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irisblue

(34,405 posts)
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 07:20 AM Aug 2018

NYT, again...geez"How to talk to Racists"

Ahh no. The whole article is too long to post here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/opinion/how-to-talk-to-a-racist.html?smid=tw-nytopinion&smtyp=cur

snip..."
There are still white Southerners who honestly believe that American culture worked better for everyone, white and black alike, under segregation. There are still white Southerners who question how bad slavery really was. When an enslaved black person’s health and strength are needed to guarantee the slaveholder’s livelihood, this argument goes, it just wouldn’t make sense to whip them or starve them or rape them or work them to the point of collapse.

Southerners aren’t alone in believing such mendacity, but the South is where slavery and segregation metastasized, so it may be more concentrated here. Wherever this insidious delusion takes hold, however, it requires a gargantuan ignorance of history to maintain, and there’s a lot of ignorance afoot in the land right now. More people here in Tennessee today drive cars bearing license plates emblazoned with the Confederate battle flag than ever before. A strong majority of Southerners — 61 percent — are committed to keeping their Confederate monuments on public land."

snip..."OK., they’re definitely all racists. But here’s the thing: They don’t believe they are. And the problem with writing off people who don’t recognize this country’s pervasive and enduring culture of white supremacy, much less the ways in which they themselves benefit from it, is simple: Being called a racist almost never causes a racist to wake up. Being called a racist almost never causes a racist to say, “Oh, wow, you’re right.”

I get that it’s hard not to scream “Racist!” at a racist. If you’re a white person who wants to be an advocate, it’s both infuriating and demoralizing to know that the people causing all this suffering are people who look just like you. That much is true about being a white liberal in a culture of white supremacy. But it’s not the only truth."

Today.I.Can't.With.This.Racist.Apologist.Article.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NYT, again...geez"How to talk to Racists" (Original Post) irisblue Aug 2018 OP
'where slavery and segregation metastasized' empedocles Aug 2018 #1
I'm surprised the editor didn't tell her to re-write out the wobbly parts underpants Aug 2018 #2
They just can't quit with this understand the racist bit can they. Afromania Aug 2018 #3
Just Cause They Believe It Doesn't Make It So Me. Aug 2018 #4
Well, the article started well-reasoned. Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #5
I wonder why the NYT is so intent on humanizing assholes... MrScorpio Aug 2018 #6
Probably because so many people fit that radical noodle Aug 2018 #7
How to talk to racists - The Polack MSgt Aug 2018 #8
I don't waste my time anymore heaven05 Aug 2018 #9

empedocles

(15,751 posts)
1. 'where slavery and segregation metastasized'
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 07:25 AM
Aug 2018

Interesting, good, phrase.

The South had a 'feudal' culture that seems to resonate today still.

underpants

(187,254 posts)
2. I'm surprised the editor didn't tell her to re-write out the wobbly parts
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 07:32 AM
Aug 2018

but some of the writing was very good

These folks are your sisters and brothers. You belong to one another in exactly the same way that you and the targets of their racism belong to one another. Welcome to the Hotel California: You are at the most uncomfortable family reunion ever, and you can never leave.

Afromania

(2,795 posts)
3. They just can't quit with this understand the racist bit can they.
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 07:35 AM
Aug 2018

There was another article with a break down of who voted and where using the historical context of how each area was colonized and by whom. What I took away from it was another "seeeee allll racists aren't in the souuuuuuutttttthhhhhh".

I know pretty damn well the racists are everywhere. I'm sure every brown person in this country knows perfectly well where they are. I'm sure the racists know where they are as well. So who the hell was the history lesson for NY Times? and why are you being so very, very extra about it.

Article in question
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/opinion/urban-rural-united-states-regions-midterms.html


Also:That how to talk to racists article, come on, COME ON. OMG, COME OOOONNNNNNNNN.


Before you say a single word, think of all the times you made an assumption about a stranger that proved to be untrue. Think of the times you found yourself feeling uneasy in the company of strangers of another race — think about how you were forced to interrogate that uneasiness. Think of the plank in your own eye.

To begin a real conversation about racism, start there.


Really, honestly and truly? With all of the evidence right there in the open we are at the pat them on the hand and say it's alright, let's have a dialog? Yea, ok while I'm worried if a random stop at night by the police is going to end up with me dead?

While I'm concerned that the country, no the world, is going to end up deader than a door nail due to the policies they vote through with their bigotry and hate.

You're saying that sane white folks should pat their racist brothers and sisters on the hand and tell them that it's ok. Let's have a nice little fireside chat and eventually sort this through????



Today.I.Can't.With.This.Racist.Apologist.Article.
Irisblue

Kind of Blue

(8,709 posts)
5. Well, the article started well-reasoned.
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 09:02 AM
Aug 2018

But I wished she'd taken her conclusion further by pointing out what words she uses or has used to change the minds of racists. Would white supremacy do? How about white privileged and fragility? Shoot, I remember one white leader during a town hall meeting right after Ferguson, hosted by the late Gwen Ifill, saying that using the words "the system" was unacceptable. The author has to accept, too, that there is no reasoning with Willful Ignorance by those deeply committed to racism though there's centuries of evidence to prove them wrong.

Today.I.Can't.With.This.Racist.Apologist.Article. ~ irisblue

On Edit: It just hit me that the author is tone policing first with PoC and now with white anti-racists. SSDD.

MrScorpio

(73,714 posts)
6. I wonder why the NYT is so intent on humanizing assholes...
Wed Aug 1, 2018, 09:09 AM
Aug 2018

DO that they think that understanding them is the key to stop them from being asshole?

radical noodle

(8,803 posts)
7. Probably because so many people fit that
Thu Aug 2, 2018, 06:55 PM
Aug 2018

category of believing they aren't racist when they actually are. They likely have some right there at the Times.

The Polack MSgt

(13,451 posts)
8. How to talk to racists -
Fri Aug 3, 2018, 08:14 PM
Aug 2018

1 "Go away"
2 "I doubt that he considers you a friend"
3 "Mother fucker - 'What about Chicago?' - Don't mean shit to me"
4 "No I don't know what you're saying"
5 "Seriously, get away from me"

Etcetera

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
9. I don't waste my time anymore
Sun Aug 5, 2018, 04:47 PM
Aug 2018

IF they wanted to NOT be racist they could stop. Any racist wants to be a racist and will not stop unless they have one of those evolutionary jumps called compassion and self-recognition of how stupid and ignorant they are. Period. Since trump, to hell with any goddamn racist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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