(This is my first ever diary, so please forgive me if something doesn't look right. If you don't like the actual content, though, I have no excuse for that. ^_~)
I've noticed that there's a lot of talk about racism on here lately, since Armando's diary. Frankly, I'm glad it's being discussed. I think that there are a lot of areas where progressive people aren't as enlightened as they think they are.
More on the flip...
From reading the various diaries and comments, I can see where we seem to have come to an impasse. Non-whites are upset because they are so often treated as second class citizens in this country. (And often outside of the U.S. as well, but as I don't have much experience with that, I'll stick to what I know.) Whites do have it better than non-whites in just about every way. When we are racist, it can be far more harmful.
On the other hand, I can see why some white progressives get hurt or offended when they're accused of racism or being a part of some evil overlord race. Unfortunately, we have earned this reputation through our history and actions. The thing is, most of us average whites today are just normal people trying to get by, like everyone else. I've been turned down for jobs because, no matter how nicely I dress, I'm fat, and a lot of people just assume I'm lazy. I've also been turned down because I'm young and married, and I could get pregnant at any time. (Employers aren't supposed to ask about your family situation or marital status, but they find ways to do it, and if you make a fuss, you sure as hell aren't going to get the job.) And it goes without saying that I remove my lip ring and dye my hair a normal color before job interviews. When you're poor or in the wrong age bracket, or the wrong gender, it doesn't feel like being white is all that much of an advantage. So a lot of white people get upset when they're lumped in with the more affluent white people that treat them like trash, too. When people turn you down as a friend because you're poor or dress "weird" or your skin is the wrong color, it hurts, no matter who you are.
White people have to understand, though, that we generally do have an advantage. We average whites might not be in power, or have a chance at ever getting there, but the fact is that most of the people in control are white. If an employer had to choose between my punk ass or a non-white punk ass, guess who would probably win? All things being identical, aside from skin, I would probably have the upper hand because I'm white.
Each side needs to remember that generalization sucks. It's unfair to assume that all black people like watermelon, or something equally silly. But it's also unfair to assume that all white people are rich or are out to subjugate you. (Seriously, at a fast food job, I had a black guy ask why a rich white girl like me was working there. He was surprised to learn that I could barely afford to eat and was sharing a 350 sq ft hellhole of an apartment with my boyfriend.) And white people need to understand that while, as an individual, it feels like you'll never get ahead, there are people out there that have it worse than you do because they were born with a skin color that some people just don't care for.
I know what it's like to be treated unfairly. I had a friend dump me because I admitted that I'm bi. I've had to go out of my way to prove myself to teachers, employers, and my own family because of my weight, the way I dress, and the colors I dye my hair. But I realize that I'm also lucky. I can change the way I look. If I have to, I can keep my orientation a secret. But it's not so easy to change the color of your skin, and I admit that I probably can't begin to imagine what it's like to not be white in the United States. I've missed out on getting to know some people, because my skin color bothered them, and it hurt. But the way I see it, if my race had been more civil to people that didn't look like them, this wouldn't be happening. I guess it's just karma.