Constitutional Racism: In the USA, the country was formed by white, cis, hetero men who were mostly Anglican or Protestant and also owned slaves. The “liberty and justice for all” and “all men are created equal” excluded women, trans, queer and people of colour. The country isn’t “failing” these group. It was never designed for us. Once the slaves were freed, black people were still legally blocked from owning property, voting and going to school. Making it impossible for black people to become politicians or academics for a long time, to even out the playing field. Look up the history of “grandfather clause”.
Oppressive Jealousy Racism: White people REALLY want to be oppressed. Whenever there are talks of how people of colour have it hard, white people desperately want to be included in the oppressed group. This jealousy stems from not acknowledging or learning about the oppressive state. Yes… all lives matter. Black Lives Matter isn’t saying that white people’s lives don’t matter, it means they always have. Black lives don’t matter in the system right now, and that’s what needs to change. Same with Blue Lives Matter. We don’t need to say this, because every single person who has killed a cop has been charged with first degree murder. What’s basically legal in the USA right now, is for a cop to murder unarmed black people. A black teenager who steals a Dr Pepper from 711 deservers his day in court (and not being shot in the back by a cop), as does a white cop who murders an unarmed black man.
Generational Racism: White parents, especially in predominantly white areas, don’t overtly teach their children not to be racist. Without overt and explicit conversations about race with children, not only will they not be able to see racism when it’s in front of them, they may grow up to be even more racist than their parents.
Academic Racism: Black history or literature is barely taught in schools. It can be a chapter at most. And up until recently, some textbooks even referred to slaves as “migrant workers”. Education systems need to teach race relations and history in school. So that next time Simone Manuel breaks another Olympic record for swimming and her race is discussed, when white people argue that “her race doesn’t matter”, another white person can point out that her grandmother wasn’t allowed to swim in public pools, and now her granddaughter is the fastest swimmer in the world and that’s kinda a big deal.
Comparative Racism: If you even begin to compare looting and rioting to a long history of systematic murder. You’re racist. If you think the public property, and even the private property of civilians, including black civilians, are more important than ending the unjustified murder of a specific race, you’re racist. If you even by a teeny tiny little weeny bit even think to possibly potentially compare property destruction and theft to the murder of a race. You’re racist.
Privileged Racism: When people say “Oh I don’t see colour.” or “I only see good and evil, not colour”. You’re coming from a very privileged place of being able to ignore a system that oppresses certain people. Whether it’s fearing for your life when you get pulled over for speeding, or changing your name on your resume to better your chances at getting a job interview or an apartment, or being able to protest with visible firearms in public and even in government buildings, not being able to identify your own privileges contributes to the overall racist system. And for the record, white privilege doesn’t mean white people can’t have difficult lives, it means the various systems in place didn’t put you in a disadvantage because you’re white.
Popular Media Racism: This is very wide, but it actually is very important and it really started with blackface in early cinema. Having role models in TV and Film, is crucial for the upbringing of any kid. When films and TV whitewash narratives, cast white actors to play characters that were of colour in the source material or the real life counterparts, or when white people save the day, all contributes to the notion that white people are the norm, and the rest of us are the other. More people of colour at studios, networks, production companies hiring more people of colour to tell more stories of people of colour will help balance the popular media consumed by everyone, especially children of colour.
(and many many more)
So how, do you, a white person, become less racist? Listen, learn and change. Call people out, examine your own behaviours. When was the last time you hired a person of colour? You’ve forced your kids to watch The Goonies, now make them watch Akeelah and the Bee. No black literature in school? Make your teens read Roots, The Skin I’m In, or Ragtime. Don’t watch or read right-leaning news. Vote for not-racists (this one is super easy). Don’t defend your own behaviour when people of colour call you out. Don't ever ever under any circumstance say All Lives Matter. Travel. Read. Listen. Donate. Protest. March. Yell. Equal rights does not mean less rights for you. Help us.
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