# Why do so many of the people who identify as White have a hard time seeing the racism around them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 29, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716 "2019-03-29T17:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/241 "2019-04-05T17:36:36Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Can you expand upon your thoughts on this? For instance, if you were at a party, and someone asked you if you like Stevie Wonder’s music, you replied “No, I don’t like Stevie Wonder’s music”, and a third person said “That’s racist!” then you would waste your time trying to defend yourself to that third person? Not really because it doesn’t follow that because I don’t like Stevie Wonder’s music that I am necessarily racist. Most people don’t assume that not liking Stevie Wonder’s music is _prima facie_ evidence of racial animus. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/242 "2019-04-05T17:47:34Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Not really because it doesn’t follow that because I don’t like Stevie Wonder’s music that I am necessarily racist. Most people don’t assume that not liking Stevie Wonder’s music is _prima facie_ evidence of racial animus. Are you saying that the premise that the third person used to determine that you were racist is so outlandish that you don’t feel the need to defend against it? ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/243 "2019-04-05T17:49:22Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If white people are treated just averagely in society, and everyone else gets worse treatment, I’d say that’s worth some thinking about. At the very least, questioning why everyone can’t be treated as the norm and have similar access to jobs, similar outcomes in the criminal justice system, etc. > > But it should also be setting off alarm bells as to why one group of people get significantly better treatment, and why that is so. The unexamined life, etc etc. There is that outcome word again. Outcomes will never be and should never be ‘equal’. Outcomes are based upon input, all of varying degrees. Unless the input is identical, should the outcomes be identical. For everything. College applications, criminal justice, jobs. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/244 "2019-04-05T17:51:58Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > ISTM that feeling the need to react to accusations of being a racist is part of the white fragility that Diangelo and others decry. For better or worse, I don’t suffer from that kind of fragility. “You are part of whiteness and whiteness is racism” or “assuming that the norm is the norm is racist” or even “isn’t it possible that you are unconsciously racist” don’t get much of a reaction from me - at least, not until they show some specific way that I am being racist, even unconsciously. It seems to me that equating accusations of white fragility with accusations of racism is an example of white fragility. White fragility is when a person fears being accused of being a racist enough that they are proactive in defending themselves against such accusations, whether or not the accusations have actually occurred. They have a skewed perspective where they see accusations even if they aren’t there and react accordingly. If somebody were to ask me whether my race has helped me, I wouldn’t attempt to weasel out with some sort of statement that “My race is the norm, and thus I don’t have to answer your questions about race which might be traps to get me to say something racist. (Other, inferior races still have to answer such questions, of course.)” I would instead just blink, a little surprised to be asked such a question out of the blue, and say, “Well yeah. Obviously. It’s way more convenient not to be pulled over all the time or stalked when I go shopping. But honestly most of my easy life results from other factors where race is less of a factor, like my mom being so nice.” If somebody says “A black man was just murdered!” I don’t say, “I didn’t do it! I’ve never murdered a black man! Don’t look at me!” I’d instead blink and say, “Huh. That’s bad.” (And then probably be attacked for not being more sympathetic, which is fair because I’m not a very sympathetic person.) That’s the difference between having white fragility and not having it. It’s a different and separate thing from racism. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/245 "2019-04-05T17:52:52Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > There is that outcome word again. Outcomes will never be and should never be ‘equal’. > > Outcomes are based upon input, all of varying degrees. Unless the input is identical, should the outcomes be identical. > For everything. > > College applications, criminal justice, jobs. So women and minorities shouldn’t expect equal treatment in jobs, justice, etc. because their “input” is not equal? In my view, if we are seeing disproportionate outcomes, and you want to argue that it has to do with the quality of education attained or whatever, then I’m just going to ask why educational outcomes are so discriminatory. I’ll bet you will take offense at the question. ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/246 "2019-04-05T17:54:32Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’ve expressed the thought for here for many many years that casual accusations of racism do damage when it comes to seeking justice for actual racism. If the idea of a casual accusation of racism has got you all in your feelings imagine what it would feel like to have to deal with being on the receiving end of a casual act of racism…over and over and over again going back as far as you can remember. And do these casual acts of racism happen in a controlled classroom or lecture environment? No! They happen in the wild and usually when you least expect it. It’s almost like DiAngelo is trying to address a real problem that causes real harm instead of worrying about being sensitive to how white people feel about the subject. It’s almost like she’s saying that white people’s sensitivity to the subject IS A BIG FUCKING PART OF THE PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO GET PASSED IT SO WE CAN MAKE SOME DAMN PROGRESS. Much like how most white folks don’t care if black folks have to deal with racism, I don’t give a damn if white folks get their feelings hurt when we talk about racism. