The "Can We Keep it Civil?" Thread

[Denilson-The-Comeback]

One question big D always avoids is how he treats the white man to his face.

You start off by trying to frame the debate and you want to proceed the discussion from the frame you are putting up. That is, racism is a personal thing and this is why why discussions between blacks and whites about racism are often pointless because we are often not talking about the same thing.

To white folks (In the main) racism is seen mostly as individual (saying a slur)

For blacks, it is that too, but typically racism is the experience of systematized discrimination in housing, employment, schools or the justice system. It is the knowledge that one’s entire group is under suspicion, at risk of being treated negatively because of stereotypes held by persons with the power to act on the basis of those beliefs..

To whites, it's purely personal. This is why all of your questions below about racism are about how blacks and whites interact on a personal level. What has that go to do with systematic racism ?

But these differences make sense I guess. Whites have not been the targets of systemic racism in the USA so it is much easier for u to view the matter in personal terms as you say "One question big D always avoids is how he treats the white man to his face"

If he works does he let his boss know his views? Coworkers?

Once again - Personal

I'm under a global system of racism and that system creates a dependency on the ppl it shits on. So I do what all blacks and whites do when we interact in the workplace and that's pretend. Black ppl pretend that racism does not exist around whites and whites pretend that racism does not exist. And everything that happens is fluke

Black ppl filling the prisons ? That's a fluke. Black people living in the most socially deprived areas ? That's a fluke. Black ppl getting their brains blown out and the cops walking free ? That's a fluke

And then from this arrangement whites sum up that racism because blacks don't talk about it to them.

Also interaction between whites and blacks at work depends on the position of the white person in relation to the black person. If a black person is a janitor or cleaner or in a lowly position then white people will be SUPER NICE to that black person. "Hey Bob. See the Knicks last night" All that fake sh*t.

Now if a black person is in a superior position to them ? Earns more money than them ? And is ordering them about ?



That's mainly when they have a problem. That's when they go running to the chairman and CEO and snitching.

If a white guy holds the door open for him does he say thanks you. Does he shake the white mans hand after making a deal.

You don't get a point from me for doing something you should do. If I was to go to prison. I'm pretty sure the guards would be polite but firm to me. So what ? I'm still under that system.

Whites having personal affinity for a black person says nothing about how they view blks as a whole. There were many whites who supported enslavement and segregation as social systems, and yet, managed to conjure personal kindness for individual black people.

Just everyday walking around how does he deal with the enemy.

When have I said that whites are the enemy ?

It would seem to me if he integrated himself into society giving the white man a smile or “hey my brother” than he is fake.

You're trying to read my mind. Instead of reading my words.

There has to be humility on the part of white people. They have a lot to answer for and racism won’t go away as long as whites are too afraid to sit down, be honest, and look at why it’s still a problem.

No I don’t mean find a solution as thinking that being nice to a black waitress gets them a medal. I mean genuinely sitting down, looking at themselves and realizing that there’s a whole world out there beyond themselves and their culture, and they don’t have the right to pretend the entire universe was reserved for only them.

Humility.

As long as you view the situation as “angry hateful black ppl" instead of viewing things from a perspective that doesn’t favor the privilege you (deep in side) are too scared to lose, you won’t have that “Kumbaya” you keep asking for.