I'm not comfortable with that, because there's no one particular black person I can point to right know with whom I currently keep in touch. There are plenty among my Internet friends, but I tend to forget what race someone is when I don't see them. And I enjoy talking to the bus drivers, which come in all flavors. We have a good crop of bus drivers here.
So how can I say, I'm here, I love you in the abstract as my fellow humans, but I'm different. No, I don't like the same music, but I seldom play my CD player at all. Yes, I'm fussy about real English, because I think communication is very important. So how do I get comfortable with my "credentials" as an anti-racist if I don't have a close personal friend who is black?
Or is my being uncomfortable part of the "fee" even nice white people have to pay?
2006-09-15 03:51:09 · 6 answers · asked by auntb93again 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Some of my best friends are people. Use that one.
2006-09-15 04:16:49 · answer #1 · answered by Bran McMuffin 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have any friends that are black then you cannot say that. You don't have to say anything. I don't feel the need to throw my "credentials" out in a conversation, I let my life do it for me. I think you probably are a bit racist since the only black you know are bus drivers. Until your life includes blacks, how can you say you don't see colors? And yes, I could say that if my best friend was black, which she isn't. She is mexican and I really sound racist when I start in on the illegal immigration issues. Luckily, she knows that I'm not lumping all mexicans into one basket, nor can you lump all blacks into one basket, anymore than you can all whites. I don't love/like all whites. Far from it. Lots of them piss me off.
2006-09-15 03:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Chloe 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Never I think we all slipped and said that at some time - but we should now be aware enough to know our friends are our friends and we do not have to add a qualifier to appease anyone - ever. The same goes for them labeling themselves "African" American. That is degrading too and labels them as second class Americans. Let them be as American as anyone else. No more designations on forms. Just refuse to check that box.
2006-09-15 04:00:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
why would you ever need to say that??and you don't have to have friends from around the nation to not be a racist ..it's what you believe and how you show respect for other people of color or nationality not if they are your best friends
2006-09-15 03:54:11 · answer #4 · answered by Muy Buena 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only thing more sincere would be a hooker telling me she loves me and wants to marry me.
It sounds like you're concentrating so much on not being a racist that you may actually wind up being a racist.
2006-09-15 03:54:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually some of my best friends are indeed black, so I guess that's sincere.
I don't go around saying it though.
You don't have to have black friends. You don't have to like black people. There's no U.S. law saying you can't be racist.
2006-09-15 04:01:06 · answer #6 · answered by Paul 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