Allegations of racism arose against the school district within which my four kids attend. Pretty damning allegations. Allegations of word-choice, harassment, even lynching, and ignoring her cries for help. Allegations that, if they turn out to be true, would curdle my blood in rage and disbelief. I currently have a kid in elementary, middle, intermediate, and high school within this district. Despite nearly being a minority in my own workplace, my town is predominantly white and I'm not even sure I know of any black individuals from my town. I don't know people very well here despite around 8 years of living here, but I do know my district tends to vote right while I tend to vote left. I would identify as moderate, however, and I lean different directions for different topics. I am certainly raising my children with the perspective that we do not ever, nor do we tolerate when others, judge people by their race. We also do not bully which my kids often tell me they are the victims of themselves. As such, I would like to think that if this kind of blatant racism was as drastic as the allegations and openly permitted, that my kids would have noticed and likely told me as they tell me other stories of injustice. It is possible, however, given the lack of diversity and the alleged victim being two years ahead of my oldest, maybe they've never had the chance to see it for themselves.
I learned of these accusations first from the superintendent. He wrote an email expressing concern over the allegations and that it is certainly not supposed to be tolerated and goes against all their codes of conduct. He did not go into any details but said it would be investigated. Fair enough. I learned of the details from a Facebook post from a friend re-posting the very allegations from the alleged victim herself. The story sounded quite unbelievable from my point of view given the logic of it and my experiences here. So my knee-jerk reaction was doubt. When someone accuses another, I kind of feel like the correct response is skepticism no matter what. Not skepticism in that you don't believe, but that you wish to find out first and foremost if it is true before jumping on board. The more extraordinary the claim, the more need for evidence to believe and this seemed fairly extraordinary in my eyes. So depending on the story, one might have a suspicion one way or the other, but one ought to wait until they know the facts to pick a side. It never seems to work that way, however, which is a huge pet peeve of mine as it fosters divisiveness and hatred.
And really, that's what I like to focus on. The allegations themselves could be true or false. If they're true, shame in the harshest sense on our school district. If they're false, shame on the false accuser just as strongly. I don't really have a horse in this race and I will be appalled at someone once I know the facts. It seems an obvious thing to me that both right and left generally agree on: this kind of blatant and crass racism is absolutely wrong. The only people who dispute that are indeed racist no matter what their political ties, and I hope beyond hope it is a small fraction of people who view the world from such a filthy lens. So I don't feel as if there's anything to debate or discuss here in regard to the event itself--which is why, as an INTP, I tend to ignore that part altogether. Duh, it's terrible if it's true. Moving on. What I find worthy of discussing is why can't it be discussed if these accusations are legit? Or at the very least reminding people to await actual facts to know what truly happened?
People immediately jump to shaming the entire school district on the voice of one person alone. For all they know, someone hacked her account and wrote lies just to further an extremist agenda. Or maybe she had a vendetta against someone and this was payback. Or maybe she is herself an extremist willing to throw people under the bus for the cause. I'm not saying any of this is "likely", I'm saying there are ways for this to be false. On the same token no one should be dismissing her outright. I didn't see anyone actually doing that, however--I simply saw people saying we ought to wait for an investigation before casting shame. Those people saying we ought to wait seem to be reasonable in my eyes, but they receive an extreme backlash for it. I swear, if we lived in an older time, such people would be hung or burned at the stake given the strong emotions people have and the quickness with which they judge. It's seriously quite shocking to me. Are such people saying "wait and see" closet racists? Heck if I know, but heck if anyone else knows either. I just know that I'm not and I'm a fan of waiting and seeing as well. So what happened to rationality?
I often point out this issue. I see it as one of the greater issues facing our nation today. We silence anyone who questions those making claims without facts. This is a clear danger to society. Asking questions and advising patience should never be met with hostility from a supposed moral high ground. To do so is equivalent to the dark ages of the inquisition. They are the moral and righteous zealots and anyone daring to question shall be tormented for their heretical and immoral views. This is pure hatred which is all racism itself is. Hating others for race, religion, or creed is wrong. Can't people see that hate is the enemy? It's always been hate. Not just racism, not just sexism, hate in general. I'm really starting to believe this is no longer just a war on racism despite my left-leaning portions wanting to believe so. The vast majority of people agree that racism is bad and as such I thought much of this was a simple communication gap of what each other truly meant, knew, or understood. I know it took me a while to comprehend a shift in definitions and to get past the poor word-choices to even begin to understand their arguments.
