How should white people atone for their racism?

[Kangaroo Feathers]

And what would "reparations" accomplish?

Theoretically, level the playing field. It's all well and good being a good person, but when there are members of society who, for whatever reason, face life with handicaps and setbacks that others don't, it's a good thing to give those people extra assistance.

Consider, for example, a person in a wheelchair. Providing wheelchair access isn't a matter of "guilt", it's a matter of trying to allow an otherwise disadvantaged person to access what the rest of us consider "normal". Reparations is a suggested way of giving similar assistance to people who are objectively disadvantaged, although the exact form such reparations take, who pays for them, who is entitled to them, and so on, is endlessly debatable.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

No, I don’t, not for me. Perhaps others? Maybe millionaires by inheritance? I’m not them.

Uh-huh.

 

[We Never Know]

I bet you don't think privilege is a thing, either *eye roll*.

Life of Privilege Explained in a $100 Race

 

[Revoltingest]

I bet you don't think privilege is a thing, either *eye roll*.

"White privilege" was invented as a way to associate all white folk with past racism.
It's a way to accuse "sort of"....to accuse without accusing.
It doesn't matter if you just moved here from Iceland....you're guilty.
And all black folk are victims, no matter how successful, nor even if they had no
ancestors who were slaves, or if they had ancestors who even owned slaves.
By making it about "privilege" there is no defense for anyone guilty by color.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

A person can atone for whatever they wish. Whatever to make themselves feel better. There's just no public/civil requirement for such.

IOW, do so if you want. Don't if you don't. I don't think it's anyone else's place to judge a person either way.

I do think "atonement" is rather a loaded term. I do think that where it's possible, modern society should try to take corrective action over the mistakes of the past, where those mistakes have clearly wronged a group who are still experiencing adverse effects from those wrongs, even if those wrongs weren't explicitly illegal.

 

[Enoch07]

I bet you don't think privilege is a thing, either *eye roll*.

The only color that provides privilege is the color green. Which is money for those that lack imagination.

 

[Debater Slayer]

The average white person nowadays has nothing to do with slavery, so saying they should "atone" for it is simply a racist, manipulative form of guilt by association.

I'm actually getting tired of reading stuff like this from so-called "liberals" (not you, PAD, but elsewhere). It seems that some hypocritical racists want to make racism against white people the cool thing to do--and it's this kind of sycophantic and ironically hateful rhetoric that goes against the very principles such people claim to support, such as equality and tolerance.

 

[Nakosis]

I do think "atonement" is rather a loaded term. I do think that where it's possible, modern society should try to take corrective action over the mistakes of the past, where those mistakes have clearly wronged a group who are still experiencing adverse effects from those wrongs, even if those wrongs weren't explicitly illegal.

I've no problem with that really. I think Native Americans were really screwed over. If we can do anything to make life better for someone, we should. Atonement I feel implies guilt. I don't feel guilt but I do feel humane.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Theoretically, level the playing field. It's all well and good being a good person, but when there are members of society who, for whatever reason, face life with handicaps and setbacks that others don't, it's a good thing to give those people extra assistance.

Consider, for example, a person in a wheelchair. Providing wheelchair access isn't a matter of "guilt", it's a matter of trying to allow an otherwise disadvantaged person to access what the rest of us consider "normal". Reparations is a suggested way of giving similar assistance to people who are objectively disadvantaged, although the exact form such reparations take, who pays for them, who is entitled to them, and so on, is endlessly debatable.

Okay, I agree. But that is not the same thing as "reparations." Reparations means making good on harms done in the past. Well, before we made things more accessible, those with handicaps couldn't get around as well. We can't fix that in retrospect, only try to do better going forward.

Yes, I agree that there are also people who are objectively disadvantaged due to nothing more than the attitudes of those around them … there are indeed racists, Islamophobes, homophobes; and there are misogynists, and any number of other ways we humans can hate, mistreat and abuse each other. It would be lovely if we could find ways to fix all of those things -- but I have to say in all seriousness that I don't think "reparations" is the way to do that. You can pay me something every time somebody hatefully calls me "***," but while I might enjoy the money, the hate and the hurt both remain in full force.

 

[shunyadragon]

I fully realize the overwhelming racism in our history where slavery actually continued on farms until the 20th century, and penal servitude (prison slave labor fo public works and industry) continued well into the 20th century. The history of the segregation, persecution and exclusion continued well after WWII with for example: the exclusion of the Blacks from the GI Bill for education and Home loans. I believe it continues in not so subtle insidious ways in our society today. My parents and other members of my family were overtly racist up until their death.

