White people don't want to talk about it

[Freelancer]

348. What I've encountered when trying to engage about race on DU has been really saddening and jarring.

I'm one of those Midwestern liberals that spent decades arguing with redneck relatives about race -- standing up for blacks in the face of some real awfulness -- walking out of more than one family get-together, and probably getting disinherited in the process. The last thing I want is to get into any more futile arguments -- especially on the internet with whatever passes for the diametric opposite of a redneck. Unfortunately, it's impossible to converse about race on DU without that happening. DU has shown me that my 'club' doesn't exist.

I used to laugh when comics made repeated jokes about "stupid white people" when, evidently, I am one of the stupidest of them all -- for thinking of myself as being part of some sort of post-racial solidarity. I see now that there is no being post-racial when it's only white people in the club. You need black members, and right now there are not enough joiners.

I'm sure the immediate retort to this will be along the lines of "how could I ever consider myself post-racial?" In answer, all I can say is that I don't know how anyone overcomes anything -- especially being defined by something as overwhelming as racism. By faith? By will? By decision? By exhaustion? I do know that there are a lot of us white folk who thought we were post racial... who are wanting to be post-racial WITH you, but evidently the impetus for that has to originate with POC. Otherwise, it's just another blanco idea.

We'll be out here waiting.