But the more I discuss systemic racism and attempt to be reasonable to bridge the gap of understanding on both sides, the more I am attacked by this left-most group of people. I am verbally assaulted in the worst ways for simply trying to mediate and explain each other's perspectives. This only happens from the left. Now I know I won't convince the reader, but I know full well my own stance and tolerance for differences and in fact I absolutely love such uniqueness. As such, being met so many times with false accusations solely for mediating a disposition, I'm really finding it unavoidable but to believe that much of the accusations thrown around are complete BS. Instead, this must be yet another spiritual war brought on by a new religion with a different set of doctrines--doctrines that are strikingly familiar. Doctrines that Hitler himself used while proclaiming Jews were the reason for all their problems except now it's not Jews--it's me: the white male. Yes, I played the Hitler card. I don't say this lightly because saying this will immediately equate me with racist in the eyes of those who claim to fight for equality, but their behavior isn't equality. I know my disposition wholeheartedly, but there's no proving this desire to them because facts no longer matter. Any proof is mere justification. When facts don't matter and hatred is born merely from questioning or disagreement, this is clear evidence that they do not hold the moral high ground--it is a religion worthy of separating from. The plights of racism will be won with kindness, and for as long as kindness is denounced, I will have no part of it.
Now I know the drill. I am victim blaming, right? I am tone policing, right? My moral integrity is in question because I am vouching for kindness. Wait, what? Wow. Just wow! I understand that a person being maligned in the moment should not be held accountable to kindness to stop the behavior. If someone is punching you in the face, you don't politely request they stop. But that is not equivalent in the slightest. I am not talking to any one person in the throws of agony by my hand. I am talking to the multitude of supposed fighters of racism that take a stand for the less fortunate and abused (and yes, I do believe this is a problem--I don't deny it). I'm usually talking to fellow whities. They should absolutely recognize the folly of hate since that is exactly what they're claiming to fight, and they should be far more concerned for the success of their proclaimed goals which I promise they are a detriment to. They will be far more successful with kind explanations, but it is painfully obvious that success in reduction of racism is not the goal: furthering their ideology is, and that is best done through fear and shaming like any religion before them.
This cult of sorts continues to say that we have a white privilege that prevents us from comprehending the plight of black people. Sure, that makes sense. Our whiteness prevents us from seeing what they go through. Again, agreed. Our whiteness and upbringing makes us fragile and weak. I don't really get that, but if they know these things, where's the strategy to overcome our ignorance and fragility to guide us into understanding? If they know we're fragile, is attacking us going to change our minds? Of course not! They are simply making enemies. And if they're fine with this, then they are clearly not a fighter for equality, freedom, and human rights. They are fighters for their ideology and they want the blood of their enemy. It's their new religion. They see others as outsiders and non-humans. They are not the moral high ground any more than any previous religious leader before them. Their tactics are not against racism but in fact foster it. And this is what terrifies me the most since I would love to abolish separation based on race. There should be no sides but the side of humanity while we simply enjoy each person's unique differences. I would love to go hand in hand with the beautiful rainbow that is diversity into a future of kindness, love, and prosperity, but it is becoming all too clear to me that this is not the goal of far too many "supporters" of minorities. More people need to start speaking out against this cult and reaching across the isles in kindness to those who truly wish to help those less fortunate. We should help those who are hurting without causing more hurt and division and being responsive to the hurts of even white people. I refuse to be that hypocrite and to incite hatred.
