Oh, Thank God! (How I was saved by a Woman of Color)
A contributor — a Black woman — wrote this:
‘When I Talk About Black People, I Don’t Expect White People To Understand’.
And then politely added this clarification:
‘I do it for me, not for you’.
That was certainly nice of her. Still, as she progressed in her outlaying of her vision of how the world is and how society works, these points kind of stood out to me:
‘White people aren’t allowed to pick and choose moments to finally denounce the unfathomable.’
And,
‘And they are not allowed to question a Black person’s motives by challenging whatever they don’t understand because they’re White.’
She was hardly alone in passing on such gems of knowledge either. As the issue of racism and how we should grapple with racism presents itself, the underlying current remains of what she has described.
That is ~ Black people will far too often behave in such a manner as to put forth impossible barriers while, at the same time, DEMANDING … something from White America; be it compassion, justice, blood, sympathy, or reparations. The ‘gem’ is they don’t feel they have to explain anything to us while demanding whatever they wish … which is so socially naïve as to be rather terrifying in its embracing of STUPIDITY.
Ya see, here is how it works:
White privilege? Precisely what is it? Could you give us some examples please?
‘No! You don’t get an explanation because you are White!’
Why is Black Identity not Black Supremacy, but White Identity is White Supremacy?
‘It is what WE say it is and you don’t get to question what we say concerning Black People and White Oppression because you are White.’
Why are Black people disproportionately involved with violent crime?
‘You don’t get to talk about it, quote data about it, or draw any conclusions about it because … you guessed it, you are White.’
Why is it okay for college campuses to have a Black Student Union, but racist for anyone to attempt to create a White Student Union (or any flavor of White European Nationality) on the same campus?
‘You are racist for even bringing that up and you don’t get to question why we are defining you as a racist!’
I could go on, but I hope I’ve made my point.
No adult accepts this kind of ‘absolutist’ behavior from another adult they actually RESPECT. It is the behavior you only accept from children and the mentally addled ~ your clear INFERIORS. Honestly, if any Black person says this to a White person and the White person acquiesces, it isn’t because they ‘understand’. It is because they have come to accept you will behave like a spoiled child and are treating you as such.
Congratulations, you are making that person equate ‘Blackness’ with ‘Eternal Immaturity’. I’m sure the legions of Black Americans who struggled to erase the color barrier so they and their descendants could be seen as equals to ALL PEOPLE appreciate the kick to the social testes and the push back down the ladder.
Personally, I will never stop questioning any person unless specifically asked to desist because I do respect people of ALL skin colors and genders. To me, it would feel inherently wrong to do otherwise.