I Don't Know What to Do With Good White People

[decocker 7,198]

We all want to believe in progress, in history that marches forward in a neat line, in transcended differences and growing acceptance, in how good the good white people have become. So we expect racism to appear, cartoonishly evil like a Disney villain. As if a racist cop is one who wakes in the morning, twirling his mustache and rubbing his hands together as he plots how to destroy black lives.

I don't think Darren Wilson or Daniel Pantaleo set out to kill Black men. I'm sure the cops who arrested my father meant well. But what good are your good intentions if they kill us?

When my friends and I discuss people we dislike, we often end our conversations with, "But he means well."

We always land here, because we want to affirm ourselves as fair, non-judgmental people who examine a person not only by what he does but also by what he intends to. After all, aren't all of us standing in the gap between who we are and who we try to be? Isn't it human to allow those we dislike—even those who harm us—a residence in this space as well?

"You know what? He means well," we say. We lean on this, and the phrase is so condescending, so cloyingly sweet, so hollow, that I'd almost rather anyone say anything else about me than how awful I am despite how good I intend to be.

http://jezebel.com/i-dont-know-what-to-do-with-good-white-people-1671201391

it's pretty long, but a good read imo.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

http://jezebel.com/i-dont-know-what-to-do-with-good-white-people-1671201391

it's pretty long, but a good read imo.

You know what's coming.

[decocker 7,198]

You know what's coming.

meh - it's a good piece.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I Don't Know What to Do With Good White People

Wait, there are good white people?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

meh - it's a good piece.

No argument from me. Just for most folks here, they can't relate because it's almost impossible to put themselves in that type of situation.

[decocker 7,198]

Wait, there are good white people?

i had to make the title match the article, otherwise i would have named it 'let's talk about how val erie is a good white person"

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Wait, there are good white people?

Apparently. Who knew?

[Teddy B 17,252]

i had to make the title match the article, otherwise i would have named it 'let's talk about how val erie is a good white person"

I knew you had an angle! Gotta be hard carrying that torch day in and day out.

Apparently. Who knew?

Not me, I think we all suk.

[decocker 7,198]

No argument from me. Just for most folks here, they can't relate because it's almost impossible to put themselves in that type of situation.

that's what made the article relevant, she does a good job of telling her perspective without sermonizing.

[Operator 1,927]

Interesting read but we prefer the acronym GWP.

BTW how the hell do you "delete" a friend? If you can delete them they aren't what I consider a friend. Darn kids today and their social media.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Interesting read but we prefer the acronym GWP.

BTW how the hell do you "delete" a friend? If you can delete them they aren't what I consider a friend. Darn kids today and their social media.

A bit off topic, but most folks don't have more than a few true friends in life, the rest are all acquaintances at best. They should have an "acquaintance" option on fb.

[SMOKE 1,426]

'goodwhiteness'

[decocker 7,198]

Interesting read but we prefer the acronym GWP.

BTW how the hell do you "delete" a friend? If you can delete them they aren't what I consider a friend. Darn kids today and their social media.

kids today don't even use fb, it's uncool. for example: proper fb etiquette is to simply unfollow the offensive friend so you don't have to read their dribble. unfortunately for some of us that just means unfollowing the majority of your blood relatives and being fb friends for appearances.

A bit off topic, but most folks don't have more than a few true friends in life, the rest are all acquaintances at best. They should have an "acquaintance" option on fb.

fb does, but it's a list option.

[Teddy B 17,252]

kids today don't even use fb, it's uncool. for example: proper fb etiquette is to simply unfollow the offensive friend so you don't have to read their dribble. unfortunately for some of us that just means unfollowing the majority of your blood relatives and being fb friends for appearances.

fb does, but it's a list option.

I gotta be in the running for refusing the most friend requests on fb. I got people wanting to friend me that I haven't talked to in 30 years, there's a reason for that yanno.

Edited December 17, 2014 by Teddy B

[Operator 1,927]

What's fb?