You can't ever get over them then. You've gone back to denying them the moment you think you've moved on and stopped being racist.it's a beautiful contradiction - if you deny your prejudices, then you are obviously a racist - the only acceptable position is to say yes but i'm doing my best to get over myself
such a lovely contradiction proves this is reality
Well, since you are practically goading us to ask - what did you do to be less racist today?my friend, just post-50 returned to London to encounter a couple of twenty somethings were his new flat mates, they just casually tossed that line into the conversation like it's an established fact, and he's like when did this happen?
but tbh i quite agree
I don't know how you avoid this. The moment you give something a name's the moment someone can misuse that name. There's also the additional problem of familiarity breeding apathy, ridicule etc."Micro-aggressions" I actually thought was a good term for this kind of thing but it's been turned into a punchline.
This seems like it'd be particularly difficult in the current climate as people are terrified of being dragged on social media and don't trust others enough to put themselves out there like that.So many people instinctively react with horror upon being accused of bigotry and prejudice because we all like to think of ourselves as good people and it's natural to want to defend your own self-conceptualisation. Nobody sets out to be the villain in any story.
I wish there was a way to distinguish linguistically the difference between active racism ("I hate this person of a different colour because they are a different colour") and the way that people are unconsciously and unthinkingly racist ("I expect X because of stereotypes"). The overall effect is the same, really, and a difference in intent doesn't make it any fairer, or easier to accept, but I think it would go towards helping reduce that sense of personal offense and defensiveness in response to being challenged on it. "Micro-aggressions" I actually thought was a good term for this kind of thing but it's been turned into a punchline.
I get this a lot when I point out the casual and insiduous way homophobia can manifest itself in people's beliefs and actions - people are mortified by the idea that I would think of them as homophobes. But if they're open and willing to examine their own positions and change upon challenge, that's the part that lets you know where you stand with someone.
The media and social media loom over everyday life. You might be able to admit fault on a personal basis, but we spend more time than ever plugged into this vast, depersonalised network where the factors which encourage people to admit to and forgive mistakes - familiarity, regular face to face contact - just aren't there.It's odd because I definitely think that, in everyday life, you actually earn more respect from people by admitting your weaknesses and mistakes and putting them right than you do by doubling down on them. Whether it's with friends or at work or whatever else, I've found that best thing you can do is put your hands up and take responsibility for your shortcomings. I don't get why, as a culture, we struggle so much with this.
Well, yesterday i got this website cancelled actually https://whiteracialidentity.net/ after 3 months of badgering wordpress.com - quite gratified about thatWell, since you are practically goading us to ask - what did you do to be less racist today?
proportionality is important too - there's a difference between open racism (like that disgusting website) , and unintended micro-aggressions, between actions and talking shitI wish there was a way to distinguish linguistically the difference between active racism ("I hate this person of a different colour because they are a different colour") and the way that people are unconsciously and unthinkingly racist ("I expect X because of stereotypes"). The overall effect is the same, really, and a difference in intent doesn't make it any fairer, or easier to accept, but I think it would go towards helping reduce that sense of personal offense and defensiveness in response to being challenged on it. "Micro-aggressions" I actually thought was a good term for this kind of thing but it's been turned into a punchline.