Comments on: Today I Called Someone’s Actions Racist http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596 Because we care about stuff Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:18:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rachel http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-67284 Rachel Thu, 17 May 2007 00:56:46 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-67284 Geeze sorry for the typo. Geeze sorry for the typo.

]]> By: Rachel http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-67270 Rachel Thu, 17 May 2007 00:37:30 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-67270 This is a very good. You should submit it to the Erase Racism Carnival. This is a very good. You should submit it to the Erase Racism Carnival.

]]> By: Sigel Phoenix http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-65306 Sigel Phoenix Thu, 10 May 2007 03:56:38 +0000 http://blog.shrub.com/archives/katie/2007-05-09_596#comment-65306 I wish I had an answer for you, but as you might expect, it always depends on the situation. Some people will listen when you call them out on their racism because they're good people and want to change. Some people, though good people who want to change, will be immediately put off by criticism and shut down any dialogue - this is especially the case with people who have never had real conversations on racism before. You just have to gauge the person's reaction and try to work with them. One tip I can give you is to emphasize that you're not trying to attack their personal character. Acknowledge that they probably mean well, but that the institutionalized racism around us means that even the best of intentions can go wrong. It's the system's fault, not theirs (though, of course, that doesn't mean they aren't responsible for changing it!). Also: <blockquote>I also believe I did it because I’d been disrespectful of him in my conversational manners all along and didn’t feel that after I’d done so, I had the right to criticize him.</blockquote> Rudeness and politeness is pretty much irrelevant here. Even if you were rude, that doesn't mean that his racism shouldn't be called out; even if he was the nicest guy you'd ever met, that doesn't mean he couldn't also slip up and be racist. (You probably knew this, but still felt uncomfortable; I know that feeling well. But I thought it was worth mentioning.) I wish I had an answer for you, but as you might expect, it always depends on the situation. Some people will listen when you call them out on their racism because they’re good people and want to change. Some people, though good people who want to change, will be immediately put off by criticism and shut down any dialogue - this is especially the case with people who have never had real conversations on racism before. You just have to gauge the person’s reaction and try to work with them.

One tip I can give you is to emphasize that you’re not trying to attack their personal character. Acknowledge that they probably mean well, but that the institutionalized racism around us means that even the best of intentions can go wrong. It’s the system’s fault, not theirs (though, of course, that doesn’t mean they aren’t responsible for changing it!).

Also:

I also believe I did it because I’d been disrespectful of him in my conversational manners all along and didn’t feel that after I’d done so, I had the right to criticize him.

Rudeness and politeness is pretty much irrelevant here. Even if you were rude, that doesn’t mean that his racism shouldn’t be called out; even if he was the nicest guy you’d ever met, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t also slip up and be racist. (You probably knew this, but still felt uncomfortable; I know that feeling well. But I thought it was worth mentioning.)

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