S/o - what should caring white people do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Bet Kap and his taking a knee is looking a lot less controversial to you now.

He offended American people. No one called for him to be jailed, etc. He made a choice because it was important to him. In so doing, he was thumbing his nose at a lot of people who do honor the flag.
He made a choice. Maybe, if he had still been a great quarterback, things would have gone differently for him. However, his actions offended a lot of fans and gave a lot of people the impression that he is not patriotic. Ultimately, the NFL owners made a business decision.

Most people do not enjoy political activism during football games.

So much to unpack.
- He offended American people. I’m American and I wasn’t offended. What exactly is that statement supposed to mean? I’m sure it offended people when women wanted the right to vote. I’m genuinely confused how certain people can say things that offend people everyday to gain power or promote their business - think the President, Bill O’Reilly, etc. and it’s okay but if someone does so for social change oh no “they offended American people”.
- How was he thumbing his nose and people that do honor the flag? Since honoring the flag should include equality for all, how are YOU honoring the flag to make sure police brutality stops? I would think a fair and just America should be your goal as well? Why is honoring the flag and fighting racism mutually exclusive in your eyes?
- If politics and football don’t mix, why did high level government person use this at a campaign rally er public appearance to score points? Again, I keep asking, where is the right time and the right place and right way to get black lives to matter. How do you get people to feel like it is an American issue?

If he were a good football player this wouldn't be a discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Start reading. Start understanding just what white privilege is, how white supremacy is baked into the cake of America. Listen to black people talk about their experiences without getting defensive. Support black owned businesses and restaurants. Don’t center yourself. I’m tired and listening to the eerie silence (but blessed) in my curfewed neighborhood, so I’ll just say, of all things, Estee Laundry had a great post on this today.

I’m sure our friendly white supremacist posters will helpfully tell me I’m speaking gibberish, and I still consider myself a neophyte about this, but it’s up to us to change things. It’s not up to black people to fix the power structure they didn’t build and still have no comparative power in. If you and I have no influence or power, statistically speaking we still have more than the average black citizen.

Yes, get to work. If you have kids you should really be doing what you can to learn about racism in America--its been part of our country since the beginning and we need to do our part to eradicate it. Here are some books to help: White Fragility by DiAngelo, So

If you have kids make sure you buys books about people of color. If you don't know where to start look up books by Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Kekla Magoon, Jacqueline Woodson, and Angie Thomas. My kids (and I) have enjoyed their books.
Books that might help you, How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi as well as his book Stamped From The Beginning are both excellent (for kids or you try Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi). So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo is incredibly helpful. Michael Eric Dyson's Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America. Dyson wrote the foreward to White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo which is excellent and I think a must read for white people. Another helpful book for white people who are ready to do something constructive is Waking Up White by Debby Irving.

Explore your own implicit or unconscious bias at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/education.html

I would also say seek out Black Media and voices. Twitter makes that easier these days. Support Black institutions like historically black colleges and universities, black businesses, black writers. Those are some things you can do to start. Above all as you do this, be humble, be curious, be willing to challenge yourself and be uncomfortable. That is where real growth happens. Thank you for caring. If you do the work, you will never regret it.

Suppose she has already done this. Suppose she has already read the literature, the studies. Supposed she owns the implicit bias in herself. And now she wants to do something active. Something to make things better. Besides vote, is there nothing she can do besides sit and feel good that she has educated herself?

As Malcolm X said to an earnest white woman in Spike Lee’s film, “Nothing.”

Stop making it all about you, even when you’re “trying to help.” Thinking that it’s your fight or you have anything to contribute is arrogant white privilege in and of it itself. That you cannot see that is ironic and troubling.

This is the message I received as a white person so I kept out of it. I thought that was what was wanted. Now, I see people saying white people are not doing enough.

Is it helpful to do something or not?

If we are supposed to do something, what is it? There has got to be something better to do than just calling out racism when we may happen to see it somewhere one day in the future.

[Anonymous]

Vote for national, state and local politicians who will effect major change.

Fund organizations which provide legal and financial support to wronged minorities and advocate for change.

