Ms. Hurley-Hall, no white person ever tried to help me in my struggle with racism for they had a vested interest in the upholding racism. Luckily, like the receptive white man, I too was eager to learn a new way of thinking. I realized in order to learn about racism, I would have to do some introspection and with studying the primary source- from the horse's mouth so to speak, I read books by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Malcolm X, and for good measure a white author, Robin DiAngelo. From them I gained new understanding of what being a black person entailed- I learned a new perspective, a black one.
I found your post very insightful. I appreciate the white woman explained to the white man what was this about because in my opinion, it isn't on us to always have to explain things, especially when most of the time it is taxing on our mental health. I believe anti-racism work is successful when white people starts to deconstruct the peers around them. And I don't mean white people talking about anti-racism between them to feel good about themselves, but actually challenging their peers, like this woman did.
My approach is more cut-Throat. When I sit to have a conversation with a white racist. I’m normally always loaded with the appropriate ammunition. To totally dismantle any argument about the racist $hit I’ve been encountering.
I never show them any Mercy. That’s why God Brought Me-Into this World- As his “Golden Girl! 👑❤️🔥✊🏽
I believe that calling someone a “Racist” will never start a conversation. It will just enrage those who are hateful. Racism is a deeply rooted psychologically inherited problem. Why do you think random white boy keep shooting us. They always try to tell us their mentally ill and that’s why the want to kill us all! Well hear this Trumpet call ! To hell with the conversation it’s time for Liberation! #QueenVPT 👑❤️🔥
A lot of times I think people are unaware of their biases. The good people will take the hint. The bad ones? They're not changing without some life-altering epiphany, which doesn't happen often enough, IMO. Depending on the situation, I have asked a follow-up question something like, "Why do you think that?" or "Oh, have you seen this yourself somewhere? Tell me about it." Invariably, it's just a bigot repeating the same damn trope without evidence, but if it gets them thinking about why they believe they way they do, maybe it's helpful in the long run? It's so tough to know what will work in which situation.
Great article and topic! Question and comment...was this successful because the "calling in" was from a white woman to a white man? Although I have successfully navigated these types of conversations as a Black woman to a white woman or man, I find that is rarer and they are less receptive to being "called in" so to speak. Why the word "racist" is so inflammatory, particularly in the US, is because it is equated to the worst possible versions of the term, i.e.., chattel slavery, lynching, cross burning, etc. But I often open the conversation with replacing the word racist with the phrase "race-based preference" then get reactions and see where that takes us in the conversation. If we can have language that diffuses the internal feelings being brought into it at the beginning, there's hope to get to dialogue that is not extreme offense and defense driven.
What If Being Called "Racist" Were the Start of the Conversation?
Ms. Hurley-Hall, no white person ever tried to help me in my struggle with racism for they had a vested interest in the upholding racism. Luckily, like the receptive white man, I too was eager to learn a new way of thinking. I realized in order to learn about racism, I would have to do some introspection and with studying the primary source- from the horse's mouth so to speak, I read books by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Malcolm X, and for good measure a white author, Robin DiAngelo. From them I gained new understanding of what being a black person entailed- I learned a new perspective, a black one.
I found your post very insightful. I appreciate the white woman explained to the white man what was this about because in my opinion, it isn't on us to always have to explain things, especially when most of the time it is taxing on our mental health. I believe anti-racism work is successful when white people starts to deconstruct the peers around them. And I don't mean white people talking about anti-racism between them to feel good about themselves, but actually challenging their peers, like this woman did.
Laughing hysterically! Because…
My approach is more cut-Throat. When I sit to have a conversation with a white racist. I’m normally always loaded with the appropriate ammunition. To totally dismantle any argument about the racist $hit I’ve been encountering.
I never show them any Mercy. That’s why God Brought Me-Into this World- As his “Golden Girl! 👑❤️🔥✊🏽
https://youtu.be/-A0LKCNNZ2g?si=rnQFlwHuw_Tz0rWg
https://youtu.be/-A0LKCNNZ2g?si=rnQFlwHuw_Tz0rWg
I believe that calling someone a “Racist” will never start a conversation. It will just enrage those who are hateful. Racism is a deeply rooted psychologically inherited problem. Why do you think random white boy keep shooting us. They always try to tell us their mentally ill and that’s why the want to kill us all! Well hear this Trumpet call ! To hell with the conversation it’s time for Liberation! #QueenVPT 👑❤️🔥
https://youtu.be/VzRc00g1vqI?si=px6Oh7eEAKCd0J-S
I think it's a wonderful start.
A lot of times I think people are unaware of their biases. The good people will take the hint. The bad ones? They're not changing without some life-altering epiphany, which doesn't happen often enough, IMO. Depending on the situation, I have asked a follow-up question something like, "Why do you think that?" or "Oh, have you seen this yourself somewhere? Tell me about it." Invariably, it's just a bigot repeating the same damn trope without evidence, but if it gets them thinking about why they believe they way they do, maybe it's helpful in the long run? It's so tough to know what will work in which situation.
How open are you to critical feedback? I think there are two separate problems that need to be taken into account, but they are both controversial.
Great article and topic! Question and comment...was this successful because the "calling in" was from a white woman to a white man? Although I have successfully navigated these types of conversations as a Black woman to a white woman or man, I find that is rarer and they are less receptive to being "called in" so to speak. Why the word "racist" is so inflammatory, particularly in the US, is because it is equated to the worst possible versions of the term, i.e.., chattel slavery, lynching, cross burning, etc. But I often open the conversation with replacing the word racist with the phrase "race-based preference" then get reactions and see where that takes us in the conversation. If we can have language that diffuses the internal feelings being brought into it at the beginning, there's hope to get to dialogue that is not extreme offense and defense driven.