What Are White People So Afraid Of?
An interesting idea often pops up when discussing the reasons white people often seem scared of black people. Some suggest that ninety-nine percent of the time any white person you see seemingly intimidated by or avoiding a black person is trying to stay out of trouble. It seems these white people just don’t want accidentally to do something that appears racist. This tendency can reach paranoia type levels.
Now I don’t doubt that there are times where a white person feeling uncertainty may try avoiding putting themselves in situations that could cause conflict. However, I do find the number 99 % curious. I’m forced to wonder if the so-called fear of accidentally doing something racist is just a rationalization to cover feelings people are too uncomfortable to deal with.
These thoughts raise two questions. The first question is whether the people who “appear” racist are scared. Second, if those people are scared then what are those feelings based on?
It fascinates me what occurs when topics like this are discussed. Some comments made suggest the person’s thoughts didn’t go further than the name of the topic. Often responses are given that barely refer to anything said.
During one particular discussion a person from Europe brought up an interesting point. What they suggested was the fear that some white people express through their behavior is not necessarily fear of non-whites as such, but rather they fear for the future of their race. This person further suggested that a racist person may not fear another but just simply hate them. For them, a person that appears racist because of fear of black people is simply ignorant. He placed them in contrast to those who have cultural or racial pride reasons as the basis for their actions. To him, those who have cultural or racial pride as their motivation are the “real” racists, as their opinions can’t be changed by meeting non-white people. they know that black people can be nice with loving families, they just don’t care. They want things to stay white.
The comments he expressed raised questions for me. Many racial groups whether they be white, black, Asian, or Hispanic, express pride in their heritage, language, or culture. Does having feelings of solidarity with one’s culture or race automatically mean the person will be racist towards other groups? Is there a line that can be crossed? Definitely, something to consider. I would love to hear readers' thoughts on those questions.
Another view that is expressed during conversations about race is that some white people are simply scared of change. It is felt that those in the majority recognize a decrease in the familiar because of demographic changes. those changes to them represent a change of power. It is sometimes suggested that whether a person actively users that power or not that it’s at least a comfort to know that they have it. it seems to me that this view is referring to what is sometimes called white privilege. That is a concept that is highly debated as some people question whether it even exists or not. Still, the question remains that if this white privilege exists are these people aware of its power. I personally would say no. Now of course there’s the question of whether a recipient of this so-called privilege are themselves racist or simply the beneficiary of a racist social structure.
During one discussion I was involved in a person from the UK said that the only group they try to avoid are young white youth. Particularly those that wear track suits. He stated that it was because they tend to shout slurs and pick fights. Interestingly he said that he doesn’t avoid black people but that might be because black people are rare in their area and he had no negative experience with them. now it occurs to me that those track suits are the equivalent to the so-called thug look that some in the United States use as a signifier of people to fear. it’s also interesting to note that this person’s actions were based on their direct personal experiences.
I was once asked why I was even raising the questions I was. My response to them was to say that while I don’t think there’s a singular answer, I am fascinated by the discussion such questions can provoke. this person speaking from their own perspective said that they were afraid of a black person committing a crime more than a white person. they continued by saying that it was a simple fact that poverty increases crime rates, and that black people were generally poorer than Whites or Asians for example. Curiously he added that the black community tended to be more muscular and in shape which they find intimidating. now I’m not so sure about the whole muscular and in shape statement. I would be curious to read any studies that would suggest that. Now this person could be referring specifically to where they live in comparison to their own personal physical stature and condition. Alternatively, they could be referring to what is more their perception of black people as influenced by media and American culture as a whole.
To correlate crime and poverty as an explanation for some people’s fear raises some intriguing questions. Does this seeming correlation mean that all black people are somehow guilty as a group? Or does that mean that all white people are justified in any of their actions because of some statistical fear? To me, it seems like statistics are used to justify hostile actions towards people who don’t deserve it.
Now would I automatically consider a person who held similar views a racist? I would say that I wouldn’t although others might. However, I would be curious to see if such a person was doing anything related to alleviating poverty. I say that because if that person weren’t I would question their reasons for not wanting that type of social change. I would wonder if it was because their own logic would force them to change their apparent racist behavior.
This is a discussion that will never end. It forces us to look internally in ways that are uncomfortable. It’s hard for many to talk about feelings and motivations that they normally don’t express. join in the discussion by leaving a response. Feel free to bring others into the discussion by sharing via Facebook or Twitter.
