Racism 101: Are you a Racist?

Ever been in a racial discussion with a white person and had them say this to you? They say the N-Word because you just said it in the conversation. Yeah, that person is not your friend.

To say this word and not be a black person, is wrong. There is no exception. Not ever. None.

People know this. All of them. All races. All genders. All of them.

Yet, every once in a while you’ll hear one of your “Non-racist” white friends throw it out there. Not in that general “Well, black people say it so I should get to say it” kind of way. Not even in a racial slur kind of way. They say it in a way that they think they can get away with it. They say it in a way that (they think) you would be wrong to get upset over.

The racial discussion.

You say something like “Racism is more than someone calling me a nigger” and they then continually repeat that sentence in some form or fashion. This is a trick. That person is not your friend.

I know, you think I am being to cut and dry with this one, right? No, I’m not. Just as I believe everyone knows that it is not okay to say the word if you are not black, I also believe that those same people know that they can’t say it in ANY variation or ANY context.

They know. If they said it, they did it to see how you would react to it. If you say something against it, I would be willing to bet that their reply would be something along the lines of “Well, you just said it.” 

THAT PERSON IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.

Finally, if you have any doubts about this, think of it this way, even if they are the kind of person that would suddenly think it’s okay to say (in this particular context) just because you just said it, then they are the kind of person that would CHOSE to deny the history of that word. 

There is never any excuse. Not because you say it. Not because a rapper says it. Not because the conversation is about race. 

No excuse. Not ever.