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).

And don’t assume that when I see how grateful non-white people are to you for being there, for being a “good white” person that this doesn’t hurt me. And don’t assume that when non-white people chastise me because I think your presence is unnecessary that it does not hurt me. And don’t assume that when I see you attach yourself to the “sensible” non-white person who condones your behavior that this does not infuriate me. Because all of these things remind me of how powerless non-white people are in relation to white people. All of these gestures that you do reminds me of how grateful we are supposed to be towards you because you actually (or supposedly) care about what is happening to us.

this really resonated with me. it highlights my biggest problems with white anti-racism.

[1300_hours]

urgh. html fail.