An interesting idea often pops up when discussing the reasons white people often seem scared of black people. Some suggest that ninety-nine percent of the time any white person you see seemingly intimidated by or avoiding a black person is trying to stay out of trouble. It seems these white people just don’t want accidentally to do something that appears racist. This tendency can reach paranoia type levels.
Now I don’t doubt that there are times where a white person feeling uncertainty may try avoiding putting themselves in situations that could cause conflict. However, I do find the number 99 % curious. I’m forced to wonder if the so-called fear of accidentally doing something racist is just a rationalization to cover feelings people are too uncomfortable to deal with.
These thoughts raise two questions. The first question is whether the people who “appear” racist are scared. Second, if those people are scared then what are those feelings based on?
It fascinates me what occurs when topics like this are discussed. Some comments made suggest the person’s thoughts didn’t go further than the name of the topic. Often responses are given that barely refer to anything said.
During one particular discussion a person from Europe brought up an interesting point. What they suggested was the fear that some white people express through their behavior is not necessarily fear of non-whites as such, but rather they fear for the future of their race. This person further suggested that a racist person may not fear another but just simply hate them. For them, a person that appears racist because of fear of black people is simply ignorant. He placed them in contrast to those who have cultural or racial pride reasons as the basis for their actions. To him, those who have cultural or racial pride as their motivation are the “real” racists, as their opinions can’t be changed by meeting non-white people. they know that black people can be nice with loving families, they just don’t care. They want things to stay white.
The comments he expressed raised questions for me. Many racial groups whether they be white, black, Asian, or Hispanic, express pride in their heritage, language, or culture. Does having feelings of solidarity with one’s culture or race automatically mean the person will be racist towards other groups? Is there a line that can be crossed? Definitely, something to consider. I would love to hear readers' thoughts on those questions.
Another view that is expressed during conversations about race is that some white people are simply scared of change. It is felt that those in the majority recognize a decrease in the familiar because of demographic changes. those changes to them represent a change of power. It is sometimes suggested that whether a person actively users that power or not that it’s at least a comfort to know that they have it. it seems to me that this view is referring to what is sometimes called white privilege. That is a concept that is highly debated as some people question whether it even exists or not. Still, the question remains that if this white privilege exists are these people aware of its power. I personally would say no. Now of course there’s the question of whether a recipient of this so-called privilege are themselves racist or simply the beneficiary of a racist social structure.
During one discussion I was involved in a person from the UK said that the only group they try to avoid are young white youth. Particularly those that wear track suits. He stated that it was because they tend to shout slurs and pick fights. Interestingly he said that he doesn’t avoid black people but that might be because black people are rare in their area and he had no negative experience with them. now it occurs to me that those track suits are the equivalent to the so-called thug look that some in the United States use as a signifier of people to fear. it’s also interesting to note that this person’s actions were based on their direct personal experiences.
I was once asked why I was even raising the questions I was. My response to them was to say that while I don’t think there’s a singular answer, I am fascinated by the discussion such questions can provoke. this person speaking from their own perspective said that they were afraid of a black person committing a crime more than a white person. they continued by saying that it was a simple fact that poverty increases crime rates, and that black people were generally poorer than Whites or Asians for example. Curiously he added that the black community tended to be more muscular and in shape which they find intimidating. now I’m not so sure about the whole muscular and in shape statement. I would be curious to read any studies that would suggest that. Now this person could be referring specifically to where they live in comparison to their own personal physical stature and condition. Alternatively, they could be referring to what is more their perception of black people as influenced by media and American culture as a whole.
To correlate crime and poverty as an explanation for some people’s fear raises some intriguing questions. Does this seeming correlation mean that all black people are somehow guilty as a group? Or does that mean that all white people are justified in any of their actions because of some statistical fear? To me, it seems like statistics are used to justify hostile actions towards people who don’t deserve it.
Now would I automatically consider a person who held similar views a racist? I would say that I wouldn’t although others might. However, I would be curious to see if such a person was doing anything related to alleviating poverty. I say that because if that person weren’t I would question their reasons for not wanting that type of social change. I would wonder if it was because their own logic would force them to change their apparent racist behavior.
This is a discussion that will never end. It forces us to look internally in ways that are uncomfortable. It’s hard for many to talk about feelings and motivations that they normally don’t express. join in the discussion by leaving a response. Feel free to bring others into the discussion by sharing via Facebook or Twitter.
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I plan to read this later and give you my thoughts OP, I just started reading “How to Argue With A Racist” so this really piques my interest
