White Fragility

 

At the beginning of 2021, I decided my personal focus would be on gaining a better understanding of racism, along with trying to figure out why we humans have such a tough time in discerning truth. The latest book I’m reading is: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. I am starting to recognize many things about the roots of racism and how we perpetuate those beliefs in our daily lives. This evening I’m pondering the statement: “I don’t see color; everybody is the same.” These are words I’ve heard many times and it has never felt quite right, and now I’m realizing why that is. Not only can it not be true, but it should not be true. Saying this is but one way we attempt to absolve ourselves of responsibility. Then we can say, “I’m not racist”, and feel good about ourselves. But what if it takes more than that? I leave you with this quote from the book: "I believe that white progressives cause the most daily damage to people of color. I define a white progressive as any white person who thinks he or she is not racist, or is less racist, or in the ‘choir,’or already ‘gets it.’ White progressives can be the most difficult for people of color because, to the degree that we think we have arrived, we will put our energy into making sure that others see us as having arrived. None of our energy will go into what we need to be doing for the rest of our lives: engaging in ongoing self-awareness, continuing education, relationship building, and actual antiracist practice. White progressives do indeed uphold and perpetrate racism, but our defensiveness and certitude make it virtually impossible to explain to us how we do so.” ― Robin DiAngelo

"A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator.” Mary Baker Eddy - Science and Health Page 225:14-22