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White Paternalism Is Racism Too
The Federalist ^ | June 3, 2020 | Hannah Sillars

Posted on 06/03/2020 6:56:31 AM PDT by Kaslin

The riots in the wake of George Floyd’s killing have been decried by some black leaders, but you wouldn’t know it from listening to the media.

L. Joy Williams, president of the Brooklyn NAACP, tweeted Saturday, “I know that our anger and frustration is real. I feel it myself and I know it exists in my community and in Black people across this country. But my gut is telling me that something nefarious is going on here.”

Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP legal defense fund also tweeted: “Seeing some troubling clips. I hope that someone is putting together the clips of incidents from the various protests that appear to be perpetrated by ppl who are not protesting police violence but appear to have different motives and agendas.”

Read into their comments what you will — criticisms of Antifa or others — these voices have been effectively silenced. If only I had a dollar this week for every time a white social media influencer argued the riots are justified, or for every time a blue check mark begged their peers to acknowledge their privilege and fight broad-brush “systemic racism.”

Maybe I live in a particularly woke bubble. As the mother of two black children, I purposely follow other interracial families on social media to learn from their experiences. I also live in Waco, Texas, a place desperately hoping to overcome a deeply racist history. I am thoroughly surrounded by voices supporting rioters and bidding others to confess their privilege.

What I find in the place of overt racism, however, is aggressive paternalism. It is stunning to hear both public figures and my friends in the suburbs speaking sympathetically of the rioters. Arguing that black rioters or looters should be held to a lower standard than other Americans because of “black anger” is so patently racist, it confounds me.

“People didn’t cause the riots, the system did,” is a sentiment that denies agency. Statements denying that the African Americans rioting in Minneapolis, Oakland, and Atlanta have the will to make their own choices should shock us with their dehumanization. Yet these sentiments have gone positively viral thanks to the woke warriors of our time.

Worse still, these woke saviors draw attention away from the questions that ought to be asked about, say, police procedures. For example, the Military Times surveyed police departments across the United States and found that more than half give preference to applicants from the military. Another 2017 study of Miami and Boston police departments found that officers with military backgrounds were more likely to have a use-of-force complaint filed against them.

I am grateful to military veterans for their sacrifices. I’m not convinced, however, that a deployment to a battlefield in Fallujah translates well into policing the streets of American cities. While both are guardians of law and order, their approaches are different.

What happens to applicants who are not from military backgrounds? At least one police department in my area assigns non-military applicants to “do time” as correctional officers in prisons, a prerequisite to patrolling. What is it like for a correctional officer who guards known cartel members in prison, for instance, and then is reassigned to police a Hispanic neighborhood? Is that really a seamless transition?

These questions don’t deny that society needs law enforcement; they don’t imagine a progressive utopia wherein we can somehow survive without police. But these are the kind of practical policy questions we must be asking our local officials.

Instead, what’s popularly labeled “progress” is a repackaged white man’s burden. A white friend once told me she discusses race with her children “daily” because it’s the responsibility of having privilege. Never mind that exalting race to a daily catechesis might in fact serve to teach children that race is a fundamental factor in human worth — which is the very definition of racism. Elsewhere, I’ve seen the call for white people to “elevate black voices,” incidentally forging a new form of white saviorism. Paternalism is everywhere.

I am committed to anyone who will make America a more just place for my children to live. Like many Americans, I am hungry for it. It’s time for concrete efforts to end police brutality, rather than virtue-signaling social media campaigns. Point out bad policies. Propose solutions.

Some of us want to listen.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blmmovement; diversity; georgefloyd; lawenforcement; military; naacp; paternalism; police; policebrutality; protests; raceracism; rioters; riots
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1 posted on 06/03/2020 6:56:31 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

White Paternalism is White Supremacy.


2 posted on 06/03/2020 7:01:28 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople
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To: Kaslin

The only people who care about race are the racists.

I no longer have these discussions with people. If they try, I just keep asking them why they are racist, why they think race matters, why they choose to elevate one skin color over another? I don’t “engage” with them, I just demand answers. And I make it clear that I am entitled to demand answers because my position is morally superior to their position. And then they leave me alone, because they don’t have answers and don’t know how to play that game.


3 posted on 06/03/2020 7:03:38 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (If White Privilege is real, why did Elizabeth Warren lie about being an Indian?)
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To: Kaslin

“I know that our anger and frustration is real.”

I do not care.

“I feel it myself and I know it exists in my community and in Black people across this country.”

It is not my job to care.

“But my gut is telling me that something nefarious is going on here.”

When black people start marching on where the gang bangers (who are terrorizing black people every day) hang out and protesting them and even attacking them then something nefarious won’t be going on ... otherwise it’s just Left wing Bravo Sierra serving the race pimps, the DNC and other miscreants.


