Dear White people,
I get it. You don't like to talk about racism. It makes you feel uncomfortable. You wish it would just go away – the racism, sure, but mostly the talking about it.
You think the talking about racism is why there's still racism.
Which is totally fucking stupid and illogical – not to mention disrespectful and dismissive and harmful.
But, hey, it's easier to say things like:
"Slavery happened a long time ago," and "We had a Black president," and "It's a meritocracy," and "I believe in personal responsibility," and all kinds of other ignorant stuff.
Then it is to actually believe the experiences of people who are harmed by racism every day.
You avoid conversations that talk about your privilege and power and social capital because, hey, you've worked hard, or you grew up poor, or you've been rejected, or look at Oprah, or – "Mommy, they're bullying me!"
If you examined your beliefs a fraction as often as you expressed them, you'd discover you don't actually believe them.
But you're not that self-aware. You don't read. You're not curious. Empathy? Not so much.
You know why I know all this about you? Because I'm White and I used to believe all this stupid shit too.
Until I got over myself, woke the fuck up, and changed.
So when are you gonna do the same?