Racism and the questions surrounding it

Hello everyone! This post was inspired by reading the comments on the Buzzfeed videos on racism. I think that a lot of what Buzzfeed tries to say is quite good, however there is a lot of confusion surrounding it and I was hoping to clear some of it up. If you guys have any more thoughts, or if I got something wrong, please put it down in the comments below! I want to stay educated. 

NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE RACIST

I know. I know, I know, I know that not all white people are "racist" (as in KKK, lynching racist). However, you guys have a privilege. That doesn't make you a bad person, but you need to understand, that you have a privilege in just being white and therefore, because you are not a POC, you are inclined to do racist things. Not consciously, but you will.

It's a bit like me saying that not all straight people are homophobic. I am straight, and I know that I am not Westboro Church homophobic, but because I am straight, I am inclined to do, or say internalised homophobic things. So in that sense, yes I am homophobic and I can accept that.

So what I'm trying to say, is that when POC direct things at "white people," it's because it is all white people really. It's difficult to embrace the fact that you are inherently a little bit racist just because your white, in the same why you are inherently a little bit homophobic because you're straight. That doesn't make you a bad person though, and that doesn't mean that we all hate you and that we are attacking you. We are pointing something out, and the quicker you accept that, the quicker we can work, to create a system, where that isn't the case.

ALL LIVES MATTER

Okay, so all lives matter. Of course all lives matter, but the thing is, some groups of people, are finding it harder to live than others. When people say "black lives matter" they are essentially saying, that at the moment black people are struggling at the moment. Right now they need more support than another group of people. That doesn't mean that the other groups of people are insignificant, it's just that the group that needs more help, needs to be focused on at the point in time.

Here is an analogy that I have taken from my own life.

I have two siblings, so there are three of us in total. Myself and my brother kind of fit well into the school system. Obviously we struggle a bit, here and there but we can cope. I'm quite well rounded, I am okay with more academic subjects, but I'm also good at creative things. So is my brother. My sister on the other hand finds this stuff difficult. She doesn't fit, therefore she needs more attention. She's struggling and she needs to be the focus out of the three of us. It kind of hurts a little, when one sibling gets more attention than the other, but then you realise, that at that point in time, you don't need as much help as them. Myself and my brother work to support my sister, so she doesn't find school so difficult anymore, and once she's got a rhythm, the attention will be equal again. My brother and I aren't loved less, or seen as insignificant, it's just that at that point in time, my sister needs more help.

Imagine my sister represents black people, I represent white people and my brother represents Native Americans. 

Can you see it now? Please say you can.

ACCEPTING WHITE PRIVILIGE

White privilege is a thing.

I think it's a really hard thing to accept too. The idea, that because you were born right, you are born into a privilege. 

The thing is, if you don't accept this, then you hurt other POC, because you refusing to accept it, means that there are things that you will refuse to change which hurt POC, just because you don't see it.

For me, white privilege is:

• the fact that white people don't have to worry about not finding their colour in a drugstore. 

• They don't have to worry about a person not knowing how to do their own hair in a salon. 

• White privilege is when your race is represented diversely in the media

• White privilege is when one member of your race is maniac, there isn't a massive assumption that your whole race is like that (thinking of post 9/11)

• White privilege is when an internal terrorist group isn't seen as a terrorist group (thinking of the KKK)

• White privilege is not having to worry about your skin colour or your hair contributing on how people perceive you.

Do you kind of see it now? How for many of these things, you don't have to think about it at all, because all of this is catered to you already? But it is an issue. It isn't right, that a whole category of hair, isn't taught in beauty school (3/4). It isn't right that the whole muslim community get judged so harshly, for a terrorist attack, yet we don't even categorise the KKK as a "terrorist group." I mean, I've never heard it been called that before by any history teacher or book anyway. 

So please accept that there is white privilege. It does exist. You're not evil for having it because you can't control what you're born as and with. Just acknowledge that it's there.

WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THERE ISN'T ENOUGH DIVERSITY IN THE MEDIA

So when I say that there isn't enough diversity of POC in the media, this is what I mean.

• You don't see a black girl in mainstream media, who is interested in rock and science fiction, and is shy.

• You don't see a black guy, in mainstream media, who is interested in rock and science fiction, and is shy.

• You don't see Chinese guys who are absolute hippies.

• You don't see basic Indian or Arab girls.

• How many Korean lesbians do you see?

All of these people exist, yet you don't see it in the media. You do see though, the white:

• The gay guy

• Drug dealer

• Politicin

• Lesbian

• Basic girl

• Smart girl

• Fat girl (we can talk about the lack of representation of fat people in another post but ...)

• Rockstar

• Folk singer (Ray Charles liked folk and country, so um)

• Shy girl

• Loud girl

• Alternative guy

• Homeless

And so many more. How many times do you see these people as POC? You don't, and this is what I mean. 

