"I'm not a racist. I have a friend who is Black."
" How can you call me a bigot? I work with a Hispanic girl whom I adore."
"I'm not prejudice against any race. My little girl is friends with a Hispanic girl. I work with a Black guy, Asian chick and a Muslim dude who I all get along with. I even eat lunch with one of them frequently."
"I don't dislike White folks. There's an 'ol boy at the gym I talk to every time I'm in there."
I am sure we've all heard or made these statements or similar ones dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. I know I hear them frequently and read them on social media often. However, they are statements that are made either disingenuously or defensively missing the larger point usually.
People think if they like a poc or two it completely exempts them from being a racist. It does not. It's a silly argument at best. At worst it's a blatantly dishonest comment meant to swerve or muddy the waters.
Just because you like the Black guy, Dedric, at work or Elisa, the Hispanic chick who sits on the PTA with you or Raheem, the Muslim dude, whose son plays on your son's baseball team means that you are Mr./Ms. Equality or the " most un-racist person ever". It doesn't mean that whatsoever. It simply means you like "those" people. But, you generally don't like minorities.
I have dealt all my life with people who like me but speak negatively or insultingly about Black folks. When I was a young kid I blew it off or ignored it despite my parents drilling into me to be leery of anyone who does that. My mom would always tell me, "Those people may like you and even consider you a friend but at the end of the day when push comes to shove you're still a nigger. A nigger they tolerate but a nigger nonetheless." As I got older I began to understand exactly what she was saying and see the world less naively (at least through that lens).
Liking me didn't equate them believing I was truly equal to them nor did it equate to thinking poc in general were equal and the same. Sure, I was cool but they wouldn't want me dating their sister or cousin or friend for that matter. I am a "great guy" but I can't be family. *Whispering* "You're Black for God's sake. Interracial dating causes problems. For the kids, ya know." No, it causes problems for you! You don't think I'm good enough because while you like me or more like tolerate me, you don't like Blacks. And, therein lies the rub and the dishonesty about how some people really feel.
Look, I don't like Justin Bieber. I despise him. Howeva, I like his song, "Love Yourself". In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite songs. So, does me liking that song make me a Bieber fan? Of course, not. That is just ignorant. It means I like that particular song but generally hate his music. I mean people who hate vegetables don't usually hate ALL vegetables. They usually tolerate carrots or green beans. They like potatoes. They'll say, "But, potatoes aren't really vegetables."
And, that view leads to another thread of the subject. How many people have you heard say, "I like Jay-z. I like Chris Rock. I like Ice Cube. I like Kerry Washington. I loved Scandal. I really think Selena Gonez is cute." And, you reply (as you side-eye them), "Uh, you know they're all people of color, right?" Then, they respond, "Well, yeah but they're different. They're not really Black. They're celebrities." Every single time I hear that and I hear it more than you might think I wanna scream, "No, dumbass, they're not different. They're the same!" And, of course, somebody like Jay-z found out quickly (not that he already didn't know) that some saw him as just another "thug" or "nigger" the second he showed support for President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
So, the gist of this is simply liking or tolerating someone or a few people doesn't make you exempt from being a bigot or racist. Just like not using blatant slurs like "nigger" or "spic" or "gook" or "faggot" means you're automatically not racist or homophobic. If you genuinely have negative or hateful feelings about a particular race/ethnicity or say hateful things about a group of people, you need to evaluate how you really feel and check yourself.
I have always said and will always say, "Don't come at me with some shit about how tolerant and loving you are regarding other races and we are all equal if you would have a problem with your son or daughter or mother or father or best friend dating/marrying someone of a different ethnicity." I mean don't! I will call your ass out! Because if you truly believe we're all God's children and all equal then skin color or nationality shouldn't matter one bit! If the person is good and good to (insert family/friend) you shouldn't give a rat's left nut what they look like.
But, that's the elephant always in the room isn't it. To way too many people it does actually matter. Despite what they say they really do have bigoted and/or racist feelings. In some cases they may have interracial relationships in their family but while they smile and grit their teeth it actually disgusts them. "Your Aunt Macy may be married to a Black dude but don't let your ass think you're going to do that. Sure, Ben is ok but you ain't doing that. Plenty of good White fellas to choose." "Yes, Keisha is a sweetheart. She's funny and I love sitting next to her at work. But, she's an anomaly. Most of those people are thugs and lazy and breed like rabbits. It's not being racist. It's just being truthful. You know I'm right. I tell Keisha that all the time. She knows I'm just telling the facts because she just smiles and never says anything."
Don't tell me how you love Chinese people. And, the closet thing to Chinese that will ever be allowed in your home is an egg roll and some sweet and sour pork. Feel me.
