I am a 73-year -old white male, and I think I will go to my grave never understanding racism. The vitriol spewed by some of these haters, and the different ways they have of signaling their laughable “superiority” is just pathetic. I do understand that “white power” is oppressive. I hope I’m not rambling too much. But I do know that when I hear Sam Cooke’s song released posthumously, A Change is Gonna Come, I am brought to tears. I guess I don’t know much more to say except that this post moved me. Thanks.
Anyone who is not a Black person or other person other than a white male cannot understand racism. I will never waver from my stance on this matter because as a mother of a Black son and the daughter of a Black father, the sister of 2 Black brothers and the niece of 2 uncles who lost their lives at the hands of white people. My family has literally been torn apart by racism for generations to see how it affects our children is what’s bothering me most today. We’re all in mourning because we have built up this country on our backs by a collective strength which we have not paid for while every other group has been repaid for their suffering. But identity politics
Mr. Harriot, thank you for your always sharp, penetrating, and hilarious analysis of the brutal dismantling of civil rights. You wield a pen like a surgeon.
I am a double retiree (US Navy and Human Services). In my day, it was the multi-cultural committee (MC). In all honesty, the only thing that inspired these celebrations was the food (potlucks). You're correct. I never looked forward to celebrating with anyone other than BIPOC.
Thank you again for your work. I've been sharing it with my college students for years. They deeply appreciated your piece "What to do when your country f*cks around and finds out." There were teary eyes in the classroom, including my own. (I teach Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies--fun times.) And, as one of your commenters states below, as a cis, straight, white woman, I will never be able to fully comprehend how racism manifests in our society, but reading your writings keeps me more grounded in those realities.
We'll see if I stay in academics as more and more universities are rolling over to "comply."
I moved to the 2nd largest metro area in Georgia to work in the construction builing trades in 1976. Most (not all) of white guys thoughts on civil rights was that they couldn't use the "n" word in public to describe the laborers on the sites and they hated having to think about it. Nothing much has changed.
I remember those foaming at the mouth in the 90’s over what they had coined “affirmative blacktion”. Racists will be racist in every generation, every age, with every new buzzword. It’s enormously frustrating when entire swaths of people refuse to move forward with societal evolution. Fucking Neanderthals.
I am a 73-year -old white male, and I think I will go to my grave never understanding racism. The vitriol spewed by some of these haters, and the different ways they have of signaling their laughable “superiority” is just pathetic. I do understand that “white power” is oppressive. I hope I’m not rambling too much. But I do know that when I hear Sam Cooke’s song released posthumously, A Change is Gonna Come, I am brought to tears. I guess I don’t know much more to say except that this post moved me. Thanks.
Well written and on point per usual...
"They are dismantling the insufficient solutions that white people created to fix the shit that white people broke." 🩹- Hit the nail on the head!
Anyone who is not a Black person or other person other than a white male cannot understand racism. I will never waver from my stance on this matter because as a mother of a Black son and the daughter of a Black father, the sister of 2 Black brothers and the niece of 2 uncles who lost their lives at the hands of white people. My family has literally been torn apart by racism for generations to see how it affects our children is what’s bothering me most today. We’re all in mourning because we have built up this country on our backs by a collective strength which we have not paid for while every other group has been repaid for their suffering. But identity politics
Mr. Harriot, thank you for your always sharp, penetrating, and hilarious analysis of the brutal dismantling of civil rights. You wield a pen like a surgeon.
I am a double retiree (US Navy and Human Services). In my day, it was the multi-cultural committee (MC). In all honesty, the only thing that inspired these celebrations was the food (potlucks). You're correct. I never looked forward to celebrating with anyone other than BIPOC.
Thank you again for your work. I've been sharing it with my college students for years. They deeply appreciated your piece "What to do when your country f*cks around and finds out." There were teary eyes in the classroom, including my own. (I teach Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies--fun times.) And, as one of your commenters states below, as a cis, straight, white woman, I will never be able to fully comprehend how racism manifests in our society, but reading your writings keeps me more grounded in those realities.
We'll see if I stay in academics as more and more universities are rolling over to "comply."
I moved to the 2nd largest metro area in Georgia to work in the construction builing trades in 1976. Most (not all) of white guys thoughts on civil rights was that they couldn't use the "n" word in public to describe the laborers on the sites and they hated having to think about it. Nothing much has changed.
Great way to start Black History Month and as usual, 💯 on target.
I remember those foaming at the mouth in the 90’s over what they had coined “affirmative blacktion”. Racists will be racist in every generation, every age, with every new buzzword. It’s enormously frustrating when entire swaths of people refuse to move forward with societal evolution. Fucking Neanderthals.
Awesomeness 🤩
Great article.
Great article. Working in marketing and seeing management tip toe around this right now has been interesting to observe