Racism Isn't Racism, Every time
- Me: My people can be prejudiced, but not racist.
- White male on FB: Carlus can (hopefully back me up in this) I am a white boy and from what I read I can agree and probably have some great discussions with you, but the "my people can't be racist" thing I have to call as a cop out. Anyone can be racist, I just think people should wake up and realize race is of the past it is now all about money and whether you have it or not.
- My response: Anyone can be prejudiced, but I don't adhere to the idea that "hating another race means you're a racist." Racism is prejudice in practice, institutionalized.... There has to be power in the hands of the person, and a will to use that power to oppress those you hate or feel are inferior; you have to have the ability to adversely affect the livelihoods of the group/race you hate. I fully admit that my people can be prejudiced, bigoted, hateful... Bitter. But racist? How, when it is YOUR people who built the social construct of race, when it is your people who used that construct to oppress people outside of their "race," when it is your people who continue to thrive and reap the benefits of the monster they've created. I'm not condoning senseless violence, hate, etc. but I'm also not about to allow you, a white male who benefits from white privilege, to pretend that a Black person hating a white person is the same as a White person hating a Black. What we, as non-whites, can do to you, Whites, is MUCH different than what you can do to us. So it isn't the same. Not at all. Just like "cracker/honky/redneck" isn't the equivalent of "nigger." Just like calling a man a "dog" isn't the equivalent of calling a woman "bitch." Just like "breeder" isn't equivalent to calling a gay man "fag." and I doubt Carlus agrees with you on this matter. And even if he did, I'd tell him the same thing. And "race is a part of the past." How nice for you, a white male, to be able to say something so stupid and actually believe it. Racism is just as prevalent now, and it is people like you who enable it. Explain to me the disproportionate incarceration rates, the stereotypes, the racism launched at the Obama family, the white beauty aesthetic, the fact that "white" is considered the norm and the standard, the misrepresentation in media, the unfair employment practices... Please, explain to me how "race no longer matters." Explain it and PROVE it. But don't fucking say it while MANY Black lives (and other NON-WHITE lives) are being snuffed out at alarming rates, and while oppression STILL exists. Class IS a factor. Money IS a factor... But now, let's look at who has the money and who makes up the majority of the classes that have money. Race and class are not separate, like many people like to pretend they are. And I'll tag XXXXX XXXXX, since he "liked" such an ignorant statement spoken from a position of privilege. And lastly, I'd like to say this: When someone spends so much time and goes to such great lengths to oppress you, to hurt you, to eradicate you, is it really prejudice (pre-judging), or is it "playing it safe?" When someone is violent against you, and you defend yourself, is that "reverse violence," or is it self-defense? The so-called racism that Black people have, has happened over the course of centuries of rape, oppression, genocide (mental, religious, emotional, and physical), murder, gentrification, cultural theft, and much more, is a REACTION to all of that. It is a response, a defense. It isn't the same.
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