Aurynn Shawthe default position of all white people should be:
- Recognising that you're racist
- And that you don't necessarily know how you're racist
- And listening to people who are impacted by racism on the ways you do racist things
- And trying to change
"I don't know how I'm racist" does not lead to "therefore I am not racist"
Yes, this applies to me too.
Just because I know I am racist doesn't mean I know how I'm racist, and I do need y'all to call me on it when I am.
Rochelle@aurynn 100%. Same here. All we can do is stop & acknowledge it.
It’s easy to get defensive. It’s better to take a pause. Do not write that post, or if you do, delete it. Do not post it. Give it a few hours, or days.
People who live with racism every day do not need to explain how what we said was racist. It’s exhausting & may be traumatic. Plus they’d never be able to do anything but explain to white people all day long.
We’re not entitled to any of that.
Not with Stupid; I AM Stupid.@aurynn An Aboriginal former workmate often made reference to “ignorant rascism” inferring it was curable with education.
@peemee Well, "curable" in that the person afflicted needs to be willing to listen.
Indiealexh
cachalot@aurynn I made myself really unpopular in the Public Service organisation I once worked for saying "We've all heard about intuitional racism haven't we? Well, WE are the institution"
@Happyfishmedia Ugh, I'm sorry 😞
@aurynn I was already working out my notice period, so was quite comfortable being so blunt
Before you reply to this about how this applies to all people,
A) don’t @ me
B) focus on doing this for yourself
C) don’t @ me
drV@aurynn I would probably change that to 'of all people'. I was talking to someone a while ago who worked in a middle eastern refugee camp. She said there was a pecking order that strongly depended on how pale your skin was. I'm sure even the people at the top of that pillar experienced racism from white-white people, but that didn't stop them from being racist to people down the chain.
@aurynn Also related: the very first time I ever visited Auckland I was subjected to a long rant by an Indian taxi driver about how Māori were ruining the country.
@drV White supremacy infects everyone 😞
Raj Patel 
@drV @aurynn Agree. But (always a but)... I think the clue is in the 'pale' as default or elevated for 'superior' just reinforces the 'white'. There is a lot to unpack in non-white racist attitudes (eg caste, colonialism etc) tho. Not something I'm qualified to speak on other than my relatively privileged to date lived experience.
Potato Enthusiast 🇵🇸
Dr. Curiosity 💻🔬
Shine@aurynn Omg this. I really love youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJA_jUddXvY62dhVThbeegLPpvQlR4CjF - it's not exactly on this topic, but it still fits. If people tell you that you did something racist, they don't imply that you are purposefully racist. But we were raised in a racist society and as much as we try, we will inherently do something racist in our life. And that's... not OK, but understandable.
What makes it OK is our behaviour after being called out on it. Think, apologize. Don't do it again.
What makes it OK is our behaviour after being called out on it. Think, apologize. Don't do it again.
TC Won't Give In To Lies
StevenYou mean *people*. There is plenty of racism (and other things of course) for anyone who is different regardless of which particular race. Start including yourself.
@Steve I said white people because I meant white people
Go away and harass someone else.
@aurynn Speak for yourself. You don’t know me.
Peter Ashford@brianwright @aurynn you are the only person in the world who has never made a judgement based on ethnic appearance. Well done you
Oook@oook I said white people because I meant white people, but thank you for your unhelpful input
@readingalot @oook while I understand that you missed the point, you don’t need to tell me you missed the point. Go away.
No need to be rude, I am not your enemy and you are broadcasting your point on a media focused on exchanges and iteractions. Ignore people you don't wanna read, post privately or use a non commenting platform. Don't ask people rudely to go away from what is also their home.
I have mainly done that clarification because a key to fight any problem is to first understand it well. Although a huge part of it is aquired we have to accept the idea that a substantial root of racism is instinctive and a natural defense against possible dangers. It is also a mecanism where victims are also offenders. Only the scale of suffering differ based on power and advantage in numbers.
Love from space.
Mike Taylor 🦕@aurynn @aurynn John Barnes would say that this should be the default position of all black people, too.
Maggie@aurynn what could be your motivation for this divisive post?
@maggiek any divisiveness you are experiencing is your problem, and I recommend keeping your problems in this matter to yourself
@aurynn it’s divisive to tell people *how* to be. You don’t make my rules, without a valid reason for empathy, consideration, or fear. Your nastiness tells me you don’t deserve my compassion. Change your bio because you’re not “friendly.”
@maggiek do you need me to draw you a map to the block button? Since you clearly want to pick a fight and I’m really not interested in getting into a fight with you. Go away, bother someone else.
Barney Dellar (he/him)
Alex Kuiper@aurynn yes, and if you're a man the exact same points apply to sexism too.
If you're able-bodied they apply to ableism as well, and so on.
Isaac Freeman@aurynn People often go straight to trying to explain the distinction between racism as a pervasive system we’re all embedded in and racism as personally hating people in your heart. I think it’s usually more useful to say ‘I’m a bit racist. We all are. I’m trying to learn not to be.’
Ellenback
🕸️ P i p 🌱[not white btw] these seriously really are things every human who has consumed media should follow, not in an attempt to undermine the amount of racism present in white spaces, but because some people are too comfortable in their POC status to recognize cross-racism and colourism in their communities
@notspookypip while I agree, I made a conscious choice to focus on white people perpetuating and ignoring societal white supremacy, since I don’t have the knowledge or lived experiences to speak to how BIPOC racism works. It’s not my place to speak there, only amplify.
@aurynn that's fair, can't argue with that
Anoosh@aurynn Also, PLEASE help your fellow white folks become anti-racist. It should not be the job of non-white people to convince white people that Racism Is Bad.
Claudio@aurynn I agree with this.
GarudaOS (Now Arch)
Christer Enfors