" How can you call me a bigot? I work with a Hispanic girl whom I adore."
"I'm not prejudice against any race. My little girl is friends with a Hispanic girl. I work with a Black guy, Asian chick and a Muslim dude who I all get along with. I even eat lunch with one of them frequently."
"I don't dislike White folks. There's an 'ol boy at the gym I talk to every time I'm in there."
I am sure we've all heard or made these statements or similar ones dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. I know I hear them frequently and read them on social media often. However, they are statements that are made either disingenuously or defensively missing the larger point usually.
People think if they like a poc or two it completely exempts them from being a racist. It does not. It's a silly argument at best. At worst it's a blatantly dishonest comment meant to swerve or muddy the waters.
Just because you like the Black guy, Dedric, at work or Elisa, the Hispanic chick who sits on the PTA with you or Raheem, the Muslim dude, whose son plays on your son's baseball team means that you are Mr./Ms. Equality or the " most un-racist person ever". It doesn't mean that whatsoever. It simply means you like "those" people. But, you generally don't like minorities.
I have dealt all my life with people who like me but speak negatively or insultingly about Black folks. When I was a young kid I blew it off or ignored it despite my parents drilling into me to be leery of anyone who does that. My mom would always tell me, "Those people may like you and even consider you a friend but at the end of the day when push comes to shove you're still a nigger. A nigger they tolerate but a nigger nonetheless." As I got older I began to understand exactly what she was saying and see the world less naively (at least through that lens).
Liking me didn't equate them believing I was truly equal to them nor did it equate to thinking poc in general were equal and the same. Sure, I was cool but they wouldn't want me dating their sister or cousin or friend for that matter. I am a "great guy" but I can't be family. *Whispering* "You're Black for God's sake. Interracial dating causes problems. For the kids, ya know." No, it causes problems for you! You don't think I'm good enough because while you like me or more like tolerate me, you don't like Blacks. And, therein lies the rub and the dishonesty about how some people really feel.
Look, I don't like Justin Bieber. I despise him. Howeva, I like his song, "Love Yourself". In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite songs. So, does me liking that song make me a Bieber fan? Of course, not. That is just ignorant. It means I like that particular song but generally hate his music. I mean people who hate vegetables don't usually hate ALL vegetables. They usually tolerate carrots or green beans. They like potatoes. They'll say, "But, potatoes aren't really vegetables."
And, that view leads to another thread of the subject. How many people have you heard say, "I like Jay-z. I like Chris Rock. I like Ice Cube. I like Kerry Washington. I loved Scandal. I really think Selena Gonez is cute." And, you reply (as you side-eye them), "Uh, you know they're all people of color, right?" Then, they respond, "Well, yeah but they're different. They're not really Black. They're celebrities." Every single time I hear that and I hear it more than you might think I wanna scream, "No, dumbass, they're not different. They're the same!" And, of course, somebody like Jay-z found out quickly (not that he already didn't know) that some saw him as just another "thug" or "nigger" the second he showed support for President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
So, the gist of this is simply liking or tolerating someone or a few people doesn't make you exempt from being a bigot or racist. Just like not using blatant slurs like "nigger" or "spic" or "gook" or "faggot" means you're automatically not racist or homophobic. If you genuinely have negative or hateful feelings about a particular race/ethnicity or say hateful things about a group of people, you need to evaluate how you really feel and check yourself.
I have always said and will always say, "Don't come at me with some shit about how tolerant and loving you are regarding other races and we are all equal if you would have a problem with your son or daughter or mother or father or best friend dating/marrying someone of a different ethnicity." I mean don't! I will call your ass out! Because if you truly believe we're all God's children and all equal then skin color or nationality shouldn't matter one bit! If the person is good and good to (insert family/friend) you shouldn't give a rat's left nut what they look like.
But, that's the elephant always in the room isn't it. To way too many people it does actually matter. Despite what they say they really do have bigoted and/or racist feelings. In some cases they may have interracial relationships in their family but while they smile and grit their teeth it actually disgusts them. "Your Aunt Macy may be married to a Black dude but don't let your ass think you're going to do that. Sure, Ben is ok but you ain't doing that. Plenty of good White fellas to choose." "Yes, Keisha is a sweetheart. She's funny and I love sitting next to her at work. But, she's an anomaly. Most of those people are thugs and lazy and breed like rabbits. It's not being racist. It's just being truthful. You know I'm right. I tell Keisha that all the time. She knows I'm just telling the facts because she just smiles and never says anything."
Don't tell me how you love Chinese people. And, the closet thing to Chinese that will ever be allowed in your home is an egg roll and some sweet and sour pork. Feel me.
