“I’M NOT RACIST, YOU ARE!!!!!”

On visceral reactions, “Beckyism,” and defensive deafness.

Reverse racism or sexism are forms of silencing techniques used by white people and men in an effort to derail or obfuscate conversations regarding white supremacy. Claiming racism against white people or sexism against men is an inherently racist or sexist act. (image found here. Image copyright: BLOXIMAGES.NEWYORK1.VIP.TOWNNEWS.COM)

Firstly, let me state my doctorate is in Palaeopathology and not Feminism, Queer Studies, or African-American studies, so this is not likely to be the most academic of works. With that said, I’ve noted a lot of failures in white people addressing racism and in men addressing feminism and sexism. If you are white or male or if you hit the trifecta of privilege that is being a white hetero male I need to let you in on a secret: men do not experience sexism, white people don’t experience racism, and straight people don’t experience homophobia.

Racism and sexism are institutional. So sure, every now and then you’re going to hear a woman say, “men are the worst,” or a black person say, “wow, the caucasity of that woman!” These are not racist or sexist statements. These are expressions of frustration with a biased and unequal system which permeates every aspect of life. And calling these statements of frustration racist or sexist is inherently racist or sexist. It’s tone policing. Which is a form of white supremacy.

(image sourced here: Credit Campus Report)

Now, I need to also rip the band-aid off. You’re racist and sexist. If you’re white you’re definitely…