tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post7542488632233470564..comments2023-09-30T09:41:52.224-07:00Comments on The Well Spoken Negro's Salon: Yet Another Interesting Post by Ta-Nehisi CoatesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-42578402161292731042010-10-11T21:54:35.297-07:002010-10-11T21:54:35.297-07:00When I ask the question, I am thinking about thing...When I ask the question, I am thinking about things I've heard Limbaugh say, for example, that just screams racist to me. But, I have a friend who listens to, and I assume likes, Limbaugh, who swears that Limbaugh has said nothing remotely racist to him. That applies to some of the things I saw in the signs at tea party Republican gatherings, but white conservatives, specifically, that I know think that people like me a chasing phantoms. I will hazard that that is a part of the basis for the question that Coates is raising.hscfreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15248588351369527519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905181885778117365.post-21051238369012903742010-10-11T20:37:10.595-07:002010-10-11T20:37:10.595-07:00I'm not sure what Coates is asking is "wh...I'm not sure what Coates is asking is "what would it take for a white person to call another white person a racist?" but rather, "what it means among white people to be considered a racist"? The two are certainly related, but not the same thing.<br /><br />For example, there are numerous actions/sentiments which I (as a white person) would consider racist, but which would rarely lead to me calling the offending (white) person a racist. Mostly this is because calling someone out on their racism is usually a conversation killer. Basically, white folks rightfully recognize that racist = bad and therefore don't much appreciate drawing attention to the fact that they just said/did something racist. They don't like thinking of themselves as a bad person.<br /><br />Personally, I think white people are just a tad too touchy on the subject. It would probably help if most just saw their ingrained racism as something to learn from and overcome, rather than as a defining characteristic. But, that is asking a lot from people.Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536421258934730087noreply@blogger.com