All that said, I know and agree there are many racial issues and battles to be won. I am absolutely an ally in this. The cult won't believe me, however, because I disagree with their tactics, and they'll think I'm a closet racist as per the doctrines of their cult, but I know where I stand on this matter and I will remain steadfast. I stand for the rights and equality of everyone--black, yellow, red, and yes, even white--and I will not be lured into a cult that claims to help the downtrodden while riling people up with hatred and division and claiming I'm the enemy because I prefer kindness. I know mindless and blind religion when I see it. I will not be taken in again. They can check themselves now--I've checked myself enough. I have been and still am the ally they should have been all along.
If you hate what I've said or if you've loved what I've said, keep reading--perhaps I can change your mind! Minorities do indeed suffer from racism even today. It is something most of us white people never have to endure given that we are the majority in most cases. This fact, compiled with constant fear from the media, gives rise to a great angst all day and every day for minorities. A fear we never really have to live with. Sure, we may experience a remark or Facebook troll who is racist against us, but this in no way compares to what many minorities face. Doesn't make racism against us right, but that's mostly beside the point and anyone saying otherwise is simply an angry cult-member. But consider how it would feel to move to an all-black community here in the states. Further consider growing up in it of no choice of your own. Consider also that many of these communities are poor. In such an environment, are you going to be well prepared and given the mental agility and determination to succeed? Or are you going to find coping mechanisms with fight or flight to endure the situation? Living in extreme poverty is extremely limiting even for capable people. Talent and values have to be cultivated. Only a few lucky ones will make it out successfully.
Now, before you consider they're poor due to laziness or otherwise, simply consider a game of monopoly. How hard must you work to succeed at monopoly if the other players are given a 100-rounds head start? Consider, segregation was only abolished in 1964! Strong and obvious KKK-style racism was still alive and well even as recent as 1964--only 54 years ago! And it didn't just end with the law. Sesame Street may have made some of us believe it was all done and over by its lessons and inclusiveness, but people held on to those prejudices for much longer after and some still do. And those communities of segregated black folks had very little opportunity for success. Just because some of them made it out doesn't mean all did or could. Hard work is not enough in a game of monopoly where your only opportunity is purchasing Baltic Ave. You have to be lucky in the rarest of ways to succeed. Luck is a huge factor in success. You would not have been so successful if you grew up in some remote tribe of Neanderthals. You didn't do it alone. Success has a huge factor of luck even if it often also includes hard work. We cannot downplay our early beginnings, genetic factors, and even the color of our skin in a world where some people still have racist tendencies.
Further consider that just because we may not be racist doesn't mean we don't hold racial biases. We know the statistics of murders and rape being disproportionately black and this does affect our default assumptions and fears which people can pick up on. Much of it is subconscious even. It doesn't make us bad people, it's just how our brains work. Not being bad people doesn't prevent it having an ill effect, though. These biases might even be true within statistics, but is it because they're black that they disproportionately murder, rape, and rap? If you say yes, this is clearly straight-up racism. You believe the race is inferior and leads to such behaviors. If, however, you say no, perhaps you're not racist but need to evaluate why this is then the case. You can't revert back to laziness because the question still becomes why are they then lazy? Is it because they're black? Whatever you think the cause, it's either because of "their race" or because of circumstances undue to them. Those circumstances are real and we should work on correcting them.
We might say we could simply help "all poor people" and not just "black lives," but let us keep in mind that there are indeed differences between white trailer trash and black ghetto and that we cannot simply throw money at people and expect it to help. There is some severe issues that need dealt with. Things that I could not personally fathom where to start. Let the experts figure that out while we merely recognize the need and stop fighting. Ignore the cultist haters who won't listen or guide this understanding. Something must be done to help remediate the losses and suffering that slavery and segregation caused not even that long ago. Again, just because some people are lucky enough to escape the hardships and some white folks are unlucky enough to experience worse ones, doesn't mean there isn't a significant problem to be dealt with surrounding racial tensions. Relations need mended and they will only be mended through the very kindness that I often hear preached by the non-cultists and claimed needed with our complaints. Their issues certainly need not trump our own life's issues, but we can at least recognize their issues and be an ally for rectification and reconciliation. And again, let's ignore the cultists who act as if our feelings don't matter. Those who matter know that our feelings matter too, even if we're white.
