As I read the writings of our colleagues I wonder why the narrative is to condemn on first sight. To quickly find a way to crucify your fellow man for a opposing thought. I also wonder why the color of my skin makes me just as guilty as those who have done terrible things in our history. We’ve moved away from having a savior who died for our sins into getting everything we possibly can for ourselves.
I do think that Black Lives Matter as All lives matter. I’m totally against BLM Global Network and Marxism. BLM should mean Every Black Life Matters and not support the destruction of Black families businesses to promote their company. “Black Lives Matter Global Network” isn’t concerned about black lives. There seems to be no remorse over the black lives lost during the riots. There’s no concern, either, over black citizens who are killed by other black citizens. About half of the murders in America are committed by African Americans. Over 90% of their victims are black. How come those victims never get talked about?” All black lives matter
The trouble with “Centering Black” is that people in this world are so diverse that trying to group them in any way also condemns the innocent for deeds of the guilty.
How To Catch A Racist.
As I grow older, I’ve lost patience in dealing with racists — overt or covert. I’m tired of wasting time getting to know someone only to find out later on down the road that that person is racist. It’s emotionally draining. You know, it’s not always apparent that someone is racist — you sometimes only find out at a turn in a conversation, or after hearing their views in response to the Harry/Meghan interview, or their perspective on Derek Chauvin — the cop that murdered George Floyd. Sometimes it is weeks, months, or even years into a relationship before you’ll know. Some people are even married to racists and only realize years into the relationship.
I’ve devised a few effective ways in which to unmask racists within hours, days, or months of meeting them. These recommendations will help you save a lot of time and ensure you don’t invest emotionally in someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart — someone who doesn’t truly respect and value you.
Recommendation 1: First observe how they look at you. When racists don’t think you’re looking, they’ll examine you, they’ll stare at you — a bit like they’re studying an animal at the zoo. It’s not a kind, appreciative, or admirative stare, it’s a mean and inquisitive one – sometimes filled with fear or dislike.
You’ll get that uncomfortable feeling that you are being watched — You’ll feel their eyes in your back. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but you’ll realize that you aren’t at ease around these people. Maybe it’s because your intuition senses their deep hatred for who you are.
Recommendation 2: Another way that you can find out if someone is a racist is to ask them about their perspectives on issues such as Black Lives Matter, immigration of black and brown people, and the extreme right for example. Watch to see if their first line of defense would be to make an impassioned plea for “All Lives Matter”. Listen to see if they justify and support restrictive immigration policies that prevent black and brown people from coming in. They’ll say things like,
“Those immigrants overload the health or welfare system”.
My response to that is always:
“So white immigrants don’t overload the welfare system? Only black and brown people do?”
To that, they start getting defensive and sometimes voice that by saying:
“I’m not racist”.
Is it because they sense that they are getting cornered? Ask what they think about the January 6th US Capitol Hill riots. Do they minimize it or justify the acts of the perpetrators? Observe these situations carefully and read the non-verbal well. It’ll be easy to differentiate racists from nonracists/antiracists in these types of situations.
Recommendation 3: Another way to test them is by making a racist joke about another ethnic group. See how they react to that — do they laugh unabashedly and continue to make even more jokes or do they take a stance and tell you you are wrong to make such jokes? Often I find that racists relish opportunities to be their true racist selves. When you make them think you are ok with racist jokes, they feel liberated. You’ll see the racist monster that you’ve unleashed soon enough. There’ll make one racist joke after another and expect you to laugh at those jokes too. You’ll need to end the relationship soon because it will become unbearable — trust me, I’ve been there, done that, albeit when I was much younger.
Recommendation 4: The fourth approach would be to test them on issues like white privilege and white fragility. Do they argue to the death that these realities do not exist? When you show them where their privilege or fragility lies, do they deny it and suggest that you’re the racist? Does the situation become acrimonious and tense? If yes, chances are that you’re sitting right across from a racist.
But as I have said on numerous occasions, racism is not set in stone. It is not a permanent state of being. Racists can learn, and racists can change. They can become nonracists and even better, antiracists.
If you catch a racist, one that has the mental agility and the willingness to change, you can help them in their reconversion journey — but remember, only if you want to. No black or brown person is ever obligated to teach/help anyone else to be nonracist or antiracist. We are already victims and hostages of racism, we do not need to also be placed in a Stockholm Syndrome-like situation as well.
But one thing if any to keep in mind is that racism stems from a lack of education about the other. As human beings, we all have the same needs — no one is superior to one another in any way. For long, black and brown people have been dehumanized whether it be through enslavement, colonialism, occupation, or whatever oppressive regime white supremacy threw our way. Once a racist is educated, he/she becomes woke or even better enlightened. That’s a place where all racists need to get to put us on the path to a world where everyone is finally equal.
Thanks for reading my perspective. How To Catch A Racist. You can unmask them much easier and… | by Rebecca Stevens A. | ILLUMINATION-Curated | Mar, 2021 | Medium
The COVID numbers are about as low as they’ve ever been.
Narrative: I’m skipping the time bullets today. It’s really early and i’m posting to my blog. I am sipp’n on coffee getting organized for today. Another clear day outside this morning. We made a trip to Kroger to pick up our groceries. I took a friend to the doctor’s office and picked up a couple amplifiers from storage. I tested the power draw of a 16″ Bass amp and it was under 50W. I checked the name place and sure enough 50W! This thing makes a lot of noise for 50W. We had Mexican for din-din and watched TV until bed.
Feelings: As Christians we are compelled to look after the Widows and the poor. Just how we do that in this climate when there is so much energy fighting the democracy I don’t know. We were able to help a family get electricity this year! They are very grateful!
Tomorrow: Saturday.
Retirement: We’ve spent 10K on an air conditioner, need to make that up.
Purchases: Conservation mode, we’re more than 3 paychecks in the hole.
Repairs:
Religion: We were called to read the book Crossing the Line, i am on chapter 5.
Family News: Going day by day.
Arts:
Travel: Florida travel looks well out of reach!
Taxes: I need to finish them.
Pi News: Love em, but no time to play with them.
Media: No Instagram posts today I’ve made a couple posts to FB EcoFlow R600 Group.
Injuries: No injuries.
Accomplishments: None.
From the book “Triggers” by Marshall Goldsmith
Did I DMBT make my wife feel loved? Yes
Did I DMBT help my wife today? Yes
Did I DMBT be happy? Yes
*Did My Best To