I personally fell no guilt for all this, but spend my life working to change things. I call it 'Paying it Backward,' a subtle version of what people call 'Paying it Forward.' I moved into a black neighborhood, not deliberately, but because there was an empty abandoned house and I could afford it and fix it up. It took a while to establish 'normal' neighbor relationship, but with time it is happening. I do things for the neighbors over time, not always free but reasonable with sometimes trade offs.

More to follow . . .

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I've no problem with that really. I think Native Americans were really screwed over. If we can do anything to make life better for someone, we should. Atonement I feel implies guilt. I don't feel guilt but I do feel humane.

And that's a worthy feeling! Yet, why reserve it only to those who "were really screwed over?" If, as you say, "we can do anything to make life better for someone, we should," why would you restrict that to only those who were "screwed," rather than to simply anyone in need?

(Caveat: I accept that most of us struggle to make ends meet, and sometimes, as much as we wish to help, there's just nothing left. Do not feel guilty about that. You may get another chance, when things are easier.)

 

[Shiranui117]

Guilt by association somehow?

White people are all the same. Don't you know?

 

[Shiranui117]

Theoretically, level the playing field. It's all well and good being a good person, but when there are members of society who, for whatever reason, face life with handicaps and setbacks that others don't, it's a good thing to give those people extra assistance.

Consider, for example, a person in a wheelchair. Providing wheelchair access isn't a matter of "guilt", it's a matter of trying to allow an otherwise disadvantaged person to access what the rest of us consider "normal". Reparations is a suggested way of giving similar assistance to people who are objectively disadvantaged, although the exact form such reparations take, who pays for them, who is entitled to them, and so on, is endlessly debatable.

Would you argue for reparations as opposed to helping the impoverished? Do impoverished and economically disadvantaged black people deserve more help than impoverished and economically disadvantaged people of other ethnicities because of what happened to their ancestors 170 years ago?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Recently I heard a black lady argue with a white lady and she said she takes no disrespect from any white person, because white people must atone for slavery.

I try to atone because that was what my Father used to do. He took us into slums of Chicago to work with Mother Teresa's Nuns feeding and caring for black people. I've lived at Saint Lukes mission of mercy in the ghetto of buffalo New York where white people give black folks free houses, free clothing, free money, free hygiene products, hundreds of meals every day, free dentists and healthcare clinics, and yet I heard so many hateful comments towards white people and was harassed for my ethnicity.

Repeatedly I go to the soup kitchen here and the majority of volunteers behind the counter are white, and the other line benefiting from their charity is primarily black. I have seen far more works of charity coming from white people and they don't make racial slurs. At least, almost never. I hear racial slurs from blacks regularly.

As a Franciscan I did similar works of charity. Also, where I am now, I give more money to African Americans than other ethnicities. Then I get treated like a sucker and a chump to be manipulated and I simply had to cease doing that because people I didn't even know were knocking on my door asking for sometimes even 10 to 40 dollars. I had a reputation of giving out money, and it came to haunt me, and honestly, I don't make hardly anything. I get general assistance and pan handle (but am looking for a job.)

Almost all the people that beg me for change wear nicer shoes and clothes than I do. One of them who got some money from me, and asked me for money repeatedly, so I said "This is the last time. I make just as much as you". He said, "no, I don't make just as much as you. I make more." He smiled and walked away, leaving me thinking WTF!

So, now, I just say, "I don't have money for you, but even if I did, I would not give it to you." It offends them, but I simply don't care anymore. Not to mention, I've heard far more racial slurs from black people than from white people. Extremely more! I've lived in ghettos, jails, and homeless shelters throughout life.

I'd bet I've interacted and lived with more African Americans than anyone on this forum, and many of them are great people, and some of them helped me out with money as well. It means a lot to me when that happens, and I never forget it, and always give them a blessing and gratitude for their kindness. I kid you not. I lost my virginity to a black girl, I've had a black judge, an awesome black public defender, I've got a black probation officer, and a black AA sponsor, and black peer specialist. They are friggin awesome and better people than myself.

I have no problem whatsoever with skin color. I wish I was darker lol. I just have a problem with certain behaviors and selective outrage that I see coming from black people that I don't see coming from every other race combined. I'm just wondering why there is such a huge double standard and hypocrisy that I find far more prevalent amongst one ethnicity.

