I cannot say enough how much I appreciate that those
on left, whether they identify as Liberals, Progressives, Democrats, Socialist
or even Communists would take the time to come up with a helpful ‘list’ that
all of us white folks can use to determine just how truly despicable we all are. Now of course I’m not serious and this list,
called "10 Ways You Can Actively Reject Your White Privilege," is
really pretty humorous. But while a
certain amount of humor can be derived from reading it, it was at the same time
that I couldn’t help but wonder what sort of person, or group of people, would take
the time to compile such a list. This
list is what follows:
1. Take up
minimal space during anti-racism dialogues and protests.
2. Stop
contributing to gentrification and calling it “urban development.”
3. Listen
when people call you on your microaggressions.
4. Never
invite people of color to the table for the sake of claiming diversity.
5. Refrain
from using your non-white friends as your “urban dictionary.”
6. Stop
lifting up non-confrontational people of color as examples of what POC activism
should be.
7. Call your
friends, family and co-workers out on racism – even if a POC isn’t in the room.
8. Understand
that all anti-racism work doesn’t look the same and advocate accordingly.
9. Realize that
all discussions about race aren’t for you. And be okay with it.
10. Recognize that you’re still racist. No matter what.
While there's much to laugh about regarding this
rather idiotic little list, let's take the time to make note of a few of the
items mentioned. First, how absolutely
ridiculous to tell white people not to physically take up too much space at an
anti-racism rally. Isn't that
fat-shaming overweight white people by telling them they simply aren't wanted
as allies in this ongoing fight? Also,
it’s number that 4 advises us NOT to invite people of color to the table just
for the sake of being "diverse".
But does that same sentiment extend to such things as racial quotas in
hiring and university admissions policies?
And if not, why not?
And as we move further down this little set of
guidelines for us privileged white folks, it’s when we get to number 5 that
things become equally amusing, because it would seem that you're damned if you
do and damned if you don't ask a "person of color" what something
confusing means. God forbid you try to
explain it yourself and end up being accused of
"whitesplaining." But the best
one, obviously, is the last. If you're a
racist no matter what you do or say, then why go to all the effort? I mean, if there is absolutely nothing I can
do to alter the fact that I am racist, then I might as well choose to live with
it, not stress about it and maybe even enjoy it. Right?
Now in an effort to make my own little contribution
to the ongoing discussion of white privilege, let me offer up my own personal
list which can then be taken however anyone may choose to take it:
1. Be proud
of being white.
2. Don't apologize
for being white.
3. Talk to
whoever you want whenever you want.
4. Go where
you want. If someone doesn't like it, too bad.
5. Don't use
urban slang, it just makes you sound like an uneducated moron.
6. Continue
being proud of being white.
7. Don't
worry about whitesplaining, that's just a nonsense word made up by imbeciles.
8.
Microaggressions are a myth created by the lazy and the excuses makers.
9. Live the
best life you can.
10. Lists like this are racist. Non-whites are
racist. And they are crybabies. It's not your problem, it's theirs.
And in an effort to get MY list up to 20, I offer up
the following items for your consideration as well:
11. Remind
everyone that without white people none of the things they enjoy would be
possible: phones, TV, cars, medicine, science, etc., etc.
12. Become a
"regular" dictionary so that your non-white friends have the
opportunity to not sound like a moron from the ghetto
13. Don't go
to any anti-racism dialogue or protest events. Heck they are already fat enough
and take up too much space themselves.
14. Look at
someone who says you committed a "microaggression" like a
moron...because they are.
15. Diversity
as a goal is stupid, so take the list above’s advice.
16. Let the
ghetto remain the ghetto, stay in the suburbs and build your real estate
projects where they will not get looted the next time the non-whites are upset.
17. If your
friends or family say something that may be racist, just continue the
conversation. Because really...isn't everything racist these days anyway.
18. Continue
not giving a flip about conversations on racism, because it is about them not
you.
19. Realize
that anti-racism work is useless and is targeted at a non-issue in
society. Again, it is about them, not
you.
20. Just live
your life, be as nice as you can so that you are not hurting others. And if you do that....it will be about them
and not you.
And just out of my own curiosity what percentage of
blackness is it, exactly, that permits one to identify as being ‘black’. As a for instance, Barry “Almighty”, while
being 50 percent white is still referred to as being a black man, yet someone
like Clarence Thomas, Ben Carson, Tim Scott or Allen West, all of whom are 100
percent black, they are still routinely referred to as either not being black
men, or as not being black ‘enough’. So
please excuse my confusion. We all must
know what percentage is required that in turn certifies ones right to refer to
oneself as being, ‘black’. Is there some
sort of a test or law that will help us poor white folk?
But to tell you the truth I’m getting more than a
little tired of all this idiotic nonsense.
So I have decided to, instead, embrace all of my ‘isms’ and ‘ists’ as
well as all my ‘phobias’ and endeavor to turn micro aggressions into macro
aggressions. It is time to push back and
push back as hard as I possibly can.
It’s time to start calling all this exactly what it is, pure unmitigated
crap. In the past Americans built on
what came before them. We took the
mediocre and we made it better. We took
the good and made it great. And what we
made great we shared with the world. The
leftwing has to tear down everything, and it never builds anything up.
And, as far as I’m concerned, there seems to be very
little reason to actually celebrate diversity, at least as it is defined by the
left, because it’s rather skewed to say the least. Because, you see, the left’s definition of
diverse is rather one sided in that doesn’t include conservatism or capitalism
or right wing politics. So I say it
again, I am tired of the left's nonsense and therefore I shall enthusiastically
embrace my white privilege, I shall practice macro aggressions at every
opportunity. And when they call me some ‘ist’
or ‘phobe’ I shall accept it with a great sense of compliment because they
really have no idea what it means.
Personally, it’s to my way of thinking that this whole privilege-by-race-thing is completely ass-backwards. Because from where I’m standing it’s the blacks who have most, if not all, of the privilege. They’re the ones who get everything handed to them for ‘free’ with folks like me, an old white guy, being left to pick up the tab for all their freebies. And all the while being left to cover all of my own expenses. And does my daughter have white privilege because she needs higher test scores to get into college, or needs to take out more loans than do her black counterparts? I’ve always said that when I come back I’m coming back black.
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