Thank you for that post - and for reminding me this is the true path to establishing genuine bonds between groups who are being encouraged to distrust the “other”
I constantly have to remind myself...I feel myself assuming prejudiced against me all the time...I find myself scared sometimes to say things outright..what I found is that when I say it the way I want, I am respected... I NEVER use the term African American— NUHUH! no way!
If anyone tries to correct me(which is very rare), I laugh- and say that I have honestly never met anyone born in Africa. I think most black folks I know feel like you are being fake when you say African American, they know you are uncomfortable...
I ask things like, “What is it with black folks smoking Newports? Never see ya’ll smoking Marlboro.” I let them know I smoke Newport lights, cause that other stuff tastes like cardboard..they laugh and agree!
We need to let go of the BS we are fed- on both sides- white and black, that the “other” is the problem, racist, etc....
It starts with each of us- one white hand and black hand joined together at a time...
and thank you for your response, I half expected folks to blast me- LOL!