You May Be Racist If...

Everytime someone says to a person of color, "it's a joke," "you are overreacting," or even, "politics don't effect me," they are contributing to the sustainability of racism. Racism isn't only violence and racial slurs it is the minimization of one's account and microaggressions. I once had someone tell me that I am too quick to label people racist, that they make one comment and I automatically deem them as such however I don't think that individual understood the variety that racism comes in. The complexity of this ancient system of oppression. So I've complied a list of comments and behaviors that are indicative of racist beliefs and behaviors.

1. You may be a racist if, you focus more on intent rather than impact. For instance, you say something that offends someone. The marginalized group member informs you that they were offended and rather than apologize or appear contrite you continue to defend your comment by saying, "well I only meant to....fill in the blank." Your intention in this moment is irrelevant because the impact is what matters. The best of intentions do not make the offended party feel any better. Stop arguing your case and listen to what the impact of your words or actions was.

2. You may be racist if, you refuse to discuss racial discrimination or injustices because it makes you uncomfortable. This comes from a place of privilege but it also perpetuates racism. Racism exists in the shadows and when you ignore it, it denies, belittles, and ignores people's very discriminatory experiences. How can there be change if we never actually talk about the issue?

3. You may be racist if, you deny that you have privilege. Even me, a black queer woman has privilege in the smallest sense, but I acknowledge the fact that in some places I can walk down the street with my partner and not be heckled because from the outside our relationship looks heteronormative. That is not something that all couples can do. So when you don't recognize that you have any privilege you are contributing to the idea that we are all equal and none of us struggle more than others. Again this perpetuates the idea that racism is no longer real, that people of color aren't still fighting for equality.

4. You may be racist if, you don't believe that cultural appropriation is real. If you dress up as a Native American on Halloween and think it's funny to perpetuate stereotypes, you may be racist.

5. You may be racist if, you are more offended by people who want to change the name and mascot of the Washington Redskins (and all the other racist team and mascots that exist) than by the team name itself.

6. You may be racist if, you are burning your Nike's because Colin Kapernick is now their spokesperson. If you are more offended by NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem to protest the unlawful killing and brutality forced upon black people by law enforcement than by the brutality itself, ask yourself why. The answer may be that you don't believe black lives matter and that black people should be grateful they are even allowed to exist. And those black players should be grateful that they are playing in the league, well all that is, is white supremacy.

7. You may be racist if, as an educator you force your students to code switch because you believe your way of doing things is simply better and what they are bringing from their life experience is worthless and doesn't belong in the classroom. Paternalistic practices like dress codes, speaking behavior, and punctuality are all described as preparing students for the real world when truly it shows that educators value one culture over another. English only initiatives and Euro-centric curriculum are prime examples. Hierarchy has no place in education.

8. You may be racist if, you view political policies as completely separate from people's lives. When you say things like, "it doesn't matter who you vote for," or "quit using identity politics," you are denying the very real history that has oppressed people of color, queer people, and people with disabilities for centuries.  All things that were deemed legal at the time like slavery, voting rights, employment opportunities, marriage, school funding, and immigration reform, all of those things were written into law to perpetuate racism. Politics and quality of life are inherently linked.

9. You may be racist if, you say things like, "we are all the human race," "I'm colorblind," "why can't we all just get along," and "all lives matter." These comments are rarely, if ever, made towards a nonmarginalized group member but almost always to a person of color who is attempting to explain an egregious event that happened to them. Even when a person of color is trying to advocate for a center or support network for marginalized group members, they are denied and told one of these platitudes. This not only minimizes their struggle but it dismisses them. Yes, we people of color understand that we are all the human race but we also know that since our birth we were treated as though we are different, less than, and that our lives do not matter.  These comments often lead to victim-blaming and denial, two pillars of racism. The comment,"I'm not racist," is often the comment of someone who is in fact racist. If you aren't racist you don't find the need to state it. This comment is often a defense or a prelude to an extremely racist comment much like the person playing devil's advocate during a conversation about race or racial injustice.

10. You may be racist if, you argue that there are, two sides. When you see racial violence and say, "well there are two sides," you are correct. There is the side that is fighting for equal rights and the side that believes the color of one's skin means they don't deserve them. So yes, while there are two sides they are not equal. One is fighting for justice while the other is fighting to keep justice from being served, fighting to continue the oppression of marginalized peoples.

While many of the things on this list are not as bad as others it is imperative that we understand how they are all linked. How microaggressions may not seem as bad as cross burnings or lynchings but how they are all apart of the same systemic oppression that is racism. And if we accept one we are so very close to accepting the other. In the words of Angela Davis, "In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist we must be anti-racist."