I think you bring up a good point (or maybe I just read into it). A lot of what I learned about the Civil Rights Movement was about how it mostly happened in the south. Nobody explicitly said “that’s where all the racists are,” but it felt like that. Now, I grew up in one of the most diverse schools in the country, so much so that we had a POTUS at one of our high school graduations because they felt we were such a great example. The problems of racism always felt so far away to me.
Yeah my school was more “white moderates” if you will. I’m still unlearning that style of racism. As a private catholic school in an extremely white area it felt natural at the time, but when I moved elsewhere I learned the disservice done by lack of exposure to black folks.
I suppose it may be that us northern white folks were made to feel like the good guys. But like it’s not hard to find people to emphasize with on the right side of history, even if you’re only looking for people who look and sound like you. Antiracism has always been a multiracial coalition.
I think you bring up a good point (or maybe I just read into it). A lot of what I learned about the Civil Rights Movement was about how it mostly happened in the south. Nobody explicitly said “that’s where all the racists are,” but it felt like that. Now, I grew up in one of the most diverse schools in the country, so much so that we had a POTUS at one of our high school graduations because they felt we were such a great example. The problems of racism always felt so far away to me.
Yeah my school was more “white moderates” if you will. I’m still unlearning that style of racism. As a private catholic school in an extremely white area it felt natural at the time, but when I moved elsewhere I learned the disservice done by lack of exposure to black folks.
I suppose it may be that us northern white folks were made to feel like the good guys. But like it’s not hard to find people to emphasize with on the right side of history, even if you’re only looking for people who look and sound like you. Antiracism has always been a multiracial coalition.