Yesterday, I came across a blog entry entitled "10 Conversations on Racism I'm Sick of Having with White people."
The link to this blog entry is as follows: http://www.peopleofcolororganize.com/opinion/10-conversations-racism-im-sick-having-white-people/
This entry definitely resonated with me on many levels not only as someone who has formally facilitated dialogues on race and ethnicity between White people and people of color, but as someone who has had to deal with these 10 conversations incessantly in the last decade of my life.
I posted this to my Facebook yesterday because of this connection I felt to it. Within minutes, a friend of color had reposted the link. It was something I understood; specifically, I understand why this friend would repost. Today, I noticed that some other Facebook friends had reposted it, but these reposts were different. These friends were White friends on Facebook. My immediate reactions differed from the reaction I had to my friend of color of reposting.
My reaction to these White Facebook friends was negative. This negative reaction, however, was mitigated by who was reposting and the experiences I have had with them that implicate race. For those whose intentions I trust more, my reaction was less negative. I might even call the reaction slightly positive in these cases. But for those who I do not trust or in whom my trust is low because of negative experiences with race, the post felt like smug salt on the wounds of bad experiences.
Broadly, I believe there are two sources of my reaction:
(1) To me, the feeling and the substance of this blog entry seem to be for people of color who can relate. These are conversations that many people of color endure. It is also important to note that these are conversations that look differently depending on the racial group from which the person of color comes. [In my experiences, White progressives who are trying to challenge racism will often seek education from the racial minority they perceive as having it "the worst"--that is, African Americans. This comes from experiences of White friends latching on to what my African American friends say about racism.]
(2) I am concerned with the message a simple reposting sends. What exactly does it mean?
Does it mean:
(a) that you are a White person who "gets it"
(b) that you are trying to educate your other White friends on Facebook
(c) that you are trying to be an ally to people of color who both generally and specifically your Facebook friends
(e) all, some, or none of the above
I am less worried about (b) if it stands alone, but if it is coupled with (a), then I become worried. I become worried especially when the person reposting does not really "get it" in my opinion. I become worried when the person has a lot more work to do on racism, both currently and in how they have perpetuated racist dynamics within organizations/activities in which I used to participate. If it is just (c), then I suggest some caution. Reposting this without saying more can be very patronizing. I need to know more from you and what you think and how you react to this. As a White person, what does this entry actually mean to you and for you?
I can understand that there are good intentions in reposting this post. I affirm those intentions and believe that reposting is not the issue. It is the context within which such reposting occurs.
Overall, my argument is to be cautious with the messages that might be sent with a repost. I can see people reacting and thinking "it's just a repost" and that because of this, "it's not a big deal." Of course, it's just a repost. Nonetheless, our actions carry meaning in this racialized social system that is the United States. Caution must be exercised by my White friends so as to not give the impression that they are appropriating the words and experiences of people of color again. This impression would not be without support. I see this blog entry as something created for people of color to resonate with on many levels and I reposted it because it is something with which I can fundamentally connect. I cannot be comfortable seeing my White friends repost this without them giving something more tangible--without writing how they react to it and what it means. I think it is this transparency that can challenge the unintended impressions of their actions.
-Just thinking
