Sensitive topic: White Privilege & Racism in America

lioness13

We don't about stuff like this here but I wanted to share this article with the moms here because most of you are white and may not be aware of how/why Black Americans are so outraged at what happened in Ferguson and why Black Americans feel the way they do about the Police. It's a long article but it is worth the time. I am also asking you all personally to do what you can to end Racism by talking about race in America with your children and doing what you can to promote the end of it. Maybe you won't go protest but you can play a part in it. It starts at home. I hope this article can give some of you a new perspective:

https://m.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/24/1345457/-Repetitive-Motion-Disorder-Black-Reality-and-White-Denial-in-Americau

**added later**
From the author of this article,Tim Wise:

Want to make sure to announce this. My documentary, WHITE LIKE ME: RACE, RACISM AND WHITE PRIVILEGE IN AMERICA can be viewed for free for the next week or so, by using the promo code blacklivesmatter. When you go to Vimeo below you'll need to sign in to vimeo or create an account, but then you can access the film by hitting the button for purchasing the stream and then when you see the link that says "apply promo code" enter blacklivesmatter and your name/info along with your log in info and you should be able to watch it...thanks and spread it around! If for some reason this doesn't work, please let me know and we'll try to get it fixed. I just found out that the Media Education Foundation was doing this...

vimeo.com/ondemand/whitelikeme

needanustart

We haven't talked about racism with G yet but I know it's coming soon as he is fascinated with people who have different skin than him. Yesterday during the parade when the Rockettes were on he said, "that princess with the darkest skin is my favorite." (Lock up your daughter Lioness!) so I'm at least glad he doesn't have a "different is bad," which is a totally normal phase, slant. DH and I have talked about how awful it would be as a black parent to have to speak with your kids about how to act around police to not get shot. It's hard to wrap my head around that. It's also hard for me because I'm from a white family, stacked with people in law enforcement and I was always taught to respect and obey the police, because they are "good" whereas it seems many black parents teach their children to go through the same actions, but based out of fear and anger (rightfully so) and generally view police as a threat (again, rightfully so from their experiences). It seems like a vicious cycle in that regard because I don't think much will change unless both sides are able change their feelings and perception of the other and that takes tremendous trust which is going to be hard.
Sorry for the ramble. We've been talking a lot about this at home.

lioness13

needanustart said:

Yesterday during the parade when the Rockettes were on he said, "that princess with the darkest skin is my favorite." (Lock up your daughter Lioness!) so I'm at least glad he doesn't have a "different is bad

This makes me smile

numbersgirl08

@sctiger your post made me smile because I know that cousin! She's awesome . And yall are lucky to have that example in your family.

I haven't read the article yet but I'll comment on my experiences. I grew up going to a diverse elem school and middle school. I remember as a kid being friends with other kids of all races. Being exposed to diversity and seeing how we are all really the same has influenced the rest of my life. I want N to be exposed to all races in a similar manner.

Sometimes I want to pretend racism doesn't exist anymore. I know that's just stupid but I think it's my naïveté that I want to believe we've all gotten past it. Then I go to a party like I did a few years ago, and hear a girl talking about visiting my city (yours too @lioness13‌) and she was talking about how she couldn't go anywhere without running into all different races (she had issues with everyone who wasn't white apparently). And how much she hated that city because of it. My friend and I who were there made a few retorts and then left early because it made us sick. And then I realize that I have to get my head out of the sand and realize that racism is still alive and too prevalent, even though I want to think it doesn't exist. It makes me sick.