About that "racist" word...

About that “racist” word…

pandorasmittens:

Undoubtedly, some of the teabagger, GOP, “patriot”, and “concerned taxpayer” attacks have been rooted in racism. However, pointing this out and expecting for the right to have some magical, introspective moment of self-realization is fighting a losing battle, just as with any other highly charged, highly polarizing issue.

To this audience, “racism” is about segregation, the “n-word”, burning crosses, and blatantly refusing to hire the black guy. A “racist” is the guy with a mullet in the white sheet, yelling about Jesus while burning the aforementioned cross. And while these actions and thoughts are undoubtedly racist, their interpretation of the notion ends there.

This audience knows nothing of subtle or implicit bias, nothing about views, mannerisms, and actions that have become ingrained in society over time. To these people, the offensive water cooler joke is just that, a joke. Because they have not been personally affected, they dismiss it as good, clean fun. This audience believes that as long as there are no laws on the books saying nonwhite people (or women) are inferior, racism is officially over and anyone who fails to succeed is a victim of their own laziness as opposed to a victim of a system that is still changing, operated by individuals whose attitudes are evolving far more slowly than written law.

This doesn’t change by pointing out that hypocrisy, as they are unable to recognize said hypocrisy. Doing that requires a level of critical thinking that can only be learned by questioning one’s surroundings and modifying one’s principles: things they have been taught since birth are wrong or unnecessary, things relegated to “weaker” immoral minds.

Why does it seem like every battle for understanding and tact is ultimately futile?

Reblogged in full, because, YES.

Well said, racist.

pandorasmittens