I know many people say, that "why don't you create characters with POC like this?" And it's true, we should. However, do you know how difficult it is for POC to break into the entertainment industry, and make it big enough for their work to be shown on a mainstream platform, so that when they include these non stereotypical characters, it reaches enough people so that it can start to change their mindset on POC? Whilst POC are trying to make it, why can't the white writers, producers, directors, etc, try and consciously create POC characters who are the protagonists, who are not stereotypical, who represent the diverse characters in their community? 

(This just links back to white privilege.)

I TRY NOT TO SEE COLOUR/I DON'T SEE COLOUR

So when people say that, I feel that people are trying to say, that they don't see me as a "black person" but as a person. In the sense that, they are not going to treat me differently because I am black, but they will treat me as a person. They don't see, that colour.

I get that, and that's nice.

However, you have to see colour.

I can't be friends with someone, who doesn't acknowledge my colour. Why? Because my colour is such a big part of me, and it totally shapes who I am as a person. A lot of my anxieties come from being a black girl, in a Western society. If you want to be my friend, you need to understand, that my colour, my blackness, plays a large part in my life and if you don't see that, you won't be able to connect with me on a deeper and emotional level. You won't be able to understand the struggle myself and other POC feel, because you chose not to see it.

WHITE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED BEFORE

Okay, I'm going to be plain and simple here.

White people have definitely been oppressed before, definitely. I'm not going to deny that. But ... it wasn't because they were white.

Therefore, it wasn't racism.

The white American's who oppressed the white Irish were being xenophobic, not racist. Plus, they got to climb up the social ladder, because they were white anyway.

xenophobic

zɛnəˈfəʊbɪk/Submit

adjective

having or showing a dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.

Right, so the second part of this post, is going to be me talking about another issue which I have seen popping up. People are getting mad about the definition of racism changing (I mean, are you also upset about the definition of marriage being changed or ...). So I wanted to try and show everyone, who the "new" definition and the "old" definition are basically the same thing, it's just that the "new"n definition is more sophisticated, I guess. 

OLD

• Racism is a product of the complex interaction in a given society of a race-based worldview with prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. Racism can be present in social actions, practices, or political systems (e.g., apartheid) that support the expression of prejudice or aversion in discriminatory practices. - Wikipedia

• racism |ˈreɪsɪz(ə)m|

noun [ mass noun ]

the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. theories of racism.

• prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior: a programme to combat racism. - Oxford dictionary

• Racism is treating someone unfairly simply because they belong to a different race or culture. It is illegal to treat people differently because of their race and no one has the right to make you feel bad or abuse you.  - Childline

NEW

Institutional racism or systemic racism describes forms of racism which are structured into political and social institutions. It occurs when organisations, institutions or governments discriminate, either deliberately or indirectly, against certain groups of people to limit their rights.

BREAKDOWN

I saw this comment on Youtube which I quite liked:

"Racism/Racist: Racism describes a system of disadvantage based of race. “Certain People” can’t be racist because they don’t benefit from this specific system we call racism. AKA they don’t have racial privilege. Racism pre supposes the ability to control a significant segment of a population economically, politically and social by imposing law, covenant and restrictions on their lives. Yes all people can be bigoted and or prejudice but “certain people” cant be racist due to the fact that they are oppressed and do not have supremacy over “certain groups of people.” Basically any oppressed people can’t be racist. 

Prejudice: Not liking a person or group without a good reason. A preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Yes everyone is able to be prejudice and not like a certain group or race of people. It’s a terrible thing in general but it’s not the same as racist. People who are not educated in these type of things or just don’t care won’t know the difference between the two. Power/Supremacy + Prejudice = Racist. Oppressed + Prejudice = Prejudice."

So lets breakdown the issue we have: POC can't be racist towards white people.

So the "traditional" definition of racism includes white people. It tells us that white people can also experience racism. 

However, if racism is also systemic, and it is all to do with the idea that a certain race has racial privilege over other races, then the "racism," which white people experience turns into racial discrimination and prejudice, and not racism.

How is the system racist?

• Well black people were not allowed to buy housing in a certain neighbourhood

• Less money is put into black schools than into white schools

• (this isn't to do with race, but it's supports the idea) How gay marriage was only legalised in 2015 in America.

• Why are Hispanic youths targeted?

• If black people have less money being put into their schools, that means that they have a poorer education, due to the quality of teaching. This means it is harder for them to get into professions and universities because their grades aren't the best. 

• How many East Asian politicians do you see (if they're so smart, then why aren't they up there with you?)?

• Why aren't mainstream beauty schools not being taught about black hair?

And many more which involve all of the POC and not just black people.

________________________________________________________________________________

So I hope that this kind of cleared up some things? I don't know, I just really felt that I needed to say something about this, because there are so many misconceptions that people have. I know that I may not be entirely right, and if I'm not please point me out because I want to make this as accurate as possible. If you have any more examples, then tell me, so I can add them to my lists! Okay guys, I hope you enjoyed this!

LINKS

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-halstead/white-bubble-of-colorblindness_b_9293086.html
• https://www.raceforward.org/videos/systemic-racism