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/247 "2019-04-05T17:54:37Z")
When did “empathy” become a synonym for “fragility”? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/248 "2019-04-05T18:03:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If white people are treated just averagely in society, and everyone else gets worse treatment, I’d say that’s worth some thinking about. At the very least, questioning why everyone can’t be treated as the norm and have similar access to jobs, similar outcomes in the criminal justice system, etc. Sure, you can question why people who are part of the norm get treated differently from people who aren’t, but depending on how you phrase the question and especially what answers you expect is going to make a lot of difference. For instance, people in high-crime neighborhoods get stopped by the police a lot more than people in “normal” neighborhoods. Why? Because high-crime neighborhoods are not the norm. Therefore the police are going to be more present, and more suspicious. But the answer to that is not, IMO, to try to believe that high-crime neighborhoods are the norm, or that the police should pretend that it is. Maybe there is something else that can be done, or should be done. But “believing the norm is the norm is racist” ain’t gonna get anywhere. There was a thread a while back about how we spend almost the same, or maybe a little more per-student, in poor districts as “normal” districts, but the outcomes were quite different. That would be a case of treating everyone as being in “the norm” - but it doesn’t “work”. This isn’t Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above-average. Like I said, “how has being part of the norm made you different?” is kind of an odd question. “How has not being part of the norm made you different?” is a different question. How would a black person answer? I dunno - ask them. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/249 "2019-04-05T18:06:24Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > The rational thing to do in a diversity training is like talking to the police or being grilled by a spouse, keep your head down, and your answers short until you find out what you are being accused of. I won’t disagree that some diversity training, particularly on college campuses, can be poorly implemented and create tension unnecessarily. You have good training that raises awareness, and you can also have terrible facilitators who don’t know what they’re doing. Bad training is bad training, but it doesn’t invalidate the need for quality discussion that raises people’s awareness on sensitive issues. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/250 "2019-04-05T18:09:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > But “believing the norm is the norm is racist” ain’t gonna get anywhere. Sure, because you will almost certainly deny that racism exists outside of white folks wearing hoods, no matter what evidence is presented; probably because you don’t feel in the impacts of racism. Which is the question posed by the OP. And you sometimes tinker with an even more extreme idea, that people manufacture racism so they can benefit somehow – which is an obscenely stupid assertion. > [@](#): > > Like I said, “how has being part of the norm made you different?” is kind of an odd question. “How has not being part of the norm made you different?” is a different question. Your first is an easy question to answer. By not being crippled by various factors that the majority of the population deal with (talking women and minorities) I’ve been given an advantage that has helped me in virtually every facet of my life, from my job to my wealth to my only being pulled over maybe three times in my life. Is that really so hard to come up with? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/251 "2019-04-05T18:10:23Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Are you saying that the premise that the third person used to determine that you were racist is so outlandish that you don’t feel the need to defend against it? If that’s all the evidence in its entirety, yes. But I assume that we’re mostly talking about situations beyond the absurd. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/252 "2019-04-05T18:11:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When did “empathy” become a synonym for “fragility”? It…hasn’t? ‘White fragility’ is when the white person leaps to defensive positions rather than being willing to face the reality of society’s systemic racism. It’s sort of the opposite of empathy - you can’t be empathetic about a problem you’re refuse to acknowledge exists out of fear that you might be blamed for causing it. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/253 "2019-04-05T18:16:05Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > If that’s all the evidence in its entirety, yes. But I assume that we’re mostly talking about situations beyond the absurd. That’s fair. But that’s how ALL accusations of racism directed towards ME sound. That’s why I don’t bother to defend myself, or understand why the person is saying it. And that’s why I don’t care if someone calls me “racist” (as an answer to your question of “So if someone calls you a racist in real life, you’re honestly saying that you don’t care?”) ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/254 "2019-04-05T18:47:05Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Where do you get this idea that she kicks off each training session with casual accusations of racism directed toward the white people in the audience? I think you’re projecting an awful lot here. > > If you think sociologists shouldn’t be in the business of studying behaviors of various groups, and reporting on their findings, I guess you’re making an argument that sociology as a field of study should not exist. I’m sure the training sessions are different than the written text or even interviews she’s given. But as I said, I’m only evaluating based on what I’ve read and what’s been presented in various threads. Her writing isn’t persuasive at all to me - it doesn’t even carry that semblance of truth to it. Like, I’m sure it’s accurate for some folks and that’s why it resonates. But when I read it, my first middle, and last reaction is that it’s a portrayal that doesn’t represent anything close to reality. Regarding sociology, I think of what DiAngelo writes and do a replacement of the races. Like, someone were to say that when black people have an instinctive negative reaction when confronted by police officers, that’s black fragility. I have an inherent skepticism of generalizations of this nature. It probably is a good thing I’m not a sociologist. > [@asahi](#): > > Not really because it doesn’t follow that because I don’t like Stevie Wonder’s music that I am necessarily racist. Most people don’t assume that not liking Stevie Wonder’s music is _prima facie_ evidence of racial animus. In meatspace, I’ve heard people say that if you think OJ was guilty that’s racist. Or if you think Zimmerman was innocent that’s racist. Or if you think Michael Brown was justifiably shot that’s racist. Those are a few examples, but it happens enough that without substantial evidence it’s just noise to be disregarded. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/255 "2019-04-05T18:49:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Sure, because you will almost certainly deny that racism exists outside of white folks wearing hoods, no matter what evidence is presented; probably because you don’t feel in the impacts of racism. A lot of the reason I don’t care about being called a racist without evidence is, when I say I don’t care if I get called a racist without evidence, I get this kind of nonsense. Fortunately, I am not fragile about it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/256 "2019-04-05T19:01:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > A lot of the reason I don’t care about being called a racist without evidence is, when I say I don’t care if I get called a racist without evidence, I get this kind of nonsense. > > Fortunately, I am not fragile about it. > > Regards, > Shodan You manly man, you. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/257 "2019-04-05T19:10:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > ISTM that feeling the need to react to accusations of being a racist is part of the white fragility that Diangelo and others decry. I don’t have enough familiarity with Diangelo to know, but I don’t know if that’s really what’s being argued. I think what people are saying is, before you defensively deny someone’s accusations of bias, maybe listen to what they have to say first. You can disagree with someone’s assessment that you’re biased or that you’re racist or whatever. But if someone’s making an honest and nuanced attempt to describe what they see as bias on your part, I don’t know…maybe listen and ask why they feel that way. Having said that, I would agree that it certainly helps to be tactful. If someone points out potential biased comments or behavior on my part, I would certainly listen, but it’s easier to listen if someone isn’t accusing me of being an outright racist - on that we agree. That assumes that I’m not saying and doing patently racist things, of course. > [@Shodan](#): > > For better or worse, I don’t suffer from that kind of fragility. “You are part of whiteness and whiteness is racism” or “assuming that the norm is the norm is racist” or even “isn’t it possible that you are unconsciously racist” don’t get much of a reaction from me - at least, not until they show some specific way that I am being racist, even unconsciously. Why do you believe that the comments are necessarily about you as an individual - I don’t think that they are. You are a part of whiteness, and this country’s whiteness has been demonstrably racist. Just get your constitution and read the sections that pertain to racism. I don’t know if I would agree that assuming the norm is the norm is necessarily racist, but it’s definitely biased thinking. Why should someone have to show you that you’re being a racist before you listen? Why not just listen, think, and consider? > [@Shodan](#): > > That’s why stuff like this - which is a restatement of the same question of “how has being average given you an advantage?” doesn’t do much for me. If it is racist to think that white people are the norm, and white people are the norm, then I am going to need more than just the assertion to care very much. It’s not racist to think that white people have established the norms in this society - I don’t think minorities disagree with you there. What that statement is intended to emphasize is that just because whites have established their “normal” doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone else has to agree with it or like it. You can argue that they have to live with it regardless, but that type of thinking inevitably leads to unresolved tension. It essentially sends the message “It’s a white man’s country, with the white man’s rules. Tough shit if you don’t like it, son - you’re free to leave anytime you please.” How is anyone supposed to respond favorably to that kind of thinking? > [@Shodan](#): > > WADR that seems like another aspect of the attempt at a Catch-22 Diangelo is trying. If I am accused of being a racist and I react defensively, that’s white fragility. If I don’t react defensively, or much at all, that is being smug, offensive and hostile. > > I am probably older than you, and “explain how your problems are my fault even unconsciously” is a reaction I have found to be useful over the years. > Meh. Someone’s problems aren’t necessarily your fault, but by being more aware of how racism injures people you, being white and in closer proximity to other whites, might be in a position to foster more awareness and more mutual understanding, even if we don’t get mutual agreement. I think one of the problems that people have when they get defensive about racism or claims of bias is that they assume that they are individually being placed under a microscope, and that’s frequently not the case - not unless someone is voluntarily, consciously being racist. