What Does Racism Look Like in 2019?

In response to Martie Sirois

I want to thank Martie Sirois for a great piece, especially when you explained that modern-day racism does not look like the racism of the 1960s and before.

Today, there are “children of racism,” these habits that are so normalized, that many white people aren’t even aware that they’re doing it, and if they are, they aren’t aware that it’s offensive and an extension of 400 years of socialization.

Here’s a piece I wrote a few months ago about one of these “children of racism”

“WHITESPLAINING:”

that habit of some people who are primarily of European descent to interject themselves into conversations when they should not.

There are many people of Euro descent who don’t use derogatory terms toward people of color, they don’t intentionally hire white people only, they don’t intentionally only socialize with white people… They honestly don’t mean any ill will to others BUT…

they are still perpetuating harmful habits that have real life implications for people of color. Notice above I used the word “intentionally.”

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SET OUT A PLAN TO DO A THING, DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE NOT DOING THAT EXACT THING.

Racism taught white people for generations that they were smarter than and better adept at leadership than any person of color. We see this belief perpetuating itself in the many white led and white staffed organizations that are involved in work in predominantly black and brown communities.

MOST OF THE TIME, THESE WHITE DOMINANT ORGANIZATIONS DISPLACE THE POC- LED GROUPS THAT WERE ALREADY TAKING CARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

And at the root or core of this is that enduring belief in the minds of most white people that black and brown people are in need and their white culture is the answer.

No they don’t go out and say that…. but they do very often “whitesplain” the crap out of things. When you mention a social issue or discrimination that holds others back, the white person will offer their solution or their explanation, as if surely they know better.

I could add some very detailed examples, but this post is not about the examples. It’s about the DEFINITION. So here it is. The short and simple definition for the 3 types of “whitesplaining” and why we desperately need this to be defeated.

THERE ARE 3 MAJOR TYPES OF “WHITESPLAINING”

1) WHEN YOU WERE NOT ALREADY A PART OF THE CONVERSATION

2 or more people are actively engaged in a conversation and a topic is brought up. The people share their thoughts and ideas, and you interrupt to say how you do or do not support one or more of their opinions.

This could be about a project that is in their department or about their choice of a place to eat lunch. YOU had nothing to do with it, so stay out of it.

2) WHEN A QUESTION WAS ASKED DIRECTLY TO SOMEONE ELSE AND NOT YOU

This one is soooooooo annoying and destabilizing to a work or social environment. I have seen many occasions where a person of color is asked a question, about work, a political concern, a vacation spot, etc. They answer the question, only for a white person, who was not in the conversation to begin with, interrupts and either negates or offers their support.

Often this is spoken in a way that lets you know the white person is used to their opinion being necessary for anything to be validated.

I know, I know that not all white people do this. But some do and the reality is white people and people of color do not always check the white person who does this. This ends up expanding its reach into meetings, work decisions, and many other things, until the person of color begins to appear like a subordinate who needs the white approval for any idea they have.

This leads to promotions going more often to white people because they are more often whitesplaining even when the black or brown person had the idea, implemented the idea and has all the skills encessary for the promotion.

They were never able to just simply shine for their own work without the white person stepping in to place their stain… I mean “stamp” on it. (I really meant stain for anyone who missed that.)

3) WHEN THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT A CULTURE OR COMMUNITY OR EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ARE NOT BIOLOGICALLY AND CULTURALLY A PART OF

And this goes for everyone though really, not just white people. If you are not a part of a culture or community, or if you have not had that specific experience, stay out of the convo. You can ask polite questions if you want to learn,but to be honest… just sit quietly and listen politely.

If you are a straight, Latin, female, from the Bronx NY, you are an expert on all of that. If you are a gay, white man, from Wisconsin, with Polish ancestors, you are the expert there. If you are an androgynous bisexual black woman from New Orleans, that’s the experience you can speak on.

Everybody needs to stay in their lanes, BUT it’s white people who more often don’t understand this concept.

You do not need to tell us about your black roommate from college’s lessons to you on black culture. Your Mexican neighbor did not make you an expert on Mexican American culture. Your brother’s Vietnamese wife does not make you privy to that culture either.

Take a seat.

Don’t add info to a conversation that is … not… about… you.

Learn to listen and learn.

This is a sometimes subtle, and other times aggressive, but a very real issue with widespread implications.

Talk to me. Leave a comment or a message.

Have you witnessed this? Have I missed anything? Let me know.

Conversations lead people to think and in this case, they might think about an issue they never have before. And hopefully, it’ll cause some to modify their own behavior for the benefit of us all.