The problem of White Supremacy - Spinoff from Buffalo Shooting thread
"Wait, there's more proof?!" LOL.
I've asked multiple times if there are more than the two videos, both of which I've watched multiple times. Even though more than one person has referred to more evidence and "all the videos," the only response I've gotten is you mocking me. So if there are other videos out there showing Sesame Place parks possibly showing racist behavior, no, I have not seen them.
This is why I said what I said. Good white folks, like yourself, and I mean that genuinely, not sarcastically, are the problem. You know systemic racism exists. But, instead of your default being to believe us, it's always, "eh, I don't see it, I don't experience, I'll need to see more." And, even if you get more, it's "well, I would handle it like this" or "I wouldn't do that."
Until yall become real allies in this fight, the status quo will remain just that.
I appreciate the sentiment and I do appreciate your perspective. The problem I have is that it seems as if you are asking me (society) to make the default to be to believe you (the accuser). So, from my perspective, you are asking me to ignore all of the other situational facts and first assume that, since I know that systemic racism exists and racism is a possibility, it's more than likely the case. That seems less a logical way of looking at things and a more emotional one. That doesn't feel like justice to me, even if it's only in the court of opinion. As we all know, eventually, inevitably, the court of public opinion seeps into the halls of justice. I'm not sure I am capable of putting aside my instincts like that, but that also doesn't mean that I cannot be your ally.
As for "seeing it, experiencing it," yes, I have both seen and experienced first hand, racism and discrimination both perpetuated on others (minorities) and myself (not racial discrimination). I doubt that it's on the same level as everyone else & very definitely not on the level of the general minority population. But I have seen it & I have experienced it and I do know what it looks like. So, if I say that I don't see something that you do, it's not necessarily because I am not capable of seeing it. Also, if I say that I would handle something differently, that's simply human nature. All of us have an idea of how we would handle a situation and typically it's to change the outcome to something that we would consider favorable to us. Different people have different perspectives of what they consider favorable, so obviously the advice may be taken in different ways.
I, mean, that's a bit Mufasa talking to Simba, aloft Pride Rock isn't it? "All you see is yours, except that one spot. Elephant graveyard. You can't go there." You really think Daddy zebra is having the same conversation with Zebra Jr. "If that happened to my child..." That's the whole point! It's not happening to yall/your kids! Of course your assumption is that it isn't purposeful. If it does happen, it probably wasn't. Unfortunately, minority parents don't get to make that assumption. Sooner or later, yall are gonna have to accept our experiences are different. We know when it's benign and when it isn't because it regularly happens to us. WE, one more time, WE know the difference. You gonna believe us or nah?
I'll take "Nah" for $1000 Alex! "It happens to all of us!" "We all go through it!" Like I said, if we all live long enough to see that societal shoe on the other foot, keep that same energy. Remember, we need more proof and if that's provided, we all go through it.
Mufasa on pride rock? I think you have a much higher opinion of my status in society than I do. If you're a zebra, I'm certainly not the king of your domain nor even close to it.
You say you know the difference, but do you really? Certainly when it's blatant, but in every situation do you know the difference? Take for instance this case with this lady and her children, do you know for a certainty that it was more than likely due to racial bias? Do you know anything about the person who perpetuated that racial bias? Is she even white or is she of another race? I assume she wasn't black, but only because the park didn't immediately throw that out there in damage control. Are you so willing to assume that she was racially biased based on what you've seen and the fact that you know that racial biases exist? What if it wasn't racial bias? What if it happened exactly as she said it did? Do you think it's justice for her to have to go through all of this based on the evidence you have? If this thing ends up going to court, which it won't because Sesame Street wouldn't dare risk more bad publicity by taking this lady to court over this, then it's more than likely this young girl's identity will come out. If the situation happened as she said it happened & she really didn't ignore the kids on purpose, do you think that will really matter? Are you prepared for her to be held accountable whether she is truly guilty or not? Because that is what will happen. Her life will be turned upside down over this whether it's deserved or not, if it hasn't already.
Let me ask this: If you are a park manager, what is your solution to this problem? You can give all the sensitivity training you want, but inevitably another minority child will be overlooked and the assumption will immediately be racial bias. Then you're right back where you started, being accused of systemic racial bias within your park. How can you possibly fix that?