Ms.Hurley, your newsletter never fails to encourage me to learn more about racism. I do not want to become a Karen or Becky and I think you are helping me to achieve my goal of understanding. Additionally, I do not be want to be what Malcolm X warned blacks to beware of- liberal white men. I want a deeper appreciation and understanding of trials, tribulation, and more importantly the nature of blacks. I don't want to define blackness by the simplistic answer- color of one's skin, but as Martin Luther King said, "By the content of their character."
I love obtaining knowledge as your newsletter allows me. Reading your interview with Hannah Drake pique my interest in her stories.I would like to make some comments about the stories written by her. I Iearned from The Ten Steps of Facing Racism the remarkable similarities between the ten steps and the steps most of us use to deal with Grief. From the second story, I understand the importance of blacks not giving up their space, to hold their ground. Ms. Drake's action at the counter, though was small a victory, it was a victory nonetheless. To attempt to be an example for others- to do as she did, somehow seems to me, takes courage. As for the last story about the Karen's in life, it seems to me that both Becky and Karen can be obnoxious or use microaggessions to defend their privileged ideas and lives. Becky, however has a need to try and fit in with Blacks- to be Black herself. She does this by claiming she works with and is even " friends" with blacks, by attempting to look black, and taking the liberty to talk black. There is weakness in her action for she uses unfounded racial biases to determine how she thinks she ought to act. She becomes the white liberal, Malcolm X warned black people about with their claims. Even worse is their disengenous motives. Many whites might be sold on the idea that these people truly want to understand Black people- to see where they are coming from. When all the dust all settles, humans always act out of self- interest- to satisfy their innate needs. Karens and Beckys are no different.
On some introspection, I was a Karen most of my life. I didn't even claim that some of friends were black or that I had studied with blacks. I had never personally never experienced and if I saw it, I took no notice. I didn't even know racism existed. I thought that privilege would keep me above racism, how wrong I was, how could I be so naive. I don't use anymore the excuse that my racism was solely because of the environment I was raised in. My world was filled with the consequences and the microaggession of racism, racism didn't effect me( or I thought) directly. So in the last analysis, I did consciously choose to ignore racism, there is no getting around that. For that I am deeply sorry.
Meet Anti-Racism Writer, Hannah Drake
Ms.Hurley, your newsletter never fails to encourage me to learn more about racism. I do not want to become a Karen or Becky and I think you are helping me to achieve my goal of understanding. Additionally, I do not be want to be what Malcolm X warned blacks to beware of- liberal white men. I want a deeper appreciation and understanding of trials, tribulation, and more importantly the nature of blacks. I don't want to define blackness by the simplistic answer- color of one's skin, but as Martin Luther King said, "By the content of their character."
I love obtaining knowledge as your newsletter allows me. Reading your interview with Hannah Drake pique my interest in her stories.I would like to make some comments about the stories written by her. I Iearned from The Ten Steps of Facing Racism the remarkable similarities between the ten steps and the steps most of us use to deal with Grief. From the second story, I understand the importance of blacks not giving up their space, to hold their ground. Ms. Drake's action at the counter, though was small a victory, it was a victory nonetheless. To attempt to be an example for others- to do as she did, somehow seems to me, takes courage. As for the last story about the Karen's in life, it seems to me that both Becky and Karen can be obnoxious or use microaggessions to defend their privileged ideas and lives. Becky, however has a need to try and fit in with Blacks- to be Black herself. She does this by claiming she works with and is even " friends" with blacks, by attempting to look black, and taking the liberty to talk black. There is weakness in her action for she uses unfounded racial biases to determine how she thinks she ought to act. She becomes the white liberal, Malcolm X warned black people about with their claims. Even worse is their disengenous motives. Many whites might be sold on the idea that these people truly want to understand Black people- to see where they are coming from. When all the dust all settles, humans always act out of self- interest- to satisfy their innate needs. Karens and Beckys are no different.
On some introspection, I was a Karen most of my life. I didn't even claim that some of friends were black or that I had studied with blacks. I had never personally never experienced and if I saw it, I took no notice. I didn't even know racism existed. I thought that privilege would keep me above racism, how wrong I was, how could I be so naive. I don't use anymore the excuse that my racism was solely because of the environment I was raised in. My world was filled with the consequences and the microaggession of racism, racism didn't effect me( or I thought) directly. So in the last analysis, I did consciously choose to ignore racism, there is no getting around that. For that I am deeply sorry.
I like Hannah's no-nonsense style! "It is time for America to stop dealing with the fruit and deal with the root."