http://suburbanpanic.com/2008/09/04/my-racist-friend/ Society / Law / Politics / Family - beyond belief. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:38:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://suburbanpanic.com/2008/09/04/my-racist-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-359 Waldorf Van Buren Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:01:40 +0000 http://suburbanpanic.com/?p=1261#comment-359 Matthew: Thanks for the comment. I could write a weekly blog on the little snapshots of Racism I see from my former hometown. I'm not even miltantly liberal (how's that for an oxymoron?) about race, but it does enrage me when I see examples of intolerance and stupidity about race AND class, and I suppose I could write a blog about that as well. However, I'm pretty shallow as well as lazy. Matthew: Thanks for the comment. I could write a weekly blog on the little snapshots of Racism I see from my former hometown. I’m not even miltantly liberal (how’s that for an oxymoron?) about race, but it does enrage me when I see examples of intolerance and stupidity about race AND class, and I suppose I could write a blog about that as well. However, I’m pretty shallow as well as lazy.

]]> http://suburbanpanic.com/2008/09/04/my-racist-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-358 Matthew Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:35:16 +0000 http://suburbanpanic.com/?p=1261#comment-358 I am in shock... Not because of what you wrote, but because I could have written it myself. I am in this position with several of my friends I have known since middle and high school and family members who have all been otherwise very good to me. The only thing I have ever been able to do is practice a policy of engagement and to call them out where it is possible without making a scene or being confrontational. I usually phrase my call out in the form of a question. You know, I sort of scratch my head like I just don't get it (think Columbo). I only have one black friend to whom I am close enough I can discuss this. He says I have way more overt exposure to the reality of the deep-rooted undercurrent of white racism than he will ever get because in front of him, it's "all good". I feel very lucky to have such a good friend to talk to. It's good for both of us. I hope you get a lot of good feedback on this. Good luck! I am in shock… Not because of what you wrote, but because I could have written it myself. I am in this position with several of my friends I have known since middle and high school and family members who have all been otherwise very good to me. The only thing I have ever been able to do is practice a policy of engagement and to call them out where it is possible without making a scene or being confrontational. I usually phrase my call out in the form of a question. You know, I sort of scratch my head like I just don’t get it (think Columbo). I only have one black friend to whom I am close enough I can discuss this. He says I have way more overt exposure to the reality of the deep-rooted undercurrent of white racism than he will ever get because in front of him, it’s “all good”. I feel very lucky to have such a good friend to talk to. It’s good for both of us. I hope you get a lot of good feedback on this. Good luck!

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