Reni Eddo-Lodge@renireni

OK people, I'm cracking on with the questions about race & racism today. Responses will be collated on storify.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:31:10

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http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353068524522045441

— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:31:10

Reni Eddo-Lodge@renireni

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.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:35:02

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http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353069497411842048

— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:35:02

Reni Eddo-Lodge@renireni

What makes so many white people angry, resistant, defensive and scared about conversations to do with race and racism?

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:39:53

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http://twitter.com/renireni/status/353070719179034624

— Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renireni)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:39:53

Meerkat@bluntrazors

@renireni "I'm good, racism bad, therefore I can't be racist."

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:36

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http://twitter.com/bluntrazors/status/353072658990120960

— Meerkat (@bluntrazors)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:36

Marika Rose@MarikaRose

@renireni I think it's partly the desire for innocence. We want to be the good guys. We want to have clean hands.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:37

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http://twitter.com/MarikaRose/status/353072664425930753

— Marika Rose (@MarikaRose)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:37

El Presidente@Garethshanks

@renireni Because they know how minorties are treated.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:16

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http://twitter.com/Garethshanks/status/353071064433164290

— El Presidente (@Garethshanks)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:16

Alex Wintermute@Alexwintermute

@renireni a combination of things, mostly I think it can be liberal guilt.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:47

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http://twitter.com/Alexwintermute/status/353071193974251521

— Alex Wintermute (@Alexwintermute)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:41:47

Alex Wintermute@Alexwintermute

@renireni that and you’re challenging their dominant position.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:41

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http://twitter.com/Alexwintermute/status/353071422492520448

— Alex Wintermute (@Alexwintermute)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:41

Sarah_Woolley@Sarah_Woolley

@renireni entitlement, pride, an education that presents racism as an irrecoverable mentality of evil. Hence "I'm not hitler" defensiveness

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:36

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http://twitter.com/Sarah_Woolley/status/353071402640879617

— Sarah_Woolley (@Sarah_Woolley)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:36

Victoria Butcher@MsVicButcher

@Sarah_Woolley @renireni Exactly - change takes energy. I think white people often don't want to face their own racism.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:54

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http://twitter.com/MsVicButcher/status/353072735343226880

— Victoria Butcher (@MsVicButcher)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:47:54

Mr Northice@MrNorthice

@renireni Years of never needing to confront it? Considering themselves as the default point for cultural & racial norms. Easy opportunities

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:24

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http://twitter.com/MrNorthice/status/353072859427520512

— Mr Northice (@MrNorthice)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:24

Melody Pond@the_eumelia

@renireni We don't want to be complicit or be called racist in case we say something that is racist.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:02

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http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071259954847744

— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:02

Melody Pond@the_eumelia

@renireni We don't want to relinquish our power over a situation. As soon as we talk about race & racism, our power becomes precarious -

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:44

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http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071435394187265

— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:42:44

Melody Pond@the_eumelia

@renireni - because it's about keeping people who aren't white in a place of subservience.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:17

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http://twitter.com/the_eumelia/status/353071574397620225

— Melody Pond (@the_eumelia)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:17

Victoria Butcher@MsVicButcher

@renireni A lack of understanding of the racist structures that we actively uphold along with the fear of being called racist, i reckon.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:35

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http://twitter.com/MsVicButcher/status/353071899753984001

— Victoria Butcher (@MsVicButcher)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:35

Frankie Boyle@frankieboyle

@renireni Guilt

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:13

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http://twitter.com/frankieboyle/status/353072815899025409

— Frankie Boyle (@frankieboyle)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:13

J. Skyler@jskylerinc

@renireni accusation of being and/or reputation as a racist is something that is nearly impossible to recover from (Ex: Paula Dean).

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:26

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http://twitter.com/jskylerinc/status/353071863682957313

— J. Skyler (@jskylerinc)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:26

Jen@JennNiff

@renireni perhaps a 'I've never been racist therefore why should I be lumped in with those who are?'. Not understanding structural racism.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:07

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http://twitter.com/JennNiff/status/353071529833136130

— Jen (@JennNiff)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:07

Jen@JennNiff

@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'

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:21

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http://twitter.com/JennNiff/status/353071842510110720

— Jen (@JennNiff)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:44:21

Peter Spence@Pete_Spence

@renireni It's discussed as something that is historical. People not subjected to subtle, pervasive racism unlikely to recognise it exists.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:18

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http://twitter.com/Pete_Spence/status/353071579518861312

— Peter Spence (@Pete_Spence)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:43:18

Dorothea@dorotheainrome

@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.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:49

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http://twitter.com/dorotheainrome/status/353072967095291904

— Dorothea (@dorotheainrome)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:49

Dorothea@dorotheainrome

@renireni maybe people find learning about their privilege scary because it involves examining your self and identity (not always pleasant)

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:52:05

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http://twitter.com/dorotheainrome/status/353073786259636225

— Dorothea (@dorotheainrome)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:52:05

Jo@jonanamary

@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…

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:32

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http://twitter.com/jonanamary/status/353072893476872193

— Jo (@jonanamary)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:48:32

Jo@jonanamary

@renireni see similar reaction w/ rich ppl born into privilege; they desperately seek to prove they "earned" wealth due to innate qualities.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:28

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http://twitter.com/jonanamary/status/353073382373339137

— Jo (@jonanamary)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:28

(nobody)@sofbomb

@renireni I think it's for the same reason as 'reverse discriminations' narratives- a way to hide and justify prejudices.

Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:45

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http://twitter.com/sofbomb/status/353073452946694144

— (nobody) (@sofbomb)Fri, Jul 05 2013 08:50:45