My side of this is pretty simple.
I don't like, and would go as far as to say I'm hyper sensitive to people casually throwing out claims of racism. Maybe its because I grew up in a place with a lot of open racism and never joined in and always dismissed those people as idiots. I've lost friends over it. That's ok. I'm not saying I'm some hero of race relations, I'm just trying to explain why I may be a little more sensitive to that kind of baseless accusation than most.
What Nas said is right. I could see it happening once or twice or a few times. That would be understandable. Unfortunately, that is not the situation were dealing with.
Since I began reading this board, I have seen SPmack do this literally dozens of times. Pretty much anyone who has a bad word to say about anyone of color is either outright accused of being racist or at the very least an allusion to prejudice. Sometimes it doesn't even take a bad word. Sometimes if you support a certain political candidate, the racist label is slapped on with little thought.
This wore on me over time. I don't like it. I hate it. I think it supports racial tension. I think its intellectually lazy and irresponsible.
This is to say nothing of the many times SPmack has openly taken issue with the fact that I'm a white guy who listens to hip hop and called me a "wanna be" (sometimes in a joking manner, sometimes not)
Other than that, I like spmack. So I let it go. But it kept happening. So eventually I started to speak up a bit. Fell on deaf ears and usually just became two comments between SPmack and me and then it was over.
I try to be as understanding as possible of the disgusting racism and prejudice black people face on a daily basis. I try to understand it as much as I can without going thru it first person. For that reason, I understand why some would have the default position "white people are probably racist"
But at some point, SPmack separated himself from any other black person I converse with or have ever met. (A pretty long list, in case my racism is under review)
So basically, I started to form the opinion that while its not nearly as heinous a crime as racism, the false claims of racism definitely work against any progress we've made in that area.
So it bothers me. I don't apologize for that. Eventually, I decided to speak up, not apologizing for that either.
Then, predictably, SPmack actually posted "Why dont we look thru your phone and your email and see what you really say. Bet you dont want that"
That is as pathetic as it was predictable.
I have never given SPmack, anyone here, or anyone in my real life reason to make that accusation.
So, it has become very clear to me, that SPmack thinks anyone who is white, is a hateful racist, some are just better at hiding it.
THAT in itself, is pretty much the definition of prejudice/racism.
I'm sorry to disappoint #TeamEveryWhitePersonIsRacist but I'm not. I don't judge people like that and I don't ever use the word. If someone uses the word in my presence, I point out how stupid they sound regardless of what color they are. Even when someone cuts me off in traffic, I never yell a racist term. I was taught at a very early age, that an asshole is an asshole regardless of color. So I default to that when I momentarily "lose it"
So, I find it extremely annoying, when someone who is so clearly judging people on the color of their skin, is the quickest to call someone else racist, with or without cause.
So I posted what I did.
I will not take it back. I will not apologize.
You want honesty about race? There it is /\
Some will scoff at my thoughts. Some will cry "oh poor white guy" while rolling their eyes. That's fine. I don't seek your approval.
I've just had enough of it. The same way people get to the end of their rope with many things here.
I thought SPmack and I were fringe friends. I mean, I had this thing about him I didn't like, but I looked past it. There is a lot about the man that I like.
So I guess Ill be losing another friend because I cant ignore his racism. Deja Vu all over again.
Peace
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