Passionate Anti-Racism Educator/Speaks Ugly Truth Over Pretty Lies/Content Creator/ Disruptor & Accomplice/ DEI Facilitator/ Special Education Teacher/ Administrator/ Promoter of Racial Responsibility
Blunt Commentary: For most “white” folks, inequity, inequality, and injustice are a Black person problem. We insist… “THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. “ BUT… We must ask ourselves… who had/has the power to create and uphold such a system? WE DID THIS. We have a “white” person problem in the United States, as we have chosen to stand by a system that is meant to reward “white” folks & Black/brown folks at different rates. We are generally ok with this. THIS…IS A PROBLEM WITH “WHITE” PEOPLE IN THE AGGREGATE. THE PROBLEM: We are racist. This is why I say we have a “white” person problem in the United States.
James Baldwin
It's not what we think it's what we do, especially what we do without thinking. I notice the writer places "white" in quotation marks, and uses a lower case "w," while using an upper case "b" and omitting quotation marks. I wonder why. I think it is important to tell people they are important, that what they do counts, and therefore they ought to be careful to do the right thing and not waste their lives. It seems like one ought to capitalize "white," and tell white people to use their lives as though how they treat people makes a difference. One more thing: avoid denying anyone "agency." Each Black person is the captain of their soul, etc. Always acknowledge that. Black people are navigating the wilderness of whiteness, and get credit for it.
The basis of supremacy is always in its ability to forego humanity and exact extreme ruthlessness without hesitation or reservation and then create the narrative that justifies the inhumanity and barbarism committed.
Isn’t it more that white people belittle the problem and say/think “yeah well, live with that and get on with it” without taking responsibility to change things, more than claim Black people created the problem?
Thank you. At least one person understands how things are from "our" point of view. So many others get so defensive and "offended" by those very statements and I've always wondered why. We're at a very dangerous time as a Country with States practically silencing and outright banning teaching our children the complete history of this Country, both the good and the bad, and how people of whatever gender, race, culture, have ALL made such huge contributions to the development and prosperity of this Nation. How sad that some Governors and State Legislatures actually wholeheartedly support denying/censoring/ignoring the parts of US History made by those other than "white" males. It's offensive, and it so SO dangerous. To deny the TRUE, complete History of a Nation is just advocating for propaganda.
James Baldwin is such a powerful writer. When I was a bratty teenager, I was determined not to really get into the books I was supposed to read. But I did. His voice stayed in my head. He has this gift for really making you see and hear what he saying inside your head when you read his story. He taught me a lot. Things that I should have learned and I didn't with history.
Great statement for all of us to think about. It says a lot.
Amen to that!
Retired Union Ironworker L.U. 272
12moI think that ultimately the problem has to do with people practicing ignorance because they think it’s beneficial for them and the people closest to them genetically. Black Africans are the only true Homo sapiens with everyone else having very small amounts of Neanderthal and Denisovan heritage. The Homo sapiens won the genetic competition since we’re almost all 98% Homo sapien. It seems to me that genetic survival has to be very important for all species that exist and that has to play a big role in our behaviors even if it’s not recognized in the stories we tell about our civilizations. For me, that makes things more understandable because otherwise this situation doesn’t really make sense.