One of the phrases that was most repeated to me when I first started posting here about racial issues, was I was preaching to the choir! That meant (I assumed) that people here enlightened and didn’t need to know about systemic racism, social justice and the likes because they were all over that stuff with bells on.
These last few days I’ve been venturing out of my comfort zone and reading other people’s entries, sometimes I comment most times I don’t but I do Rec’ed. Suffice it to say, I’m not really much of a talker. Thus on my adventures I started to notice some curious phrasings and at first I let things slide brushing them off, the choir after all had assured me of their readiness.
But today I read a diary (a couple of days old) discussing the burning of that plantation… and I am sorry that I have to inform you that the choir isn’t as ready as y’all thought. Below are 5 quotes, 3 taken from the plantation diary, 2 from other diaries. I could have picked more but I stopped at those five quotes.
Why those five? Well because except maybe for that 5th one, on the surface the 4 others seem innocent enough and I’m 100% certain those who coined them were utterly unaware of the racism hidden within.
“During apartheid, game rangers were threatening, after the end of apartheid the game parks were taken over by Blacks who were much nicer and were able to maintain the parks well.”
- What’s wrong with this phrase?
- Well is there a reason Black folks (not Blacks) would not have been “able” to “maintain the parks well”? Since they were the ones who previously kept the parks well maintained only now were also in charge not just workers?
“People can and do see beyond his being Black, just like they did with Obama.”
- Hmm ouf.
- Why is it necessary to see past someone being Black? Can they not be Black and qualified? Is Being Black something to overlook or overcome?
“It seems to me that more white people need to simply know Black people---the data is pretty clear that a majority of white Americans do not---and start to see that they’re real people with the same concerns as anyone else.”
- Hate to break it to you, but most white people who know Black folks, who marry Black folks, who have Black friends… are still racist.
“I think I am pretty accepting and fought with my Mom in high school about going to the movies with a black girl from my class”
- Accepting I know it’s widely used in the context of acceptance, but frankly when you refer to people it’s a word that should be avoided. Think about it, usually when it doesn’t concern minorities…. What’s after accepting… ? The only reason one says they accept a person is “despite their flaws” or “the way they are” again meaning flaws and all… being Black or a minority is not a flaw.
“Sucked into privilege?” What is that supposed to mean? Drop out of school or quit your job developing software, or maybe as a lawyer or doctor and work a fast food service job so you don’t take advantage of privilege?”
- Now this one I hope most will still see why it’s problematic. Where to start is the hic
- This person when talking about white privilege went straight to the stereotypes… should they drop out of school, quit their jobs, work in a low paying job as not to be privilege and they assume more like a Black person, cause we all know them lazy Black folks don’t stay in school and work at McDonald’s right?
- Thing is… white privilege ain’t about money. It’s about how white folks are treated with respect, afforded the benefit of the doubt, are innocent until proven guilty etc…
Now it’s past 5 pm my preaching time is done, see y’all next Sunday for more preaching!
NB this ain’t to offend anyone but to point out how easily people slip into a certain style of parlance, using words and turns of phrases that are demeaning without them even realizing it.
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#ThePoet - Muriel Vieux – May 18th, 2025, ©All rights reserved
