Anti-racist minute
My daddy had an expression ‘common sense is not common’.
We live in a racist society. On a recent bike ride through the Lummi reservation one of the members wondered why the Lummi were not more successful. The assumption is that the Lummi have the same opportunities as locals in Bellingham.
A friend who is a medical doctor suggested that reading books will make you anti-racist. I am beginning to think that is another example of white privilege.
I learned in catholic school to not inform on myself as it will be used against me. I will violate that this morning.
One of the most embarrassing and disappointing moments in my life, I was watching a film about the effect of the aids epidemic in Africa. On screen were these very large black women. My response was immediate and visceral, recalling the cartoons of my childhood in which Africans were portrayed as sub human. When these grandmothers began to speak about raising their grandchildren because their children had died of aids, my disappointment with myself was immediate. My conscious became aware of my unconscious.
I did share this event with another individual, and it confirmed the lesson of not informing on myself.
So what are the lessons? Am I a racist?
Do we judge behavior that is conscious or subconscious or both?
How many facts if any are required before we label someone as a racist.
What is it about our society that we can judge someone as good or bad over one event?
Thank you.
