Several months ago, someone said something to me that stuck. But then it was amplified after more racists came out of the woodwork after the Charlottesville incident.
No one THINKS they are a racist. I mean, other than the ones parading around right now as Neo-Nazis and KKK members. They of course, admit it. Charles Barkley once said that he'd rather deal with a Klan member because he KNEW how he felt about him. He wasn't so sure about everyone else. And he's got a point. The KKK may be dangerous, but at least you know where they stand. Currently, 35% of the people in this country stand firmly behind President Trump. Now, I doubt that entire group is supportive of a racist attitude, but let's say it's half of that. Still a lot. But we don't know who they are. They live and walk among us. But we can't deal directly with them because they could be anyone. They're neighbors, co-workers, soccer moms, restaurant owners, and everything in between. But I bet if you asked them they don't think they're a racist. They say things like:
"I don't hate ALL black people, just the ones who deserve it".
"Why do they have to act like that?"
"All the crime is in the black neighborhoods"
As bad as these are, there's one statement that really flags them:
"I'm not a racist, I have black friends"
That's the clue. If you have to justify what you say as being OK by stating that you have black friends, that seems to be the last ditch effort to convince others (as well as themselves) that you should accept their words. It's OK, I have the blessing of other blacks to say these racist things. The problem is, they think of those "black friends" as black first and friends second. Racists identify everyone by traits. And first and foremost, race is how they first describe them.
Be wary of those who say they have "black friends". They carry racism as a recessive gene. They just don't know it.
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