Dear White People…

Now, believe me, I know y’all are largely intelligent, curious, moral (or at the very least, expert, differently moral) people. I know that you are good at your chosen professions and passionate and ecstatic at your chosen hobbies. I know that you are capable people who really wish to and by and large do do good in the world.

But here’s my question (as a curious, skeptical, critically-thinking non-white person):

I know that many of your own (arguably somewhat) white people have posited that doing the same thing more than once and expecting different is insane, and I know that almost all (with certainly notable exceptions) of you are capable of critical thinking toward making the world a more just and equitable place.

So I ask you, why, if in mutual communication and potential bridge building with non-white folks, things have gotten to the point where non-white folks are writing long-winded political satire about how conversations with you white folks go (and have been doing so for several years, I note), have you not started to, en masse, figure out how to build the bridges you keep saying you want?

The tools for your self-education arguably exist. I’ve showcased Tim Wise before (who, as a white man, may be able to get a message or to across that I myself have tired of trying to deliver myself). There are of course many other white anti-racists out there as well, should you need a role model. In fact, if you were to use Uncle Google and search the phrase “white anti-racist” you would indeed find such examples without my help, and might find that those folks’ messages and poltical toolboxes worked more to your liking.

I should also note that additionally, all of my white friends have demonstrated the capability of self-criticism necessary to self-educate and are, in fact, still my friends after having met and hung out with me, so I know that what I am asking about is not an impossible task.

With all of these good tools for self-educating, please let me know why it’s still OK for white folks to get angry and hostile and to throw up their hands when challenged for their privileged, ignorant shit by an articulate and reasonable non-white person.