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/258 "2019-04-05T19:16:36Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > It seems to me that equating accusations of white fragility with accusations of racism is an example of white fragility. > > White fragility is when a person fears being accused of being a racist enough that they are proactive in defending themselves against such accusations, whether or not the accusations have actually occurred. They have a skewed perspective where they see accusations even if they aren’t there and react accordingly. > > If somebody were to ask me whether my race has helped me, I wouldn’t attempt to weasel out with some sort of statement that “My race is the norm, and thus I don’t have to answer your questions about race which might be traps to get me to say something racist. (Other, inferior races still have to answer such questions, of course.)” I would instead just blink, a little surprised to be asked such a question out of the blue, and say, “Well yeah. Obviously. It’s way more convenient not to be pulled over all the time or stalked when I go shopping. But honestly most of my easy life results from other factors where race is less of a factor, like my mom being so nice.” > > If somebody says “A black man was just murdered!” I don’t say, “I didn’t do it! I’ve never murdered a black man! Don’t look at me!” I’d instead blink and say, “Huh. That’s bad.” (And then probably be attacked for not being more sympathetic, which is fair because I’m not a very sympathetic person.) > > That’s the difference between having white fragility and not having it. It’s a different and separate thing from racism. If I had to come up with an elevator speech on how my race has shaped my life, it would be something like this: I have had a charmed life for the most part, but I think my race has made it a bit more challenging than it would be if I had been been born white. Being black means that I am more sensitive to certain things…and not just sensitive in the emotional sense of the word, but also in the perceptive sense. I simply notice things I probably wouldn’t notice otherwise. I think this awareness had made me softer in some ways and harder in others. This is probably the most I can say without getting in the realm of speculation. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/259 "2019-04-05T19:18:02Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > In meatspace, I’ve heard people say that if you think OJ was guilty that’s racist. Or if you think Zimmerman was innocent that’s racist. Or if you think Michael Brown was justifiably shot that’s racist. Those are a few examples, but it happens enough that without substantial evidence it’s just noise to be disregarded. Funny, I think OJ was guilty as hell and I thought Zimmerman abused of his authority into seeking a confrontation that turned deadly. Now, the issue to me was if that confrontation was influenced by his racism, and that is very likely when one bothers to notice what Zimmerman did later. > **[George Zimmerman’s many, many controversies since the Trayvon Martin case](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/12/george-zimmermans-many-many-controversies-since-the-trayvon-martin-case/?utm_term=.f9255847f252)** > > In the past two years, Zimmerman has been arrested multiple times and has tweeted a photograph of Martin's body. > [@](#): > > Zimmerman is no stranger to Twitter controversy. He’s used it to call President Obama an “ ignorant baboon” — which was widely perceived as a racial slur. Perhaps he remembered Obama’s comment after the shooting that “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon. When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.” And Zimmerman allegedly invoked the shooting of Martin by tweeting at a critic, “We all know how it ended for the last moron who hit me. Give it a whirl, cupcake.” As someone noted at tweeter before Zimmerman’s account was banned: “George Zimmerman’s profile picture is literally a Confederate flag, but his supporters claim he’s not racist.” > [@](#): > > Those tweets — and all his others — can’t be linked to, because his account was suspended in 2015 after he posted semi-nude photographs of his ex-girlfriend. In the captions, he included her personal email address and telephone number and accused her of having sex with a “dirty Muslim.” > [@](#): > > George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin in 2012, and Florida gun store owner Andy Hallinan ask Americans to buy prints of Confederate flag paintings (Florida Gun Supply Store) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716/260 "2019-04-05T19:43:46Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Regarding sociology, I think of what DiAngelo writes and do a replacement of the races. Like, someone were to say that when black people have an instinctive negative reaction when confronted by police officers, that’s black fragility. I have an inherent skepticism of generalizations of this nature. It probably is a good thing I’m not a sociologist. You’re comparing two different contexts. Whites fragility involves white people, who collectively have more power than “fragile” blacks who have been victimized by the police. > [@Bone](#): > > In meatspace, I’ve heard people say that if you think OJ was guilty that’s racist. Or if you think Zimmerman was innocent that’s racist. Or if you think Michael Brown was justifiably shot that’s racist. Those are a few examples, but it happens enough that without substantial evidence it’s just noise to be disregarded. I think you misheard them. It’s not that these beliefs are racist, but rather that they could be symptoms of people who have racist attitudes, or at least attitudes that are heavily biased. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-the-people-who-identify-as-white-have-a-hard-time-seeing-the-racism-around-them/831716.md?page=14)