Article: "I have two black daughters — and I'm racist"

[Ultralight]

This article is worth reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/11/03/im-the-descendant-of-a-founding-father-and-i-have-two-black-daughters-and-i-am-racist/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_with_top_mostshared_1 _na&utm_term=.bdbda9322023#comments

"I am the co-owner of a successful business with clients across the U.S. and in 27 countries. We have a racially diverse staff of 22. Over the years I have supported efforts to improve the conditions of “underserved” blacks. And I think it’s fair to say that, while I see the color of a person’s skin, I am able to get beyond it. I am a white man but I attended an integrated junior high school, dated across the race line, and two of my four adopted children are black. There is a good chance my two beautiful daughters will one day bless me with black grandchildren.And I am racist."

[Ultralight]

My thoughts:

Guys like the author really make liberals look silly.

[bae]

Here's the thing: a bit of recent psych research (looking at brain activity and reaction times and such while images are being displayed) seems to indicate every single human being is "racist".

So what?

Maoist-style mandatory self-criticism and virtue signalling aren't particularly interesting. #stylish_though_it_is

[LDAHL]

What penance could he perform that would erase the stain history has placed on his soul? Give all his earthly goods to the oppressed? Endlessly talking about race for the rest of his life doesn't seem all that productive.

[iris lilies]

What penance could he perform that would erase the stain history has placed on his soul? Give all his earthly goods to the oppressed? Endlessly talking about race for the rest of his life doesn't seem all that productive.
It makes them feel better. It is all about the feelings.

[Alan]

I think it would be better if everyone stopped putting people into boxes based upon their skin tone. I realize that takes away the opportunity to assuage white guilt and opportunities to signal virtue, but both of those require an unending supply of victims to make them feel better. I believe the author's time would be better spent helping people live up to a great man's wish that people be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. It seems so simple...

[Ultralight]

I friggin' love the responses so far!

[Tammy]

I've got a black grandson. Lately I've been thinking that I'm racist too.

Let me explain – there are just certain ideas that I carry subconsciously that are informed by my totally white background. And some of those ideas are based in generalizations, and are therefore racist.

I don't necessarily agree with this article - his explanation didn't seem particularly logical to me. But I do resonate with the title of the article. It's just the way it is when one is raised in a non-diverse community. All white. All German. All Mennonite. All farmers. It's a limiting world and it's still somewhere deep down inside of me.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I may be, I was picked on a lot as a child, so I often don't feel safe, around many people, but sometimes it has a racial element.

[Williamsmith]

I’m thinking of turning into a Benedictine Friar and adopting a public building, stand outside and open the door to every person of color that approaches to assuage my racism. White people will have to help themselves.

[razz]

Well, Canada may not have the same degree of issue with the black community but we do with the aboriginal people.

I think that author has decided to help raise awareness which is important.

It took consciousness raising to correct the drunk driving frequency, as it did for improving women's rights. While I don't drink, i remember being told that I would not be able to get a loan without my DH's signature but when queried the bank agent told me that whatever my DH borrowed without my knowledge was my responsibility. So many other injustices were corrected once more people were made aware.

[Ultralight]

I’m thinking of turning into a Benedictine Friar and adopting a public building, stand outside and open the door to every person of color that approaches to assuage my racism. White people will have to help themselves.

Explain more. I am not sure I see what you are getting at...

[Ultralight]

Well, Canada may not have the same degree of issue with the black community but we do with the aboriginal people.

I think that author has decided to help raise awareness which is important.

It took consciousness raising to correct the drunk driving frequency, as it did for improving women's rights. While I don't drink, i remember being told that I would not be able to get a loan without my DH's signature but when queried the bank agent told me that whatever my DH borrowed without my knowledge was my responsibility. So many other injustices were corrected once more people were made aware.

Canada is so quaint.

[bae]

Canada is so quaint.

The last Canadian "residential" school to "help" the First Nations children "fit in" only closed in 1996...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system

[Williamsmith]

Explain more. I am not sure I see what you are getting at...

What would be the Friars motivation?

[LDAHL]

At what point does consciousness raising become an empty ritual of virtue-signalling? If someone feels that history has dealt him an unfairly favorable hand, he's certainly free to take whatever remedial action he likes.

[catherine]

At what point does consciousness raising become an empty ritual of virtue-signalling? If someone feels that history has dealt him an unfairly favorable hand, he's certainly free to take whatever remedial action he likes.

So we shouldn't try to raise awareness of matters that should be addressed? I'm not talking about retribution for every last sin, but certainly if consciousness-raising leads to enlightenment I'm all for it. I'll risk a little empty virtue-signaling along with the consciousness-raising, if that's what it takes to elevate the culture.

[JaneV2.0]

Indeed. We shouldn't let the usual barrage of conservative insults prevent us from trying to right social wrongs. Besides, if you've got virtue--or a bit of human decency (so rare these days), You should flaunt it.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Canada is so quaint.

Canada has serious issues dealing with indigenous Canadians (which was the point actually being brought up about Canada), there is nothing quaint about it. Life is often not so great for the decedents of native American's either? That is true as well.

[SteveinMN]

"Racist" is a very loaded word, and like most loaded things (guns, trucks, potatoes, etc.) it should be deployed carefully. In a few instances in the article, I think the author would have better used the word "prejudiced" (though that one is fairly loaded as well). I'm sure "racist" has far greater Web-click value. >8)

While I agree with Alan that

I think it would be better if everyone stopped putting people into boxes based upon their skin tone.
my experience on this earth is that the notion wears far better at lecterns and on paper than it has in real life. How much unequal treatment is founded in racism rather than xenophobia or classism is hard to say; I think all three are in play most times and they often are hard to separate.

But awareness matters. Our DD/DSiL routinely designate a sober driver or make plans for a taxi or Uber car if they're out partying because they and their Millenial peers are aware of how little alcohol it takes to be impaired. Awareness of sexual boundaries today is ending the careers of movie producers, actors, and members of Congress even if much of what they're accused of was once considered permissible social behavior some decades ago. Too many of us (me included) know people who have been pulled over for "Driving While Black".

There's nothing wrong with stating clearly that there's something wrong, that certain groups are advantaged and others disadvantaged by that wrong, and then working toward fixing the issue. And that's what I wish the author would have taken as his main theme rather than the self-flagellation he performed in the article.

[LDAHL]

Besides, if you've got virtue--or a bit of human decency (so rare these days), You should flaunt it.

This guy certainly seems to make it all about himself; from giving us his pedigree to establish some sort of authority, to outlining all his non-racist credentials to his confession that some impurities remain and his determination to evangelize them away through a lifetime of workshops.

If lip service was human decency, he'd be a saint.