- OK people, I'm cracking on with the questions about race & racism today. Responses will be collated on storify.
http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353068524522045441
— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:31:10 - I know I have a lot of white followers on here who are down with these topics. This Q is aimed at you in particular, but anyone can answer.
http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353069497411842048
— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:35:02 - What makes so many white people angry, resistant, defensive and scared about conversations to do with race and racism?
http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353070719179034624
— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:39:53 - @renireni "I'm good, racism bad, therefore I can't be racist."
http://twitter.com/bluntrazors/status/353072658990120960
— Meerkat (@bluntrazors)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:36 - @renireni I think it's partly the desire for innocence. We want to be the good guys. We want to have clean hands.
http://twitter.com/MarikaRose/status/353072664425930753
— Marika Rose (@MarikaRose)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:37 - @renireni Because they know how minorties are treated.
http://twitter.com/Garethshanks/status/353071064433164290
— El Presidente (@Garethshanks)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:16 - @renireni a combination of things, mostly I think it can be liberal guilt.
http://twitter.com/Alexwintermute/status/353071193974251521
— Alex Wintermute (@Alexwintermute)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:47 - @renireni that and you’re challenging their dominant position.
http://twitter.com/Alexwintermute/status/353071422492520448
— Alex Wintermute (@Alexwintermute)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:41 - @renireni entitlement, pride, an education that presents racism as an irrecoverable mentality of evil. Hence "I'm not hitler" defensiveness
http://twitter.com/Sarah_Woolley/status/353071402640879617
— Sarah_Woolley (@Sarah_Woolley)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:36 - @Sarah_Woolley @renireni Exactly - change takes energy. I think white people often don't want to face their own racism.
http://twitter.com/MsVicButcher/status/353072735343226880
— Victoria Butcher (@MsVicButcher)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:54 - @renireni Years of never needing to confront it? Considering themselves as the default point for cultural & racial norms. Easy opportunities
http://twitter.com/MrNorthice/status/353072859427520512
— Mr Northice (@MrNorthice)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:24 - @renireni We don't want to be complicit or be called racist in case we say something that is racist.
http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071259954847744
— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:02 - @renireni We don't want to relinquish our power over a situation. As soon as we talk about race & racism, our power becomes precarious -
http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071435394187265
— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:44 - @renireni - because it's about keeping people who aren't white in a place of subservience.
http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071574397620225
— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:17 - @renireni A lack of understanding of the racist structures that we actively uphold along with the fear of being called racist, i reckon.
http://twitter.com/MsVicButcher/status/353071899753984001
— Victoria Butcher (@MsVicButcher)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:35 - @renireni accusation of being and/or reputation as a racist is something that is nearly impossible to recover from (Ex: Paula Dean).
http://twitter.com/jskylerinc/status/353071863682957313
— J. Skyler (@jskylerinc)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:26 - @renireni perhaps a 'I've never been racist therefore why should I be lumped in with those who are?'. Not understanding structural racism.
http://twitter.com/JennNiff/status/353071529833136130
— Jen (@JennNiff)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:07 - @renireni or, for some 'I don't want to have to change my behaviour. It doesn't affect me so stop talking to me about it'
http://twitter.com/JennNiff/status/353071842510110720
— Jen (@JennNiff)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:21 - @renireni It's discussed as something that is historical. People not subjected to subtle, pervasive racism unlikely to recognise it exists.
http://twitter.com/Pete_Spence/status/353071579518861312
— Peter Spence (@Pete_Spence)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:18 - @renireni I'm a white person and afraid I can't figure it out either.I get anxious I've said something insensitive sometimes but not angry.
http://twitter.com/dorotheainrome/status/353072967095291904
— Dorothea (@dorotheainrome)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:49 - @renireni maybe people find learning about their privilege scary because it involves examining your self and identity (not always pleasant)
http://twitter.com/dorotheainrome/status/353073786259636225
— Dorothea (@dorotheainrome)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:52:05 - @renireni taught "racism = bad" in schs, no follow-up, no reinforcement from Wh Sup soc. Idea that racism= "insults" http://www.gradientlair.com/post/54207960973/white-woman-derails-conversation-on-race …542079609…
http://twitter.com/jonanamary/status/353072893476872193
— Jo (@jonanamary)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:32 - @renireni see similar reaction w/ rich ppl born into privilege; they desperately seek to prove they "earned" wealth due to innate qualities.
http://twitter.com/jonanamary/status/353073382373339137
— Jo (@jonanamary)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:28 - @renireni I think it's for the same reason as 'reverse discriminations' narratives- a way to hide and justify prejudices.
http://twitter.com/sofbomb/status/353073452946694144
— (nobody) (@sofbomb)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:45
