Yesterday, I talked about how John Derbyshire’s “advice” to White parents on what to say to their kids about black people was the right idea with the wrong messenger. You can see my column here.
And while Derbyshire’s racist suggestions got him fired from the National Review it doesn’t mean that most White parents out there are doing a particularly good job to talking to thier kids about race.
So, I know you’ve all been waiting patiently to see … drum roll please:
The Talk for White Parents to their White Kids about Black People
In this day and age of Black presidents, a Black First Lady that still makes a White man’s head explode and George Zimmerman killing a defenseless Trayvon Martin in cold blood, you’ll need it. It will come in handy White people, so read carefully. Don’t just open for emergencies, depending on what’s an emergency to you. But, this should work for:
1) The first time your kid asks why there’s a Black history month
2) The first time they come to you asking about the word “nigger;” and
3) Just about any other time you’re stumped by a Black/White race issue and don’t know what to say.
Dear White son or daughter [INSERT NAME HERE], here’s what you need to know:
1) Black People and White people are different but that doesn’t mean one is better than the other. Black people look different, often eat different foods, communicate and socialize in ways that may seem strange or odd for you. But just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad, or that the way you do things is better. Always remember that.
2) If you don’t know something about Black people ask a lot of them. Your Black friends don’t speak for all Black people. It’s perfectly okay to not know something, because honestly unless you ask every Black person in America you really don’t know. Do you?
3) White People as a group have done terrible things to Blacks in this country – and just because they are black (not to mention Asians, Latinos and American Indians). This is a fact. You may not be personally responsible but you benefit from this fact and therefore have some responsibility. No: you never enslaved anybody, neither did your mother or I, but lots of White people did. Once slavery was over, White people spent about 100 years mistreating Blacks because they couldn’t figure out how to send them all home after that whole nation-building thing. This means that Black people used to get killed just for trying to vote, weren’t allowed to live where they wanted to, and even today some White people refuse to hire Blacks just because they are black. And while those types of things are illegal, people still do it. You benefit from this. So before you ever judge a Black person remember that other White people worked for centuries to make sure you’d be okay and Black people would stay poor.
4) Saying “nigger” is the same thing as saying “bitch.” Even though you may hear it in music, or with your friends at school you know perfectly well that you shouldn’t use that word regardless of who is in earshot. And really, why is it so important to use it anyway?
5) Always remember there is a difference between a Black neighborhood, a bad neighborhood and a poor neighborhood. Just because an area has lots of Black people doesn’t mean they’re poor or that there’s lots of crime. There are plenty of places where black people live that are nicer than our neighborhood. You should avoid any group of people that seem dangerous because of their behavior or activities, whether that’s in a trailer park or an inner city ghetto. You can get robbed by anybody.
6) No matter who your sister/brother has dated, or what your friends have told you, or how many episodes of Chappelle Show you’ve watched you do not KNOW Black people. Who or what you listen to, read, or sleep with does not make you Black. Acting like you know everything about Black people because you have some Black friends or enjoy rap music is ignorant.
7) Black people are not pets, so don’t touch them without permission, or change your voice when you’re around them, or worse: automatically try to set them up with any Black person you know. This never works out. If you’re curious about their hair just ask, you’d be amazed at some of the stuff Black folks hear all day.
8) And finally: the best way to get along with Black people is to not be oblivious. Nothing annoys Black people more than White people who pretend racism doesn’t exist and then proclaim ignorance in the face of overwhelming evidence. Just because you don’t see it, or don’t want to see it, doesn’t mean Black people are paranoid or making things up. If you think about lesson 3 you should be good on this.
I know this talk has made you uncomfortable, but your mother/father and I believe that it’s better for you to hear this at home than learning about it on the streets or from your friends. Now go out to the park and make some Black friends! But just promise me you won’t cut through those trailer parks. I heard those people are all single moms and sell crystal meth.
