The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #147392 Message #3416482
Posted By: Little Hawk
08-Oct-12 - 02:40 PM
Thread Name: BS: Slavery is a blessing in disguise
Subject: RE: BS: Slavery is a blessing in disguise
It helps to know the territory, Bobert. A lot of middle class white people or white people from small towns and rural places are completely unfamiliar with the inner city territory that you were working in. Therefore they feel out of place there, and that makes them nervous. That could be interpreted by a local as them being "a racist", couldn't it? And they might get in trouble in a situation where you wouldn't, because they seem uncomfortable or uncertain...they appear to be an easy target to someone inclined to take advantage.
That doesn't mean they are racists. It means they are on unfamiliar ground. Furthermore, I've seen people of every of color who may carry great prejudice against people of another group...meaning great fear of them. It's not an attitude restricted only to whites. Prejudice is an attitude that can infect you no matter what color you are.
Your own lack OF fear is the best protection you can have in a tricky situation...but to be afraid does not automatically classify you as "a racist". It just means you're afraid, period. That's not a sin. It's a problem, allright, but it's not a sin.