Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Bumface
Totally understood, and totally fair, but if you choose to, I think there is value in still interacting with those people.
As social interactions have become less physical and more online, we get to pick who we surround ourselves with, and naturally it's more likeminded people. It makes it easy to ignore and hate those that don't think like us.
Physical community is a vital way to change hearts/minds. As a person of colour, you may have a racist neighbour. People are generally less forthcoming in their views of hate in person. You may chat with your neighbour here and there as you're out mowing the lawn or whatever. Those interactions let your neighbour see you as a person, and may be the first step to changing their views.
That said, it could also just be a source of negative interactions for you, so you may say #### that neighbour and just have nothing to do with them, and that's totally reasonable
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Absolutely agreed on your point about physical community. And while very admirable, I’d extend this kind of effort if the white moderate would also be willing to do so.
I’m sure most of us have heard of this quote from MLK before:
“ First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”