So, if white people must atone for their harsh treatment of other races, how should we go about it? Let's not forget hundreds of thousands of white people that labored, suffered, and shed their blood to end slavery, and eventually end white privilege.

Ask a white racist.

As for non racist white folks, they don't owe a single thing.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Would you argue for reparations as opposed to helping the impoverished? Do impoverished and economically disadvantaged black people deserve more help than impoverished and economically disadvantaged people of other ethnicities because of what happened to their ancestors 170 years ago?

The only reperations I would agree with would be any documented promises the government had made to freed slaves that has not been delivered yet.

Otherwise I would vouch for equal access to the necessary tools of Education to become successful to anybody of any ethnicity.

 

[BSM1]

Recently I heard a black lady argue with a white lady and she said she takes no disrespect from any white person, because white people must atone for slavery.

I try to atone because that was what my Father used to do. He took us into slums of Chicago to work with Mother Teresa's Nuns feeding and caring for black people. I've lived at Saint Lukes mission of mercy in the ghetto of buffalo New York where white people give black folks free houses, free clothing, free money, free hygiene products, hundreds of meals every day, free dentists and healthcare clinics, and yet I heard so many hateful comments towards white people and was harassed for my ethnicity.

Repeatedly I go to the soup kitchen here and the majority of volunteers behind the counter are white, and the other line benefiting from their charity is primarily black. I have seen far more works of charity coming from white people and they don't make racial slurs. At least, almost never. I hear racial slurs from blacks regularly.

As a Franciscan I did similar works of charity. Also, where I am now, I give more money to African Americans than other ethnicities. Then I get treated like a sucker and a chump to be manipulated and I simply had to cease doing that because people I didn't even know were knocking on my door asking for sometimes even 10 to 40 dollars. I had a reputation of giving out money, and it came to haunt me, and honestly, I don't make hardly anything. I get general assistance and pan handle (but am looking for a job.)

Almost all the people that beg me for change wear nicer shoes and clothes than I do. One of them who got some money from me, and asked me for money repeatedly, so I said "This is the last time. I make just as much as you". He said, "no, I don't make just as much as you. I make more." He smiled and walked away, leaving me thinking WTF!

So, now, I just say, "I don't have money for you, but even if I did, I would not give it to you." It offends them, but I simply don't care anymore. Not to mention, I've heard far more racial slurs from black people than from white people. Extremely more! I've lived in ghettos, jails, and homeless shelters throughout life.

I'd bet I've interacted and lived with more African Americans than anyone on this forum, and many of them are great people, and some of them helped me out with money as well. It means a lot to me when that happens, and I never forget it, and always give them a blessing and gratitude for their kindness. I kid you not. I lost my virginity to a black girl, I've had a black judge, an awesome black public defender, I've got a black probation officer, and a black AA sponsor, and black peer specialist. They are friggin awesome and better people than myself.

I have no problem whatsoever with skin color. I wish I was darker lol. I just have a problem with certain behaviors and selective outrage that I see coming from black people that I don't see coming from every other race combined. I'm just wondering why there is such a huge double standard and hypocrisy that I find far more prevalent amongst one ethnicity.

So, if white people must atone for their harsh treatment of other races, how should we go about it? Let's not forget hundreds of thousands of white people that labored, suffered, and shed their blood to end slavery, and eventually end white privilege.

I have atoned by seeing the light during the Obama administration and freeing all my slaves. I am toying with the idea of converting my slave quarters into a BnB for white folks to exorcise all their slavery guilt by staying for an entire weekend.

 

[Twilight Hue]

View attachment 28158

I've been a faithful disciple of what God said about the matter through multiple threads here.

But you know something? Nobody listens to him.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I've been a faithful disciple of what God said about the matter through multiple threads here.

But you know something? Nobody listens to him.

Oh yeah I forgot to add...

THOSE HEATHENS!!!!!

 

[Twilight Hue]

Face it....you're guilty.
Someone with your shade of skin owned someone of their shade of skin 200 years ago.

Hey that's not entirely true!!

Remember history.....


http://rutherfordtnhistory.org/black-slave-owner-an-untold-part-of-history/

All descendants of Sherrod Bryant please remove yourself from the list of recipients to the proper line with your checkbook in hand.

That is all.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

I've no problem with that really. I think Native Americans were really screwed over. If we can do anything to make life better for someone, we should. Atonement I feel implies guilt. I don't feel guilt but I do feel humane.

I largely agree.