The White Anti-Racist is an Oxymoron

[una_vela]

An Open Letter to "White Anti-Racists"
By Kil Ja KimI received an annoying e-mail about white people and their struggle to do anti-racist work. I keep reading and hearing white people talk about their struggle to do anti-racist organizing, and frankly it gets on my nerves. So I am writing this open letter to white people who engage in any

Comments

[1300_hours]

And don’t assume that just because I have to ask you for resources that it does not hurt me, pain me even. Don’t assume that when you come into the space, that doesn’t bother me. Don’t assume that when you talk first, talk the most, and talk the most often, that this doesn’t hurt me. Don’t assume that when I see you get the attention and accolades and the book deals and the speaking engagements that this does not hurt me (because you profit off of pain

[1300_hours]

urgh. html fail.

[zeborahnz]

In New Zealand I self-identify as Pākehā. (Usually for foreigners I gloss that as "white New Zealander" but sometimes the meaning can be as broad as "non-Māori".) Sometimes it's relevant to mention that all my ancestors came from Britain. I think remembering that "white" isn't a heterogeneous identity can be useful for remembering that nor is any other 'colour'.

I think "white" is still a useful term and concept in that, since the world we live in isn't ideal, it's useful to have words to describe the ways in which it's not idea.

[whimsicalwoo]

I really don't think it would be helpful to retire the term white now or anytime soon. As the article points out, anyone who is seen as white is automatically given undeserved benefits, privilege and power over people of colour. Maybe someday we'll dismantle the kyriarchy and institutionalized white power and racism but until then, non-whites will continue to be systematically and institutionally victimized and dehumanized by white systems of power. And white people need to acknowledge their white privilege and complicity in this system. And right now, an opposition is important to point out the inherent power imbalance. And, also, I would say if anyone is going to decide to change the terminology about race in our society and elsewhere, it should probably be people of colour.

Also, I do think the oppressed group has the right to decide who actually deserves the title of ally, if at all, and not someone from the oppressive group.

[urs_faithfuly]

*Warning: strong opinion follows*

Racism is a two way street. While the OP has correctly identified that there is nothing inherently good about being white, the same also goes for being black (or brown, or green or whatever).

Fundamentally, racism is a result of lack of understanding of the perspective of another group of people. In many countries (Zimbabwe for example), the white supremist dynamic present in the US is reversed. An anti racist is a person (black, white or any other color) who believes that the current dynamics are unfair. To say that white people cannot be antiracist is- Whats the word? Oh, thats right. Racist.

[cloudicus]

Yes white people can be oppressed but for reasons separate from our whiteness, we cannot experience racism, no one's saying white people can never be oppressed in any way, just not this one.

The treatment of Eastern Europeans in Western Europe is certainly xenophobic yes, but it's not racist.

[icelore]

"First, one must realize that whiteness is a structure of domination."

Orrrrrr, it's a skin color? Just as much as brown, red, yellow, or whatever other color a person can possibly be doesn't define their thought or actions, 'whiteness' doesn't define anyone either. The very definition of racism is the idea that there are inherent differences among races and/or cultures, which is that this article proclaims of whites.

This is just another avenue for people to have a pissing contest about who is the most oppressed and why instead of actually making any actually headway on any issue at all.

Imo, this idea is completely counterintuitive to any kind of rational, progressive thought.

[itrytobeamused]

No, it's a reminder to white people (such as myself) that despite whatever strong anti-racist feelings we may have, and work we may do, we are still valued more by society because of our whiteness and that no matter what great allies we may be or believe ourselves to be, we cannot pretend to be on a level playing field with POC

What's counter-intuitive is obliviously going on about how "but it's just a skin color like any other!" Well, no shit, but it's the whole system of control that is run by people with that skin color that's the point here

[icelore]

Simply saying 'no' doesn't devalidate my opinion, which is what that was, as I said.

"we are still valued more by society because of our whiteness" - so no matter what you do, it makes no difference. Because you're white. Okey dokey. Might as well roll over and die then.

I think people should strive to look past color - both ways. That is obviously an obstacle for others that it isn't for me though, thankfully.

[hip_hop_korner]

So what does this mean for the future of white anti-racists? This might mean to figure out ways in which whiteness needs to die as a social structure and as an identity in which you organize your anti-racist work. What this looks like in practice may not be so clear but I will attempt to give some suggestions here. First, don’t call us, we’ll call you. If we need your resources, we will contact you. But don’t show up, flaunt your power in our faces and then get angry when we resent the fact that you have so many resources we don’t and that we are not grateful for this arrangement. And don’t get mad because you can’t make decisions in the process. Why do you need to? Second, stop speaking for us. We can talk for ourselves. Third, stop trying to point out internal contradictions in our communities, we know what they are, we are struggling around them, and I really don’t know how white people can be helpful to non-whites to clear these up. Fourth, don’t ever say some shit to me about how you feel silenced, marginalized,