White people: why are we so concerned with not being racist?

[Recursion]

Stop and read that for a second.

Why is it important that I "not be racist"? Why is that even brought up when a person of color is talking about their experience as a person of color? What is gained by inserting myself into a conversation that isn't about me? Do I just not want to be seen as a bad person? Do I think that if only all white people were more like me things would be better? Do I simply not see the absolute perversity of a white person talking over a person of color about this issue? Or am I so disoriented by not having the definitive say on race that I just pretend I do anyways?

Even (especially?) very smart, very good, very liberal friends of mine seem to often find their way to the question, "what can I do to not be racist?" Well, step one would be unask that question, disappear from the active part of the conversation, and listen. Accept that you "not being racist" may well be the very last step of the solution rather than the first.

[noiretextatique]

1. it is a great way to remain tone-deaf

and shut down any conversation about racism before it can even begin. the other tried and true method is blurring the distinction between individuals and institutions, between the person and the structural. if the conservation gets hijacked by "everybody is racist," which it always does, the conversation becomes about semantics, not substance. as i am fond of saying: the chief privilege of privilege is denial. the second is obfuscation. and that often devolves into personal experience, e.g., i am not privileged, and i take offense at the suggestion. and, i totally understand that, truly i do. because i AM privileged, in many ways. i was never poor, and i haven't had to struggle the way many white people have, and still do. yet...i can get shot down in the street, like a dog, by police, and too many white americans would cheer and support that action...even if i was unarmed. even if i was armed with skittles, tea, and a sidewalk even if i had a cell phone or a wallet or an ID that police "mistook" for a gun. and there is something especial about ME as a black person, that too large a segment of the american population thinks KILLING, for whatever bullshit reason, is perfectly fine. and there is something especial about me, that the media would go out of its way, in a crazed frenzy, to find something...ANYTHING...to justify my slaughter as reasonable, normal, acceptable, and justified. and there is something about me that is not truly a citizen of america, even though my family has been here longer than many white families. katrina really solidified that for me...we are not really considered citizens.

[libodem]

2. You almost can't have the conversation

Without saying something ridiculous. Any stereotypes used to describe any race are going to make you look like what you are trying not to be.

Most of us want to be fair, open minded and tolerant. It's part of being liberal.

[LittleBlue]

3. I disagree

The superior argument should prevail regardless of who voices it.

Telling white people that they can't even talk about it is futile and counterproductive. When you tell someone to not talk about something, their natural reaction will be to do exactly the opposite. Then you've turned the discussion from racism to which group can participate in the discussion.

Why are white people concerned with not being seen as racist? Because being racist is generally seen as a force for evil, and human beings naturally desire to see themselves as good.