4 posted on 06/03/2020 7:04:40 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Kaslin

Life has no skin color. When God judges who is going to heaven and who is going to hell, he won’t determine it based on your pigmentation. Your soul doesn’t have one.


5 posted on 06/03/2020 7:04:46 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Kaslin
Point out bad policies. Propose solutions.

I haven't heard of a single riot supporter who proposed to change bad policies or proposed solutions.

6 posted on 06/03/2020 7:06:12 AM PDT by libertylover (Socialism will always look good to those who think they can get something for nothing.)
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To: Kaslin

... also the Asian chick with the Arbery sign has really nice legs.

Just saying....


7 posted on 06/03/2020 7:06:32 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Kaslin

The two women in the front of your picture remind me of the women in the famous German "Refugees Welcome" picture. Commendable thoughts, but limited comprehension of the big picture.

I could see turning out for the first protest, but not ever again after the first riot. Or, after New Year's eve in Cologne.

8 posted on 06/03/2020 7:06:56 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Kaslin

Real happiness is only possible with earned success.

White liberals rob people of earned success by giving (false) success.
It’s about control. It’s worse than slavery.


9 posted on 06/03/2020 7:09:11 AM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt
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To: Rurudyne

‘... also the Asian chick with the Arbery sign has really nice legs.’

she’s hot as a pistol...


10 posted on 06/03/2020 7:19:00 AM PDT by IrishBrigade
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To: Kaslin

ANTIFA in their own words: Lara Logan breaks down the dangerous movement!
http://video.foxnews.com/v/6161084023001/
Do YOU know anyone who supports or defends thugs whose credo is “Liberty begins when AMERICA DIES”? They’re DEMOCRATS. Get as far away from them as you can. They’re going to jail!


11 posted on 06/03/2020 7:21:28 AM PDT by Dick Bachert (THE DEEP STATE HATES YOU!)
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To: Kaslin

We need a government that vehemently promotes the concept in our Constitution of equal justice and ALL LIVES matter. No exceptions.


12 posted on 06/03/2020 7:24:30 AM PDT by apoliticalone (What ideology is represented by a Govt that panders to thugs and closes barber shops run by 80 yo?)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Spot On!


13 posted on 06/03/2020 7:25:39 AM PDT by New Perspective (Proud father of a son with Down Syndrome and fighting to keep him off Obama's death panels.)
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To: Kaslin

White Paternalism is a natural extension of no responsibility culture of the left. So I’m not surprised.


14 posted on 06/03/2020 7:35:55 AM PDT by Bayard
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To: ClearCase_guy
The only people who care about race are the racists. I no longer have these discussions with people. If they try, I just keep asking them why they are racist, why they think race matters, why they choose to elevate one skin color over another? I don’t “engage” with them, I just demand answers. And I make it clear that I am entitled to demand answers because my position is morally superior to their position. And then they leave me alone, because they don’t have answers and don’t know how to play that game.

Partner, Great post and you r 100% correct!!!

15 posted on 06/03/2020 7:54:49 AM PDT by TheConservativeTejano (God Bless Texas...)
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To: Kaslin

Step 1, don’t commit crime.


16 posted on 06/03/2020 7:57:08 AM PDT by NativeSon ( What Would Virginia Do? #WWVD)
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To: Kaslin

Doing a short training stint in the local prison for cops is a good thing. They get to know who the criminals are for when they’re let back out onto the streets and it shows who runs to hide vs. who has the guts to serve and protect. That said, I’ve never heard of that so it may be a new requirement or a lie.

Ya know, I’ve apparently been doing my shopping wrong all these many years. I shop at stores where I know or hope they have the items I’m looking for. Apparently, I’ve neglected to go down to the Chamber of Commerce and request a list of black owned businesses. Not Asian or Hispanic or Indian or whatever. Just black owned and am required to only shop at those establishments. I dunno, but that somehow screams racist.


17 posted on 06/03/2020 9:01:45 AM PDT by bgill (Idiots. CDC site doesn't recommend wearing a mask to protect from COVID-19)
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To: MuttTheHoople

This is true, some whites don’t expect blacks to obey the law ... “What I find in the place of overt racism, however, is aggressive paternalism. It is stunning to hear both public figures and my friends in the suburbs speaking sympathetically of the rioters. Arguing that black rioters or looters should be held to a lower standard than other Americans because of “black anger” is so patently racist, it confounds me.“


18 posted on 06/03/2020 10:58:21 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
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To: bgill

Here’s, a cringe worthy moment. Someone in our neighborhood Facebook page asked what black owned restaurants she could be a patron of. Women were all chiming in. I posted a meme of yoda saying the white guilt is strong with this one. They didn’t like that.


19 posted on 06/03/2020 11:04:06 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
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To: NotchJohnson

snicker


20 posted on 06/03/2020 11:09:13 AM PDT by bgill (Idiots. CDC site doesn't recommend wearing a mask to protect from COVID-19)
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