“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great
stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate
who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace
which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods
of direct action”; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of
time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of
good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more
bewildering than outright rejection.”
He wasn’t wrong. It is, sadly, still true today.
“…who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” We talk about this in seminary all the time: peace that is won by one side holding its foot on the other side’s throat is not peace. When we pray for peace, we must pray for peace with justice, never at the cost of justice, made by silencing the oppressed.
Fellow white people, don’t just reblog or share mlk jr.’s more palatable “hate cannot drive out hate” type quotes and ignore the fact that he also said challenging things like this. We must hold ourselves accountable. We must not be lukewarm. And there is never a “more convenient season” to act to secure rights for all people – the time is now.
He also had a speech to the APA that openly called out white people for caring more about “riots” and damaged property than the fact that Black people were suffering under institutional violence.
He called out white people regularly for their lack of empathy for Black lives and their continuance to spout respectability at Black people than hold the white policymakers accountable for their racism.
So, I’ve been sitting on this ask for awhile (mostly because I was out of the house all day buying a car today – woo me!) but I just want to preface this with one thing.
I am a white-passing person of Caribbean descent.
I get it. I was teased and bullied growing up. FFS I didn’t even have a single friend until I was in like 4th grade. I’ve experienced everything from people pissing on my personal belongings to being given a black eye. I’ve been called all manner of things – though being that I grew up in Hawaii, it was primarily the slang term “hauli” – aka white person (could be taken as derogatory, depending on who you ask. IDK.
That being said. You can’t be racist towards white people. While the textbook definition of “racism” means that any race targeted by malicious words/actions is an act of “racism” does not mean it constitutes the same implication of the word in the more modern and societal sense.
Racism, as it stands predominantly in the United States (since this is where I live, and this is my experience with it) is a societal structure, meant to undermine minorities and hold control over them.
I mean, let’s – for a moment – talk about the whole police brutality thing. Of those who are shot and killed by police on a yearly basis – 60% of which are unarmed, 40% of the 60 are unarmed black men.
Or we can go on to read the multiple resources stating that something along the lines called reverse racism doesnotexist.
Listen. I get it. You were beat up as a kid. No one should have to suffer through that, and I’m speaking from experience here. But as a white person, you are more likely to succeed in life, make more money, and live longer lives.
Yes, you can be prejudiced against white people. Some POC say things like “I hate whites” or “Kill all whites”, but the people who whine about racism against white people? My god, you really are scum. Wanna know why? If you were even slightly educated in the subject you would know that the reason POC maybe hates whites is cause ya’ll’s ancestors have been killing theirs for centuries and they’re fucking tired of ya’ll’s shit.
Get the fuck outta my inbox, unfollow me, block me, I don’t care. I’ll kindly wipe my ass with your “respect”, you whiny pissbaby.
