Louisville Will Erupt!

[Dill]

(09-25-2020, 06:19 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: It's interesting that you say that.  We recently had a case where a group of black kids beat the crap out of an old man after accosting him because they "hate white people".  I'm sure he'll be relieved that you don't think this is much of a problem though.  He and all the other people I've seen victimized in a similar way.

Yes, the old "it's only racism if you use institutional power" argument.  I don't think you, and others who think like you, know how much damage you actually do to the cause you claim to support.  Your position utterly alienates large amounts of people who would otherwise be receptive to your core message, that we need to be cognizant of, and address, racism in this country.  When you minimize or excuse racism committed by any group other than whites what you essentially say is that those who have been victimized in that way don't matter.  It also excuses, intentionally or not, the obvious racism present in ethnic groups other than whites.

A much better way to state this case would be to say that we should address racism in all forms but we should also be cognizant that, as of this moment, institutional racism is the most actively harmful to the largest group of people.  Don't excuse, mitigate or minimize victims of racism who are white simply because you don't think their experiences are important enough.  If your serious about attempting to end racism that is.

Nothing in my post suggests there couldn't be black people who say they "hate whites" and beat them up or rob them. But you decided to respond as if it did.

Actually, it's not the old "it's only racism if you use institutional power" argument. But perhaps that is an easier position to argue against.

You probably got that impression because my question made clear that many more whites are in positions power, where racist assumptions might affect others, than blacks. And they have been for 400 years. (Which is the primary reason why some blacks "hate" whites; not some ideology of black supremacy.) But no, you are actually arguing the same point yourself. Just not clearly.

Why aren't you "alienating large numbers of people" when you repeat my argument as yours, saying that "as of this moment, institutional racism is the most actively harmful to the largest group"? You think if you add "we need to address racism in all forms" then people who don't think there is systemic racism at all will suddenly be receptive to addressing "institutional racism"?  All they needed was to hear "There are blacks who hate whites too!"? 

They'll see immediately how the government can step into combat that institutional racism (as it already does), but they'll have the same difficulty I do figuring out how anyone is going to address "racism in all its forms"--other than with more talk about how people ought not to be racist.