Here’s something you won’t know about unless it’s a part of your “lived experience”: If you’re a race writer (you may also need to be black, I’m not sure), and mention the Atlantic slave trade for any reason, somebody will come into your comments to tell you one (or all) of the following:
I'm glad that you wrote this. I am guilty of having mentioned the things you shine a light on (African complicity, age old non-race-based slavery, etc.). Yea, that does have a bad feel.
In keeping with the title of this commentary, thinking about it, it was likely an emotional response to the ubiquitous "Dear white people" articles telling me that I must acknowledge the evil of whiteness with an implicit me being evil because of my membership in the white tribe. Not explicit but obviously implicit. I'll refrain from a rant on monoliths.
Trying to not let my inner Marine speak here, I'll just say that I do get tired of that crap. <-- emotion! It's not an excuse, I'll try to hold that stuff in check in the future. Thank you.
With regard to that being aimed at you, people do tend to latch on to one small thing not in the context of the larger thing when they don't like the larger thing but have no adequate response to it. Again emotion - frustration about a valid challenge to their cherished "truth."
“ you need to be able to demonstrate not only that you're right, but also that you understand where they're coming from.”
Perfectly said. So difficult to achieve.
I know you’ve taken a ton of flack for holding to this position, Steve, particularly when you seek to understand where all people are coming from. I’ve realized some important truths that helped me process some truly awful racially-based incidents in my life by reading your thoughtful, persuasive, gentle, wry, understanding commentary. Thank you, as always, for your perseverance.
I'm glad that you wrote this. I am guilty of having mentioned the things you shine a light on (African complicity, age old non-race-based slavery, etc.). Yea, that does have a bad feel.
In keeping with the title of this commentary, thinking about it, it was likely an emotional response to the ubiquitous "Dear white people" articles telling me that I must acknowledge the evil of whiteness with an implicit me being evil because of my membership in the white tribe. Not explicit but obviously implicit. I'll refrain from a rant on monoliths.
Trying to not let my inner Marine speak here, I'll just say that I do get tired of that crap. <-- emotion! It's not an excuse, I'll try to hold that stuff in check in the future. Thank you.
With regard to that being aimed at you, people do tend to latch on to one small thing not in the context of the larger thing when they don't like the larger thing but have no adequate response to it. Again emotion - frustration about a valid challenge to their cherished "truth."
“ you need to be able to demonstrate not only that you're right, but also that you understand where they're coming from.”
Perfectly said. So difficult to achieve.
I know you’ve taken a ton of flack for holding to this position, Steve, particularly when you seek to understand where all people are coming from. I’ve realized some important truths that helped me process some truly awful racially-based incidents in my life by reading your thoughtful, persuasive, gentle, wry, understanding commentary. Thank you, as always, for your perseverance.
The fact Spike used “but” and “however,” really sealed the deal for me; It seems he was most interested in proving his point(s)