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Showing Original Post only (View all)Dear White Folks - great piece in Ebony [View all]
Last edited Wed Apr 11, 2012, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)
http://www.ebony.com/news-views/dear-white-folks-stop-denying-racism<snip>
Dear White folks:
Between the racist comments, the constant use of the race denial card (this country's most frequently used "race card" and the absurd claims of White victimhood, you have really grated my last nerve.
I have heard that we are all Trayvon Martin over the last few weeks, yet we are not Trayvon Martin and we never could be. White America is never suspicious. White America can walk to the store without fear of being hunted down. White America can count on justice and a nation grieving at the loss of White life. We aren't Trayvon Martin, we are George Zimmerman: presumed innocent until proven innocent.
I want you to close your eyes for a second, and imagine that your son or daughter, sister or brother, granddaughter or grandson, ventured to the corner store for some Skittles and tea but never returned? Can you imagine if Peter or Jan were gunned down right around the corner from your house and the police didnt notify you right away? Can you imagine if little Sydney or Bobby sat in the morgue for days as you searched to find out what happened them? Can you even imagine the police letting the perpetrator go or the news media remaining silent? Can you even fathom learning about background and drug tests on your child? Can you imagine the news media demonizing your child, blaming your child for his own death?
Can you imagine the outcry if seven White youths had been gunned down by police and security guards in a matter of months? Can you imagine the extensive political interest, the media stories that would saturate the airwaves? Can you imagine Fox News or any number of newspapers reporting about a school suspension for one of the victims or doctoring pictures in an attempt to make these victims less sympathetic? Can you imagine a person holding up a sign calling these victims thugs and hoodlums.Just think about the media frenzy, the concern from politicians, and the national horror every time a school shooting happens in Suburbia or every time a White woman goes missing...can you imagine if women routinely went missing from your community and the news and police department simply couldn't be bothered?
David J. Leonard is Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Culture, Gender and Race Studies at Washington State University, Pullman. He is author of After Artest: Race and the War on Hoop (SUNY Press, spring 2012).
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Well said!!! One has to be in the other persons shoes to really understand their
RKP5637
Apr 2012
#44
"...I made the mistake of walking in a majority black neighborhood, .." Why was this a "mistake"?
uponit7771
Apr 2012
#80
Don't be over-sensitive. You should pay closer attention to what he actually said.
kwassa
Apr 2012
#174
"It is time to stop denying racism and defending White privilege, distracting and deflecting with
retread
Apr 2012
#10
Department of Critical Culture, Gender and Race Studies at Washington State University.
stonecutter357
Apr 2012
#12
The author seems to just want to shame white people because they won't be profiled
Daniel537
Apr 2012
#18
oh for pity's sake. It's just flat wrong to lump any group of people into one stereotype.
cali
Apr 2012
#31
Yes, if they existed they would have been posted earlier, but since you listed no examples ...
GOTV
Apr 2012
#105
This "I am not Trayvon Martin" meme is just a way for certain white people to pose as "enlightened"
aikoaiko
Apr 2012
#38
It's Still Easier To Be White Than A Person Of Color In This Country
DemocratSinceBirth
Apr 2012
#42
If you have never been arrested for being White, then you are already cashing in your privilege.
ieoeja
Apr 2012
#62
If you actually think that Blacks wouldn't be treated even worse under the same circumstances, then
ieoeja
Apr 2012
#88
I think it's funny that the author references "The Brady Bunch" and gets CINDY wrong. Really. nt
LaydeeBug
Apr 2012
#65
Thisis a good and valuable article. Anyone who thinks it is possible to live in another's skin
annabanana
Apr 2012
#68
the point is, if you were also black, you would be more threatened than you are.
nofurylike
Apr 2012
#143
as atrocious as that horror is, as indecent as those facts are, things are even more
nofurylike
Apr 2012
#178
you say it so succintly! i had just posted almost the same, but you put it so directly!
nofurylike
Apr 2012
#179
So there would be a 96% chance of me never finding meaningful employment
aspieextrodinare
Apr 2012
#183
When you address any racial group as some universal group think mob, you sound racist.
Kurska
Apr 2012
#110
"it is never okay to lump together the thoughts feelings and experiences of an entire people"
Generic Other
Apr 2012
#122
I am not black but that doesn't mean I don't feel your outrage because I do. You should be able
southernyankeebelle
Apr 2012
#115
so true. I hate racists. I just wasn't raised that way. Of course I come from a lower middle
southernyankeebelle
Apr 2012
#120
We weren't allowed to go to slumber parties but there were no issues about race
malaise
Apr 2012
#123
This article is bull. How does this guy presume to walk in another's shoes...
Honeycombe8
Apr 2012
#129
It's harder for middle class black youth, but not true they have no chance....
Honeycombe8
Apr 2012
#190
There are white people in the ghetto, when you look at the bid idea of what it is.
napoleon_in_rags
Apr 2012
#194
We'll file this thread as Exhibit #3869 for why racism cannot be discussed on DU.
Number23
Apr 2012
#133
It's so odd that these "new posters" have been violently attacked by Blacks...
Walk away
Apr 2012
#137
thank you for posting that, malaise. it would, of course, receive fierce resistance, but
nofurylike
Apr 2012
#142
(light coming on)YES!!!! excellent!! in such clear words, thank you so very much, 6000eliot!!!
nofurylike
Apr 2012
#158