Will white people ever "get it?"

[Mrs. Eyes]

Not even if they woke up black for a week. Nope.

[Search1906]

I think the only white folks that come close are the poor ones that grow up around black folk and assimilate into the culture as much as they can. Some through no fault of their own will never get it anymore than we could get what its like to be white.

[ACES]

so white privilege has white folks virtually trapped? Because of the resulting benefits that white prviilege affords, they won't be able to think in culture relative terms & scenarios ...? is that what I'm hearing?

I'm also hearing how we, as black folk, need to consider "dropping the subject" of talking openly and honestly about race with white folk, nes pas?

[Bigs]

I don't think we need to drop it, but unfortunately the majority of white america doesn't care anymore at this point. They feel like because the klan ain't running the government, and we've had affirmative action for a number of years everything is good. Any honest and open dialogue will not really be open and honest.


The first open and honest dialogue black folks need to have is amongst ourselves. At some point we do need to look at the shape of our communities, and start from within. I truly believe until we start to seriously look at our problems from a standpoint of how do WE attempt to fix these problems without relying or pointing finger at them, then we won't move forward and our children will continue to fall behind as a whole. I am not dismissing the structural racism and how its played a part, but we have some serious problem that we need to stop putting our heads in the sand or pointing fingers. The discussion needs to start with us first and foremost.

[ACES]

I agree....we definitely need to get our own house in order to some degree before we can seriously bring the issue to the "table of brotherhood", so to speak....

[denounced]

What do you want them to understand? Did Schwerner and Goodman understand, or were they just a bunch of do good white boys trying to make amends for 400 years of slavery?

[Bunny Hop]

They will never get it.

I'm in Physics and more specifically an area that has always been dominated by white and asians. My recent trip was about me being a representative for underrepresented groups since I'm Black and a female. I made a point to tell them that it's great to want to get us in these areas but retention is a concern because there are other things we have to deal with when we get there. So while they may love the research and science they won't stick around in an atmosphere that's not supportive or is hostile.

Even still some of them act like "ooooh... it's not right", "we can't fix it", or do this kind of hand waving thing because they don't and have never had to deal with it so they don't care or think that it doesn't exist.

I was proud of myself for saying it because it made SOME of the other people in the room speak up omn the same subject.

[ACES]

denounced said:

What do you want them to understand? Did Schwerner and Goodman understand, or were they just a bunch of do good white boys trying to make amends for 400 years of slavery?

Will white people ever, in totality, fully apprehend, process and understand the experience and legacy of the average, "indigenous" - originating in and characterized by slavery & oppression - African-American?

[MochaD]

Nope!