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How can a white person engage other white family members in a discussion about racism?
Dr. Darron Smith
Dr. Darron T. Smith is a faculty member at the University of Memphis in the Department of Sociology. He is frequent political and cultural contributor for Huffington Post on various issues of inequality in the form of racism, classism and other systems of U.S. based oppression. He has also contributed to various forums from Religion Dispatches and ESPN's Outside the Lines to The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed sections. Dr. Smith’s research spans a wide myriad of topics on including healthcare disparities, Religious Studies, Race & Sports, Stress & Mindfulness, Transracial Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on healthcare workforce discrimination involving African American physician assistants. His is the author of, When Race, Religion & Sports Collide: Blacks Athletes at BYU and Beyond, was recently released to critical praise in November 2016.
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Dr Smith,
I understand that’s whites as a group are racist and that we all live in a racist society and minorities as a whole are not rasicest. Though, as a localized group or individuals can members of any minority be rasicest.
I put a few of my own experiences forward. I am, like Miguel, a “white” mashup of races and clotures, in fact with my brown coloring and dark hair I can pass (and have in the past though I regret that now it was and is wrong and racist) as a Latino. Though, as per racism I find that when I go to place predominantly Latino or pass by Latinos/ latinas in the supermarket I am greeted with a Spanish greeting or something like that but when I answer in English there is always that “oh” and a look then a greeting or repeat in English but with less vigor in their voice. Though, it’s not needed I, from living in Brasil and working closely with Latinos, at least understand a greeting and simple stuff.
I ask because I used to just laugh it off (in my head) and continue on but since I’ve been listening to you and Miguel (from the start of the podcast. Super awesomeness you guy love it) I notice it more and if I try to bring t up even to my wife it gets laughed off like it’s my fault somehow. I only understand a teeny tiny fraction of the racism problem but it’s personal and I see it plain as day.
Btw I get this also from my disability I look normal and healthy (but fat) but use a can or have a shuffling gate and odd voice.
P.s. I love the podcast and feel your pain on having to prove what I know something. Mostly because I’m a plumber (just about everyone thinks they know plumbing better than a plumber)