"I understand the injustice of this of course, but there's simply no other way forward. The only other option is to convince people whose sole purpose is to hurt you to stop trying to hurt you. Obviously this is a losing strategy.
"Words have exactly as much power as we give them."
"I understand the injustice of this of course, but there's simply no other way forward. The only other option is to convince people whose sole purpose is to hurt you to stop trying to hurt you. Obviously this is a losing strategy.
"Words have exactly as much power as we give them."
And:
"But I think we should also be doing everything we can to teach people, especially young people, that words by themselves DON'T have power."
And especially:
"We decide whether to buy into their beliefs about us. We decide how much power to give them.
"I suggest we give them none."
Along those lines, I think it's time for people to see the word "racist" for what it is. (Or should I say, the "r-word." ;-) TY, Steve.
"Along those lines, I think it's time for people to see the word "racist" for what it is."
The word "racist" definitely gets thrown around too lightly nowadays. But it's not *purely* an empty insult. Unlike a ni**er, a racist is a real, definable thing. And it's also true that some people are racist not out of malice, but because they've never really thought about their beliefs/attitudes.
Great post. These were my favorite parts:
"I understand the injustice of this of course, but there's simply no other way forward. The only other option is to convince people whose sole purpose is to hurt you to stop trying to hurt you. Obviously this is a losing strategy.
"Words have exactly as much power as we give them."
And:
"But I think we should also be doing everything we can to teach people, especially young people, that words by themselves DON'T have power."
And especially:
"We decide whether to buy into their beliefs about us. We decide how much power to give them.
"I suggest we give them none."
Along those lines, I think it's time for people to see the word "racist" for what it is. (Or should I say, the "r-word." ;-) TY, Steve.
"Along those lines, I think it's time for people to see the word "racist" for what it is."
The word "racist" definitely gets thrown around too lightly nowadays. But it's not *purely* an empty insult. Unlike a ni**er, a racist is a real, definable thing. And it's also true that some people are racist not out of malice, but because they've never really thought about their beliefs/attitudes.
No, not purely an empty insult.
What I'm referring to, mainly, isn't an insult but a threat. If someone is (perceived as) a racist, someone can get fired these days, right? Why else this story? https://www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit-professor-suspended-redacted-slurs-law-school-exam-sues-university-illinois-chicago
And the one about the rock and U. of Wisconsin-Madison? Why else would the admin cave? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/opinion/antiracism-university-wisconsin-rock.html
(I agree with Professor McWhorter, BTW:)
"Yes, racism persists in our society in many ways, and administrators serving up craven condescension as antiracism are fine examples of it."