Anything that you can while physically distancing, please do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Start reading. Start understanding just what white privilege is, how white supremacy is baked into the cake of America. Listen to black people talk about their experiences without getting defensive. Support black owned businesses and restaurants. Don’t center yourself. I’m tired and listening to the eerie silence (but blessed) in my curfewed neighborhood, so I’ll just say, of all things, Estee Laundry had a great post on this today.

I’m sure our friendly white supremacist posters will helpfully tell me I’m speaking gibberish, and I still consider myself a neophyte about this, but it’s up to us to change things. It’s not up to black people to fix the power structure they didn’t build and still have no comparative power in. If you and I have no influence or power, statistically speaking we still have more than the average black citizen.

Yes, get to work. If you have kids you should really be doing what you can to learn about racism in America--its been part of our country since the beginning and we need to do our part to eradicate it. Here are some books to help: White Fragility by DiAngelo, So

If you have kids make sure you buys books about people of color. If you don't know where to start look up books by Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Kekla Magoon, Jacqueline Woodson, and Angie Thomas. My kids (and I) have enjoyed their books.
Books that might help you, How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi as well as his book Stamped From The Beginning are both excellent (for kids or you try Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi). So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo is incredibly helpful. Michael Eric Dyson's Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America. Dyson wrote the foreward to White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo which is excellent and I think a must read for white people. Another helpful book for white people who are ready to do something constructive is Waking Up White by Debby Irving.

Explore your own implicit or unconscious bias at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/education.html

I would also say seek out Black Media and voices. Twitter makes that easier these days. Support Black institutions like historically black colleges and universities, black businesses, black writers. Those are some things you can do to start. Above all as you do this, be humble, be curious, be willing to challenge yourself and be uncomfortable. That is where real growth happens. Thank you for caring. If you do the work, you will never regret it.

Suppose she has already done this. Suppose she has already read the literature, the studies. Supposed she owns the implicit bias in herself. And now she wants to do something active. Something to make things better. Besides vote, is there nothing she can do besides sit and feel good that she has educated herself?

As Malcolm X said to an earnest white woman in Spike Lee’s film, “Nothing.”

Stop making it all about you, even when you’re “trying to help.” Thinking that it’s your fight or you have anything to contribute is arrogant white privilege in and of it itself. That you cannot see that is ironic and troubling.

PP shut the entire fck up! Op, please ignore this fool. As an AA woman, I am touched beyond measure to see white people and other non-blacks stand in solidarity against racism. It is a beautiful show of humanity.

If you aren't the protesting type, than simple kindness is all that is needed.

Thank you. I am glad to see this (this is to the AA woman). You are kind to take the time to let us know you are touched and it is good to know the steps we are taking are appreciated.

I am seeking to educate myself further and started an initiative to help end (is that the right word??) racism in a certain area (oddly, I was called racist by white women for doing this). I am working with an AA woman to make this all happen.

Next, I am reading books while I look for an anti-racism workshop to ID racism in myself and to learn other things I don't know, which is probably a lot.

Hoping that more steps will be revealed as I go down this path. I am going to trust that these steps are good for now and that more will become clear to me as I learn.

Signed,
A suburban WW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Vote for national, state and local politicians who will effect major change.

Fund organizations which provide legal and financial support to wronged minorities and advocate for change.

Anything that you can while physically distancing, please do.

Could you recommend some organizations to donate to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bet Kap and his taking a knee is looking a lot less controversial to you now.

He offended American people. No one called for him to be jailed, etc. He made a choice because it was important to him. In so doing, he was thumbing his nose at a lot of people who do honor the flag.
He made a choice. Maybe, if he had still been a great quarterback, things would have gone differently for him. However, his actions offended a lot of fans and gave a lot of people the impression that he is not patriotic. Ultimately, the NFL owners made a business decision.

Most people do not enjoy political activism during football games.

Really? Riots are bad and make people lose interest in your cause. Kneeling during the national anthem is disrespecting the flag and makes people lose interest in your cause. Pointing out incidents that point to systemic racism is being a “triggered snowflake” and makes people lose interest in your cause.

