"I don't represent hate", Branson woman apologizes after viral video (she has been fired)

[Caliman73]

13. They are saying, "Even though I act like that is who I am, That is not how I want you to see me."

I am reminded of a time when my nephew, who was 11 at the time, said, "I'm not racist, but..." My sister (his mom) said, "THEN STOP RIGHT NOW....because the next thing that comes out of your mouth will undoubtedly be racist".

We had a discussion about, "I'm not..., but" statements and race.


The thing is that we are ALL, every single one of us, exposed to racism, bigotry, and hate through explicit or subtle messages in media and culture. We all carry around stereotypes. They help us to simplify the world, but can be toxic. It isn't whether we carry the ideas in our head, because I think that we all do. It is whether we accept the ideas as "true" or "valid" AND especially, if we ACT on them and discriminate and try to hold people down based on those ideas.

This woman clearly knows the language of racism, and she felt comfortable enough to express it knowing that she was being captured on video.

She may feel shame, but I think it it more the shame of being caught than the shame for acting on her internal process. I do hope that this situation will have a lasting effect on her thinking and she learns that allowing racist ideas to influence your thoughts and actions has consequences on everyone.