Fair enough. I have a tendency to overanalyze. I guess it matters less where it came from and more what I do about it.
But I do have to say I was definitely not blaming my professor, if anything he’s the reason I’m more aware of these weird reactions and I consider that awareness a good thing. I owe him a lot; he helped me come to terms with my own shit. If I somehow distorted his message, that’s on me.
Yes it’s uncomfortable. I used to think that was undesirable, to have an uncomfortable conversation about race, but now I think these are exactly the kinds of conversations we need to be having if we are to get anywhere on this issue.
I’m not white knighting. I’m fully confident that olives can stand her ground. I’m just saying that I didn’t hear excuse-making, but rather context. Never once did I hear her try to absolve herself of the silliness of her reaction. By voluntarily copping to it in the first place, she was implicitly communicating that she already knows it was silly. It didn’t need to be tossed in her face yet again. (Especially since it’s ridiculously slight on the offensiveness scale.)
Personally, I don’t know know olives, but if her experience is true–and I have no reason to doubt it is–it would explain certain imperfect thoughts.
I guess I don’t understand why what she said is such more “rolly eyes” inducing than any other of the comments here.
Yeah, I agree. My racist attitudes have been challenged on this very board more than most other areas of my life. Not to mention, other issues I have. I think this board may have changed my outlook on homosexuality to a degree that I would have been a far worse person if I’d never found this board. I’m gonna start a thread about that one day.
But yeah, this thread is a good one, and I appreciate your response.
The funny thing about racist thoughts is that they go away, at least, when I deal with a person of that race on a personal basis. I started this thread because I saw some television commercial with a black man and a white woman. And it tweaked me in a way I don’t like about myself.
I have an off and on relationship with my girlfriend. And by “off and and on” I mean 15 years. One of the time we were “off” she dated, and slept with of course, one of the black guys in my circle of friends. He wasn’t an “other”, he was Dante. But me sorta liking Dante, rugby playing ex-coworker, sometimes drinking body, and I guy I’ve asked for favors
The whole point of this thread is that no matter how non-racist you think you are - you are. Examine yourself, and deal with it.
The funny thing about racist thoughts is that they go away, at least, when I deal with a person of that race on a personal basis. I started this thread because I saw some television commercial with a black man and a white woman. And it tweaked me in a way I don’t like about myself.
I have an off and on relationship with my girlfriend. And by “off and and on” I mean 15 years. One of the times we were “off” she dated, and slept with of course, one of the black guys in my circle of friends. I have zero problems with it. He wasn’t an “other”, he was Dante. I like Dante.
The whole point of this thread is that no matter how non-racist you think you are - you are. Examine yourself, and deal with it.
I get what you’re saying. I agree with you, basically.
But…if I were being a stickler…I would disagree. Meaning, there are exceptions to every rule. It’s like saying, “Every man likes sex. Every man. Deal with it.” I would agree with you in spirit. But, technically, it isn’t true. There are SOME men who truly are asexual. They are rare enough to not make a fuss about, but since you are doubling down on this, I can see how someone who truly isn’t racist may make a fuss.
I have met people who I swear to god, I would bet the rent they aren’t racist. I could be wrong, of course, but I have truly been so amazed by them, (and there are only two in my lifetime that I can think of) that I studied them intently and just couldn’t find any evidence of it. I think they were just built that way. The idea of harboring racist ideals just seemed to go against their very fabric.
So, I don’t want to be one of those people who says, “Welllll you can’t say evvveerrryyybodyyyyy” but, since you are really doubling down, you leave me no choice.
Damnit Zinga, you gorgeous African Queen*, you’re killing my point. You are killing it by admitting it.
I want people who think they are not racist to think about it. You already know damn well that you are a little bit racist. I like that about you. It’s not people like you that are annoying me; it’s the one that that their first impulse… their kneejerk reacting is “I’m not racist! Only other people are!”.
That annoys me. It’s the lack of humility. It’s the lack of wisdom. The lack of understanding.
I don’t think I’m racist, but let’s say that I probably am, because if almost everyone is, why wouldn’t I be? Yet… I can’t think of a time when I’ve had a racist thought or done anything racist. Of course, I may have repressed it to protect my ego. That’s a totally valid possibility.
Is there any way to tell if I am just a little racist?
What’s the best way?
I’ve tried to gauge it by imagining myself in some of the scenarios presented in this thread, like how the idea of an interracial couple affects me emotionally. It doesn’t get any reaction out of me, possibly because my Italian sister is married to a black guy and I have family pictures of them with my adorable niece all over the place, so it’s just not a remarkable sight for me.
I think most people have a little bit of racism in them. Often based on life experiences.
I grew up in a 100% White rural community and have had very bad experiences with the first few people of Chinese descent that I really knew/interacted with a lot (including an insanely tough college teacher who really derailed my education). Even today I have to always remind myself that not every Chinese person is bad at all, in fact most of them are just like anyone else. But I knew the few bad apples first.
[QUOTE=A Monkey With a Gun;16070383 ]
Your brother deseated you from the throne.
[/QUOTE]
I was doing this from memory. It wasn’t you’re brother. It was the damn Portuguese. (for those of you who don’t know, Nzinga is a significant historical figure queen that fought against European incursion in her southern African Empire back in the 1600’s)
I’m uneasy in mono-racial surroundings, it just feels creepy. I’ve been in some rural areas where everyone you saw not only was the same race but appeared to be related(not a incest joke) for whatever reason it feels very creepy.
Since “racist” is such a charged word for lots of people, frequently eliciting defensiveness and hysteria, why not just say that everyone is at risk of having prejudiced thoughts? I don’t think this is as controversial of a generalization.