DR. JASON JOHNSON, Politic365 Chief Political Correspondent, is a professor of Political Science at Hiram College in Ohio and author of the book Political Consultants and Campaigns: One Day to Sell. You can read more at www.drjasonjohnson.com or follow him on Twitter @Drjasonjohnson
Some(not all) people of color feel entitled to life time government benefits for the wrong that was done to their ancestors. No one can change history. You cannot go back and undo it. So do you wallow in it for all eternity or do you decide to move forward? Which is more beneficial?
My ancestors came from Ireland. Do a little research and see how they were treated. Worse than slaves and referred to as filthy drunken monkeys. I know that the people doing that were just ignorant but I don’t feel entitled to anything free and it only made my ancestors stronger by trying to prove them wrong. Look up how the Irish coming to America were treated. The Irish could have feel victim to this government. Instead, they went above and beyond to prove that they could be good hard working effective citizens. Now the USA even celebrates St. Patricks Day and everyone is claiming Irish blood! Who would have ever thought it? But, you have not choice but to move forward to be successful in life and more importantly for yourself and future generations.
While this may be true you as a present day Irish American are not being systematically discriminated against. Yes there is victory in over coming the struggle ;but when does the struggle end for African Americans and other people of color and not certain individuals who persevered despite the strgle.
Yeah, but the Irish were never bought and sold. They were, however, drunk and mean.
The problem is lumping everyone into the same category. All Irish are mean and drunk. Joe Kennedy was Irish. He was certainly mean. Barack Obama is President of the United States and he’s 1/2 black. There are MANY African-Americans and Black people who have gone “above and beyond to be good hard-working effective citizens” and there are MANY Irish who are still just drunk and mean. So what’s your point?
Seriously.. typical nigger bullshit propaganda. And I seriously mean that… its like the stupid kid in class that holds everyone else back but no one wants to hurt his feelings so we make excuses for him. Grow the fuck up and get with it. Life is supposed to be survival of the fittest but for some reason we forget this. Black or white you should reap what you personally work for.
I sincerely hope this was meant to be a joke.
“White People as a group have done terrible things to Blacks in this country”
A group of people who happened to be white did something awful to black people; since we are going to say something about slavery, did you know that 80% of slaves where sold in Africa by black people? Then to say that we are guilty because we benefit from it…. What do i benefit at all? Besides the opportunity to bust my ass for a living while there are perfectly healthy niggers out there raking in a welfare check to spend on some fucking tires that spin when you don’t move..
Something else that makes me so mad about niggers is that they cant take criticism at all. Even though all of this is the truth, not one black person will take this information that we give you and try and improve as a human being. They will throw their hands up ranting on about how racist I am; And the truth is, I’m not racist. I have several black friends who have the same point of view as I do.
One more thing, if a white person accidentally does something to a black person.. IT IS NOT FUCKING RACISM. White people feel like they are walking on egg shells around black people because they don’t want to have the Negros finger pointing at them. Any remark about race, its all of a sudden racism. Though black people can run around calling white people crackers and hicks, but that’s not racism is it?
You ARE a Racist. I know one when I see one. I’m white and from Montgomery, AL, so I am well familiar with bigots and white trash. You can say you’ve got black friends, but they couldn’t say the same. You are a sad, ignorant, pitiful little person. Just using the word “nigger” SHOUTS that you’re a racist. You can’t hide from who you are. But you can shut the hell up.
You say “not one black person” will take the information you’re giving them and try to improve. Are you retarded?? Barack Obama’s PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!! Who are you? A sad, pathetic, angry, little person (not sure if you’re a man or a woman). There are more black people with integrity, good hearts and souls, and better education than you than you can imagine. Why don’t you try to improve yourself? America would be a much better place if you and your kind would just shut up and work harder on being a better person instead of trying to put others down so you can feel like something.
Go back into your rental trailer in the trailer park and turn on Duck Dynasty or Wrestlin’ with your Bud Light and leave real Americans alone.
Now just a damn minute. I’m an educated white person, I’m in no way bigoted or racist, but I take great offense at you bad mouthing Duck Dynasty. It’s a very entertaining show. Get your head out of your butt and laugh at life a little. It might make you feel better about all the idiots out there that we have to deal with on a daily basis.
