The anger is legitimate. I am trying.
Matilda,
Australia.
When people of colour direct anger at white people – at me – I used to be defensive. I’ve learnt a lot since then. The anger is legitimate. I no longer respond with, “But I’m not a racist,” or “Not all white people are like that.” I listen, I remember, and I try to learn. I want to do everything I can to amplify, not silence, the voices of those who have been dehumanised and oppressed by a society that privileges whiteness. I want to do everything that I can to be an assistance, not another barrier, to breaking down and speaking against racism. Sometimes it means speaking out – perhaps more importantly, it also means staying silent so that other people can be heard.
Usually not racism. Instead, cultures clashing.
Susan A.
Chicago, IL
Stereotypes that are now labeled as racist, actually have nothing to do with race. Actually, it is cultural difference which causes problems. Culture is what forms differences in values, ways of speaking, ways of dressing, whether people talk in loud voices or quiet voices, what people eat, what their cooking smells like- all this is cultural, not racial.
