All Photos, Including Feature, Courtesy of danorth1
This is International Blog Against Racism Week. Begun four years ago we’re in the thick of it. It ends on the 3rd of August, so get to posting. Links are posted daily here:
http://community.livejournal.com/ibarw/8586.html
Join by announcing and posting your own blog to be linked, or dig in and read some points of view and deep discussions that you’re sure to return to when reflecting against racism.
Many people fail to consider racism if they don’t feel that it directly affects them. Often, white people express feeling accused when they read work that deals with racism.
Racism affects everyone. If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, if only because you fail to see the truth. If you feel attacked by anti-racist methodology, it only goes to prove that you are so completely used to being in the majority and so thoroughly accustomed to feeling that media is directed toward you, that anything that makes you feel uncomfortable feels like a personal attack.
This is why IBARW is so important for people who lack the melanin it would take to identify as a Person of Color.
In light of the election of the first black President of the United States, many people (mostly white) have said this is proof that racism is over. This is a very convenient way of thinking and does nothing to further the anti-racist movement. The only purpose it serves is to further obfuscate unchallenged racist ideas long held. Anyone who believes this has a hell of a lot to learn.
If the recent discussions and challenges to Sotomayor’s integrity and judgement are anything to go by, there is still quite a fight ahead of us all to challenge racism when we see it. How certain white male politicians were able to continue making racist statements and diatribes with little nationally broadcast public outrage just goes to show that our media outlets (at least in the United States) haven’t got the slightest clue.
If you don’t feel qualified to post, at least participate by reading and thinking. It is only by challenging racism that we can really make a difference, understand it, and work to defeat it.
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thanks for pointing out white privilege-so many of us white folks still don’t get that-probably because they’ve never had to
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Thanks, Jennifer. I’m thankful to be aware of it, but I feel like it’s a lesson we have to continue to learn. If you become to complacent that you’re on the right side and stop being critical, it’s easy to be a lazy thinker.
I think it’s important to realize that laziness and complacency feed racism/unreflecting privilege.
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Who do you guys think you are? White Privilege?
Are you kidding?
I’m white and have never had even the slightest bit of ‘privilege’ in this life.
Any ‘privilege’ that was conferred on me was the result of my father’s and my people’s work.
I have never been hiered because I was white.
I have been though, on more than one occasion, not been hired because I was white.
You self hating whites who want to see your own people slip to the sidelines need to wake up.↵ -
White privilege is a very basic concept in some regards.
Did you ever have trouble finding a doll that looked like you? What about band aids?
Do you ever have to worry that people are judging your entire race when you do something rude? Do people ask you to explain things for “your people?”
When you go to the store, do you have to be concerned that store security is following you? Do you need to worry about being profiled by the police because of the color of your skin?
I’m working class, too. But just because I’m working class does not mean that I have to be too obstinate to understand what white privilege is.
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Im sorry but im white and ive never got a white priviledge in my life the very fact that were the only race that isnt allowed to take insult by being classified as a color “white ” is hippocritical. Ive never enslaved black ppl or taken land from natives so why do i have to hear about it and pay extra taxes for native americans that got screwed by someone else, if u dont acknowledge racism against “whites then u are just as blind as the ppl your trying to stop truth is i beleive racism is a level playing field, im sure i cant walk into north africa and get treated the same as a black person but i dont see groups trying to stop racism there
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Thats very good to know… thanks
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