Teresa:
You ROCK, Girl!!
Keep nailing the bastids wherever you find them.
Unfortunately, if you’re still in AL, you’re in what we call a “target-rich” environment. Toss a pebble in Montgomery, and it’ll bounce off at least five racist heads before it falls to earth.
Robert
and you are a white black supremacist talking about ‘white trash’.
You wouldn’t dare talk about call black people ‘trash’.
Im not done yet.
http://www.youtube.com/user/5723michael
When you can understand this, we will no longer have racism.
Don’t hurt yourself watching this.
this is like back in the bible when the Egyptians in slaved the Hebrews only in this case the punishment effects generations. Funny how history repeats. Now a days it not race its more education now and who can be the best. At least thats how i see it
Your own people sold you into slavery meaning africans. Without pity from rich white people you would stil be slaves!
Wow. This thread really takes me back … back to one trip I was on thru a Southern State in the late 50s … Stars & Bars everywhere … no sign without misspelled words … no conversation that wasn’t filled with hatred of “niggers” … no conversation that rose to the level of a mentally-challenged 12 year-old … again, WOW! I thought all of you had died out by now. Wish I’d been right!
My fiance & I laughed while & after reading this article.
My apologies, but it was so unexpected to come across this.
I noticed a lot of negativity in the comments (of course).
Were all human beings, the past is in the past.
But if we want to get more realistic on this matter, I see a difference between black people & niggers. Unfortunately I come across more niggers than I do a black. Call me racist or whatever else you will.
When I was in high school it always seemed like every single trouble maker was black or “ghetto”. I’ve been threatened, harassed, & something they call “d blocked” (by someone who was obviously nigger which we use the word nigger as in “Ignorance”) I was sitting on a bench & opened my purse & they walked by & quickly grabbed money right out of my purse. After everything I had seen & gone through, I am racist. I’m racist against all different types of people & I’m sure everyone would like to know why.
The reason why: Most stereotypes are True. & I am a Christian & God forgive me. I just cant help it.
Using the past about “we were slaves!” Well I could use the same thing because I’m irish. The irish were slaves & treated like dirt, but you dont see us getting any type of special attention. I’m so sick of hearing & seeing the same thing come out of most mouths of a black.
I’ve gotta agree about the part about being Irish. I’m of Italian lineage, and I get sick of hearing all the “Whop” jokes, or how greasy we are, etc. It’s part of life. Get over it. You’re black, there’s nothing you can do about you color (Unless you’re Michael Jackson), so get over. All a person can do is try to better themselves. Quit crying about how whitey has hold you do. Quit whining about slavery. That’s been over for years. You’re going to run into bigots on a daily basis. Rise above it and become a better person. Then you can laugh in the face of that stupid “whop or mick or rughead” because you’re better than that.( Of course, if you’re better than that, you wouldn’t laugh in their face.)
When blacks stop being racist. they keep play race card and talking about being slaves when the blacks of today never been slaves. they know nothing about being slaves. They talk about slavery when they know nothing about being a slave they need to go asked a chinese what its like being a slaves. I think when black people stop being racist then whites and blacks will get along.
Not every black person plays the race card, and not every black person talks about being slaves. Maybe you need to expand your view of black people, we are not what you see on television. Blacks and Whites will get along when both sides stop seeing color. Be acceptable of the differences and know one or two people of a race are indicative of the entire race.
Bookmarking your site now! Only found this through google, thanks very much
Bookmarked your site, thanks for the blog!
Brilliant blog, thanks very much!
All of you nasty racist can kiss my blk beautif…….
This is the biggest bunch of crap I’ve ever heard. We don’t owe these niggers anything. They’re all living off the back of others because their mammies have taught them that it’s the white man’s fault they are the way they are. How about you fuckers get off your lazy asses and go to work. Better watch out, the mexicans want to kill all you jiggs.
“6) No matter [blah blah], you do not KNOW Black people.”
And yet somehow you think you KNOW White people.
At least enough to lecture them on what they should and shouldn’t be telling their kids.