White people are the oppressive group.
Knowing one’s oppressor, even if it is only a generalization, is key to survival.
Many White people enjoy their position of power and many of the ones who don’t enjoy it are also not fighting to deconstruct their power either. It…
of course not all white people wish to uphold white privilege, but a person of color wouldn’t lose anything by not trusting white people. so why should people of color give white people the benefit of the doubt when it puts them at risk?
I can understand that. But I don’t think anyone understands how hard it can be to be born white, to wish the best for people or all colors, sizes, genders, sexual orientations, and economic classes, and constantly be ridiculed because we happened to be born into a privileged race. You didn’t ask to be born not white. And I didn’t ask to be born white. When you are out in the world, I more than understand the desire to not trust white people because of a protective reason. I SO understand that. But if you meet a white person who wants to use their privilege to help POC obtain a voice in social situations, that is a GOOD thing. Because when it comes down to it, they can help even if they are white. Privilege can help the ignorant people see what they are doing if it is used correctly. I just encourage you to consider that. There is a fierce difference between individual people and “white people” as a whole. As one of those white people who strives to use privilege to help others, the generalizations, yes, bother me. But apparently we aren’t allowed to say it bothers us because we are the lucky ones.
I sympathize more with oppressed groups than i do with oppressive groups.
That is fine, and honestly I get where you are coming from, particularly if you aren’t white. Just acknowledge that sometimes people of an oppressive group DO want to help. The color of their skin should not determine what side they are on in this. None of us chose to be born the way we are.
that doesn’t change the fact that generalizing white people is survival, because even some of the ones “who want to change and help” are playing the victim and too busy crying over they feelings to do anything genuine. I am half white and I completely understand why a person of color wouldn’t trust a white person, or me. They shouldn’t. I get privileges they don’t every day. And no matter what I or any white person does, do we ever completely break away from our privileged mindsets? And even if they did, who cares? They aren’t the victims. I am sick and tired of going into the racism and racist tag and seeing white people complaining about their hurt feelings. if you are going to talk about racism how about actually talking about racism? not hurt feelings.