I usually stay out of conversations involving racism, but I feel I should point out that ancient Egyptian Nubian royalty did have power over white people.

@chucklesIII Yes, I'm well aware. But contextually in our current climate, that is irrelevant.

@SwampBatman not sure what the laugh response is for. If you didn't want actual discussion, why post?

@SwampBatman The fact that you used the word "triggered" to describe my response tells me everything I need to know. Take care!

@OldHippieAtHeart Considering that structures of power most benefit your particular population, of the older white male variety, it makes sense that you would joke and gaslight people for not adhering to your backwards views about what is/is not racism. You talk about small-mindedness when it is you that can't seem to fathom that the experiences of people of color greatly differ from white people, and therefore "whiteface" isn't a thing.

If nothing else, I don't take advice or opinions about systemic oppression from someone who can't even spell "absurd", but by all means, continue acting more morally superior and evolved. Dick.

THANK YOU. It was starting to worry me that so few on a site like this seem to grasp this concept!

@bmchizzle Yeah, surprising in a way since it's not rocket science or anything. But people like to get defensive on these issues.

@Dietl Honestly I'm surprised these kinds of conversations are still happening on here. It isn't hard. Thanks for being rad!

@bmchizzle Thanks but there is something I have to talk to you about. In the other comment you wrote "Their (black people's) behavior can be prejudiced, but not racist". I don't like that teminology very much because it is devisive. Let me explain. When you say 'racist' in this context what you really are describing is institutionalized racism. But I'd like to point out that on an individual basis people can also be racist. You might not want to call it that but that is how most people understand racism. I think this common usage needs to be taken into account too. Otherwise people who didn't take four years of sociology in university might feel less inclined to go over to "our side" of the issue. On the surface this is just semantics but I think it has real life consequences, especially when society is so divided as it seems to be today.

@Dietl Fair point well made. To meet folks where they are in the cultural context of words versus the academic implications of such words. Thank you!

@Dietl I find that attempting to explain why "racist" doesn't apply gets me tuned out. I have recently started using both the word racist and bigoted or prejudiced in the same sentence so as to get them to thinking.

Likely a waste of my time

@Lucy_Fehr In the end there is no right or wrong way to use words. Words are tools that have to fit a certain purpose. The only requirement for your language is that is is consistent, that you don't use contradicting vocabulary. Since most people understand 'racism' to be applicable to both the individual and the institutionalized level I think it makes more sense to just keep the common use and add those words to make the distinction. It's just much more easy to convince someone that white people don't face institutionalized racism as opposed to they don't face any racism at all. In the latter case you first have to have a whole lot of explaining to do and this makes you look condescending and makes your opposite less likely to listen when the most important job is to find common ground first and foremost.

@SwampBatman Well it depends. I think we can both agree that if you do something for the purpose of offending your opposite then you are responsible. Then there is the case where you offend someone without the intention to do so. In that case I would say there is some grey area. In general you have the responsibility to try to understand the consequences of your actions (or words). If by some miracle you never heard about Black Face or grow up in a sheltered environment where you don't know what it means, then I'd say it is okay to do Black Face until someone educates you about it. This "education" might not be nice. People might call you racist but the way to go about it then is not to insist like a child that you are not a racist and keep "triggering the cucks" but to try to understand their perspective and to stop doing it. Otherwise again, you would do it on purpose and the responsibility shifts back to you.

@SwampBatman

Thank you.