I used to try to explain to other white people why I perceived them as racist or homophobic. I used every fact I could dig up, every survey, everything my education had taught me — and it was never enough. So now, in order to save my energy and to cut right to the chase, when I hear a racist or homophobic remark, I laugh loudly, point at the person, and with a huge smile I say loudly, “Oh my god. You are really racist/homophobic.” And I follow it with horrified laughter. I do not justify my accusation. I do not explain anything. I’ve found repeatedly that the offending persons are very uncomfortable with that label and THEY do the explaining, none of which, of course, I accept. If I do not change minds — and I don’t — I at least become the wall they run into with their hateful ideas. And maybe I make them think twice about repeating them out loud.