Your last line is the problem. This is not about “enjoying political activism”. This is an every day lived experience for swaths of our community. It doesn’t fit neatly into a box you label as “activism” which is separate from “sports”. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Bet Kap and his taking a knee is looking a lot less controversial to you now.

He offended American people. No one called for him to be jailed, etc. He made a choice because it was important to him. In so doing, he was thumbing his nose at a lot of people who do honor the flag.
He made a choice. Maybe, if he had still been a great quarterback, things would have gone differently for him. However, his actions offended a lot of fans and gave a lot of people the impression that he is not patriotic. Ultimately, the NFL owners made a business decision.

Most people do not enjoy political activism during football games.

So much to unpack.
- He offended American people. I’m American and I wasn’t offended. What exactly is that statement supposed to mean? I’m sure it offended people when women wanted the right to vote. I’m genuinely confused how certain people can say things that offend people everyday to gain power or promote their business - think the President, Bill O’Reilly, etc. and it’s okay but if someone does so for social change oh no “they offended American people”.
- How was he thumbing his nose and people that do honor the flag? Since honoring the flag should include equality for all, how are YOU honoring the flag to make sure police brutality stops? I would think a fair and just America should be your goal as well? Why is honoring the flag and fighting racism mutually exclusive in your eyes?
- If politics and football don’t mix, why did high level government person use this at a campaign rally er public appearance to score points? Again, I keep asking, where is the right time and the right place and right way to get black lives to matter. How do you get people to feel like it is an American issue?

If he were a good football player this wouldn't be a discussion.

Why should him being a good football player be a criteria for you to feel like police brutality and racial discrimination is an American problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elect a non-racist president, it starts at the top.

Joe Biden is a racist as well, so maybe we need a third party. If you don’t think so Google “Joe Biden” and “Jungle” and “Joe Biden” and “Strom Thurmond.”

He may be on some level but at least he would not be out there fanning the flames of racism and hatred like Trump.

[Anonymous]

You could become a police officer in a major metropolitan area. You will be verbally abused on a daily basis by the people you are sworn to protect. They will also assault you. They will hate you because of the uniform you wear. And as a result, you probably won't care.

[Anonymous]

Stay home and post on social media. You can make donations too.

This isn't about your ego.

[Anonymous]

On the donation front, here are a couple of small, local groups that I know of who are getting food and supplies to people in need:

Black Lives Matter DC “East of the River Mutual Aid Fund”:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/blmcovid

We Are Family (gives out groceries and other aid to seniors in need — also regularly needs volunteers to help with delivery):

http://www.wearefamilydc.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could become a police officer in a major metropolitan area. You will be verbally abused on a daily basis by the people you are sworn to protect. They will also assault you. They will hate you because of the uniform you wear. And as a result, you probably won't care.

White people don’t actually want to work for social justice they just want to self-flagellate on Facebook about their privilege and read some books. Maybe donate a couple of grand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could become a police officer in a major metropolitan area. You will be verbally abused on a daily basis by the people you are sworn to protect. They will also assault you. They will hate you because of the uniform you wear. And as a result, you probably won't care.

White people don’t actually want to work for social justice they just want to self-flagellate on Facebook about their privilege and read some books. Maybe donate a couple of grand.

I think most posters on here are beyond the age of typical law enforcement recruitment. My younger sister is one BTW and I’ve seen her become pretty hardened over the years. Hard to have a serious conversation with her about all this. It usually descends into her ranting about how police officers risk their lives every day and the media only focuses on the bad things, etc.

[Anonymous]

I watched live news report on tv last night until they turned off their camera. My heart was bleeding. OP, you should get out of your house, drive your children to CHevy Chade NM DC on Wisconsin Ave. and Georgetown to see the destructions and looting were done, and tell your children to go to the same places tonight. Or find the social media the protest organizers announce their next move, so they can join the peaceful protest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could become a police officer in a major metropolitan area. You will be verbally abused on a daily basis by the people you are sworn to protect. They will also assault you. They will hate you because of the uniform you wear. And as a result, you probably won't care.

+1. I want to know what I can do to show police support.