is there a white person who can talk honestly about racism without getting defensive or insulting?

Question

if the issue of race come up around white people, the first thing that come out the mouth is "im not a racist", which makes any discussions impossible, as they seem to get very uncomfortable - why is this?
i cant beleive when a white person tells me they have never used a racist comment - it dosent seem possible given the historical and present relationship between us . and when i said this to a white persons face they got very upset, but i was tying to be honest in my point of view ,
i bet that most of the racist questions on here have never been directly asked to the face of the race they are insulting?i have asked most of my questions that i ask on here to peoples faces - because im that type of person and i either get a nervous laugh or "the look"

there are a lot of defensive whites out there, you are bleating on about how i am targeting whites, of course i am, how could i not, i can only ask a question from my own personal point of view, based on my own personal experiences! my question only seems to be proving me right- try letting you defences down, breathe, then answer the question in a mature manner! - white people! if you are able to understand i am asking a simple question not attacking!!

Answer 1

white people feel guilty for what happened during those times. And also becasue of apartheid, the civil rights movement etc.

Answer 2

This answer may seem defensive as your questions seem quite aggressive. My opinion of racism is it exists in every race regardless. It stems from a human fear of something or someone that appears to be different from what they consider to be the norm. Racism is complicated and sensitive, because so many people have chosen to respond to it in such varying manners. The main thing is I agree with part of what you said (thus my reason for answering) and that is people saying 'I'm not a racist.' However if you qualify this by saying I am not a deliberate racist and I don't choose to respond to my sometimes racist attiudes through violence towards others then, that at least is an important step towards trying to introduce some intelligent discussion towards finding out what is really important to try and combat within racism!

Answer 3

Everyone has used racially derogatory term or told a joke that was offensive.You can't say your hands are clean.I bet I can go turn on Comic View and be highly offended by the blatant prejudice,but I'm not that uptight.I don't come from a rich family,I'm not a so-called geek with glasses and a degree from MIT.So I could care less because I'm not personally being verbally attacked.There's stereotypes of every race,just as tere is of both sexes,obese and skinny people and the elderly.Why do people flip out when the color of their skin or the behavior of their culture is involved.What about those rap songs calling woman bi**hes?That's a form of prejudice.Racism/sexism it's the same thing.No Caucasian person wants to be accused of being a "racist" cuz it aint that much of a leap to a hate crime.If they got into a altercation with some one of color and used a racial slur,It's a freakin hate crime,punishable by law and long term prison sentences.But it's OK that the black dude called him white trash,vomiting the racial slurs first cuz every one feels sorry for blacky.

Answer 4

I understand your point, but there is a reason behind it. Many white people go on the defensive when blacks bring up racism because it is believed by many whites that many blacks just assume that white people are racist and against them. Before they want to discuss the subject they want to make it clear that they aren't one of the racist white people some blacks perceive white people to be. I will say that they are a tad hyper-defensive and unrealistic in some things they say though. I think just about every person (not all, but many) of any race has made a derogatory comment about another race in private at some point in their lives. Many white people won't admit it though because again; there are some people in the black race that look for any reason to call a white man prejudiced, and they are afraid of being called that when they, overall, aren't. I do notice in our society though that blacks can get away with being racist towards white people easier though. Think about it; you hardly hear a popular white comedian making a black joke and not getting slammed for it, while just about every popular black comedian I've seen uses a white joke in his act with no repercussions. Not saying this is the case all the time, but the vast majority. People should just accept that we're all human, we all have flaws, and get over it. Won't happen for awhile I don't think though unfortunately.

Answer 5

It's a little simplistic to say that racism is purely the domain of whites. There isn't an ethnic group on Earth that hasn't engaged in expressing a racist thought, or acted in hateful ways. Look at what's happening in Darfur. Remember what happened in Rwanda. Look at the way Laotians are treated by their neighbors. How 'bout them Sunni's/Shi'ias/Kurds? What would steer this discussion towards a more productive place would be to admit that the tendency exists within all of us to be racist, and that ultimately, the root of all racism is ignorance. Add to the mix, all the Seven Deadly Sins, and there is the brew for evil to be promoted. While I'm not religious, these terms are useful to describe the horror and terror inflicted on all races throughout history; how one people justify inhuman acts upon another group by "dehumanizing" or demonizing them. It's not enough to just point to the problems between whites and blacks. We are all equal and it matters that we attempt to embrace as large a picture as we can to understand this is a *human* problem. Until this kind of discussion can take place, one is just raking the muck this way and that, with no discernable progress towards understanding.

Answer 6

I agree with you.I am white and from the south and although I feel I am not racist I would be lying if I said I have not made a racist statement over the years. I think all races, not just whites have predisposed notions about other races. It's being able to admit it that will help us end racism. Understanding and excepting the differences of all the different cultures is very important. I strive very hard with my children to be understanding and forthright when they ask questions to not show any bias in race or religion or sexual orientation but sometimes it is very hard not to generalize groups but I feel if we try we can make a difference.

Answer 7

I'm living in a city which has a large black population, and the main reason why i may sometimes get uncomfortable talking about race is because you'll either get beaten up, sued, or have a gang of people tormenting you until you leave the city and also the wider community will consider anything you say as being racist, which is stupid.

I am not guilty about what has happened in the past, i was not there and therefore it is not my problem, I respect all people no matter what their race and thats all that matters to me.

Answer 8

None of us would be defensive in the first place, if you didn't expect us to be racist before we even had a chance to speak.
Why would I be nervous? I can talk about the subject of racism with any person. Why wouldn't you be able beleive that a white person has never said a racist comment? Not all of us are racist. Blacks, whites, latino,etc any person of any race can be a bigot. It sounds like you are the one with issues about talking about racism. Why don't you calm down? I wouldn't be defensive if you weren't insulting all whites. I don't and shouldn't feel guilty about slavery,civil war, and all of the things that happened in th past because I never have and never would do something like that. Look at this from our point of veiw and you might understand.

Answer 9

I think your problem comes when you say 'white people'. Why can't your questions be open to everybody. You calling people racist is really pot.. kettle .. black. When you ask reasonable questions you will get proper answers, but really your probably getting the response that you want, so that you can tie certain races with the same brush. At of interest have you had a bad experience by someone because of your race, if you have fair enough... if not, you want to take off your blinkers.

Answer 10

Yes I truly think that there are plenty, I am as "white" as it gets and yes I have used racist names without realizing what they meant. I grew up in a multi cultural area and we all called each other names as kids and teens and believe it or not to this day (even though I don't use them) I still don't really know what they mean LOL, but when asked if I am racist or have used a racist term I pobably look guilty too because I never meant it the way it is taken now a days. I also never took it that way when it was said to me, unless I was called stupid honkey by someone I didn't know then it was obvious that it was meant badly.

Answer 11

First of all I would like to say there are people who are racists, for whatever reasons. Personally I despise people like this. I have some in my in-law side of the family and have encountered some in general daily life. Unfortunately there is nothing that anyone can do about it. I have a three year old child that I am trying to raise "human" and not be exposed to this inhumane nature that is disturbing and offensive regardless to "who" or "what" the racist or stereotype remarks are being made about.