My plan was to take a few weeks of not posting anything while I worked to create an actual curriculum…a progression that will take us from wherever we are to a point of understanding how thoroughly race is woven into the fabric of this country; how politicians, talking heads, the disenfranchised, and the rich and powerful use race to divide and conquer in order to re-imagine our democracy into something that suits them and those that look like and believe like them; to get us to a place where we understand the foundation of our divide and how harmful it is whether you’re white and live in Maine or Black and live in South LA - whether you’re rich and live in White Gross Pointe or poor and live immediately adjacent to Gross Pointe in Black east Detroit. It is my core belief that Americans are good people – not all, but most - who abhor racism and that if they actually understood and could
I think a great place to start is for white people to stop pointing at all the race violations they see in society, and start going inward and start being honest about their own personal struggles and fears with racism - AND START SHARING with other whites. Stop telling others to stop being "racist" until we are able to actually admit our own inner troubles with the topic TO EACH OTHER.. in the open.. and create a safe place for these discussions. It's time to really look inward and be willing to look into the areas we never look at bc we are always demanding better from others. All I ever read from white people are calls for others to be better, and be more like the good white people. A real conversation needs to start and it starts from personally looking at ourselves, how we were raised, what our fears are, what are privileges are and we need to share our own shortcomings. How many people post examples of atrocities on social media, but are unwilling to share about themselves in real conversation? How many people can't even look at themselves or the shame they have in their own lineage and legacy? Until white people start talking about their own personal white shame and discomfort with race nothing changes. I'm tired of cancel culture and people pointing at others to change. I'm Grant. I don't mean to be racist, but I was raised racist. I have been sheltered almost all my life, and if I were in a room with 20 people of color as the only white person.. I'd be uncomfortable. Who wants to talk about why?! Stop pointing outward, and get in touch with the racism in your own personal stories! Canceling Dilbert is all well and good, but all that comes from it are white people feeling good about that, knowing "I'm not that bad." "Look at him - he's racist - I say hi to black people all the time." Get real, white people. Have some courage to be honest and provide space for others to be honest too without everyone being tagged as witches when they do.
Oh.. and by the way... Race isn't even a thing. At some point we need to stop using the word "Race" bc it in and of itself is the great separator. Skin color is real. Culture is real. Ethnicity is real. Race is NOT REAL.
I think a great place to start is for white people to stop pointing at all the race violations they see in society, and start going inward and start being honest about their own personal struggles and fears with racism - AND START SHARING with other whites. Stop telling others to stop being "racist" until we are able to actually admit our own inner troubles with the topic TO EACH OTHER.. in the open.. and create a safe place for these discussions. It's time to really look inward and be willing to look into the areas we never look at bc we are always demanding better from others. All I ever read from white people are calls for others to be better, and be more like the good white people. A real conversation needs to start and it starts from personally looking at ourselves, how we were raised, what our fears are, what are privileges are and we need to share our own shortcomings. How many people post examples of atrocities on social media, but are unwilling to share about themselves in real conversation? How many people can't even look at themselves or the shame they have in their own lineage and legacy? Until white people start talking about their own personal white shame and discomfort with race nothing changes. I'm tired of cancel culture and people pointing at others to change. I'm Grant. I don't mean to be racist, but I was raised racist. I have been sheltered almost all my life, and if I were in a room with 20 people of color as the only white person.. I'd be uncomfortable. Who wants to talk about why?! Stop pointing outward, and get in touch with the racism in your own personal stories! Canceling Dilbert is all well and good, but all that comes from it are white people feeling good about that, knowing "I'm not that bad." "Look at him - he's racist - I say hi to black people all the time." Get real, white people. Have some courage to be honest and provide space for others to be honest too without everyone being tagged as witches when they do.
Oh.. and by the way... Race isn't even a thing. At some point we need to stop using the word "Race" bc it in and of itself is the great separator. Skin color is real. Culture is real. Ethnicity is real. Race is NOT REAL.
Another excellent, spot-on post, Wayne. Thank you.