Dear White Racists...

[freshwest]

62. It's engrained, can't be changed. I recognized WP as a kid in single digits without the term.

I knew there was a frightening chasm between two parallel worlds that have existed for so long, and it always gave me pause. Not of fear for myself, but for those on the other side of the unspoken divide.

Growing up in the fifties with the television news and hearing the words of so many white racists, it was hard to miss. I've never forgotten phrases proving that separate was NOT equal, the mantra for many years. As if there was nothing different going on.

In the sixties as the civil rights movement made gains again, there was more proof how entrenched the system was. I also saw the difference voting made in the seventies.

I have a wary eye, since I can't forget those years as I wasn't brought up in the 'post racial' era. Uou can't heal without first cleaning out the wound, and it will be painful. Some object to that on DU, they want to put a bandaid on it and forget that it ever happened.

Then their demands for solutions can be met, but that still won't come from the offended party. Those who want a solution have to admit there's a wound, then clean it, or they'll never see a solution.