Mekka  💉💉💉🎉Nov 13, 2022

1. Most Black folk in the US experience frequent racism, and have to navigate racist systems daily. It's an important part of our lives.

2. Many white folk are very uncomfortable even hearing about racism.

3. People often talk about the most important things in their lives, with their friends.

4. Most white folk in the US (~75%), have no Black friends. Zero. None.

https://www.prri.org/research/poll-race-religion-politics-americans-social-networks/

Race, Religion, and Political Affiliation of Americans' Core Social Networks - PRRI

Ninety-one percent of white Americans' core social networks are also white, while five percent are identified as some other race, finds a PRRI poll.

PRRI
Show threadMekka  💉💉💉🎉Nov 13, 2022

I don't know if having Black friends makes a person more comfortable with hearing about racism, or if being comfortable hearing about racism lets Black people feel comfortable enough around them to form a friendship.

But I do know that one of those two things is something that you can work on and improve by yourself, without any Black folk around! 👍🏿

Show threadShrig 🐌Nov 13, 2022
@mekkaokereke It's an interesting question because, and I can only speak from experience in the UK, a lot of racists will describe "my Black friend" as the reason they can't be racist when they're getting defensive about something they've said. It's normally some co-worker or vague acquaintance that exists around them by happenstance. It's got me thinking about how a lot of white people would answer a question like that and how it could even sadly be more than 75% perhaps (sorry to be so bleak)
Show threadMekka  💉💉💉🎉

@Shrigglepuss Yeah, it's a running joke we have: Somewhere someone is saying some racist stuff, and when called on it, they'll say, "But I have Black friends!" And if forced to produce a name of a Black friend, they'll confidently say "Mekka!"🤦🏿‍♂️

So for many Black folk, somewhere there's a person that you barely know, spreading nonsense, and using your name to co-sign it!

But I've also accidentally radicalized people that were in the car with me when I was pulled over.

Nov 13, 2022 at 9:33pmWeb