Love this idea! As a Jew, I've had antisemitic tropes said to my face by supposed friends. When confronted, they said "oh, I didn't mean you" as if that excused it. Perhaps that can be a subchapter.
Phil Ochs has a biting satirical song from the early 60s called "Love Me, I'm a Liberal," where he points out the hypocrisy of people who claim to be non-racist liberals but give themselves away by the things they say or think.
We still have these types of "liberals" in the Democratic Party - the ones who always vote Democratic but are now up in arms about Mamdani being the Dem nominee for mayor of NYC (and that goes for some of our leaders, too, who are refusing to endorse him).
So perhaps a chapter would be:
"Of course I love Democracy, as long as the right people are elected." (I'm sure you can do better on the headline).
I respond to the comment, ' but I have black friends' by asking if they have been to their homes, know their children, cooked a meal together or watched a movie. If not, they aren't friends...just acquaintances.
Seriously though, a book like this and maybe a pamphlet with a list of what not to do. Place them around a town you know there’s problems. Coffee shops, display at the pharmacies in town. Anywhere people gather. Libraries, VFW, Moose Lodge. Whatever it takes. When you read something often enough, you know. Awesomeness.
I agree that Shut The Hell Up should be the first chapter. They have to be able to do that to listen to the rest. And maybe include Tim Minchin's song "Prejudice" as an object lesson.
I have to applaud all the chapters but #3 hits close to home. Love Lisa MT618's suggestion of pamphlets to leave around. Even single sheets printed on both sides would be beneficial and handy. Please activate this idea. It's a winner.
Love this idea! As a Jew, I've had antisemitic tropes said to my face by supposed friends. When confronted, they said "oh, I didn't mean you" as if that excused it. Perhaps that can be a subchapter.
They always mean somebody else. Don't they realize that everybody is a somebody!
They didn't even realize it was hurtful in any way
Definitely.
Did you ssk who they meant?
I should have
Next time you will.
Ask
My vote for chapter one is the “Shut the hell up” chapter. White (supremacist) noise drowns out all meaningful conversation.
Phil Ochs has a biting satirical song from the early 60s called "Love Me, I'm a Liberal," where he points out the hypocrisy of people who claim to be non-racist liberals but give themselves away by the things they say or think.
https://genius.com/Phil-ochs-love-me-im-a-liberal-lyrics
We still have these types of "liberals" in the Democratic Party - the ones who always vote Democratic but are now up in arms about Mamdani being the Dem nominee for mayor of NYC (and that goes for some of our leaders, too, who are refusing to endorse him).
So perhaps a chapter would be:
"Of course I love Democracy, as long as the right people are elected." (I'm sure you can do better on the headline).
Chapter 8: "There Wasn't Any Racism Until You Started Talking About Racism"
I respond to the comment, ' but I have black friends' by asking if they have been to their homes, know their children, cooked a meal together or watched a movie. If not, they aren't friends...just acquaintances.
Seriously though, a book like this and maybe a pamphlet with a list of what not to do. Place them around a town you know there’s problems. Coffee shops, display at the pharmacies in town. Anywhere people gather. Libraries, VFW, Moose Lodge. Whatever it takes. When you read something often enough, you know. Awesomeness.
3. Old, White, and Wrong: Why Age Is Not a Racism Hall Pass
Gets my vote. That's essentially the whole Republican MAGA party.
It’s a tie between 3 and 4. In an interracial marriage for 35yrs…. These
are two (of several) pet peeves:
* my parents were racist and I was brought up to fear Black men (says a 70 something woman -and others - who is of the age to make her own choices…
* I’m not racist , I have a Black friend, Black coworker, etc. Ugh 😑
It's ironic that people who are racist are always the ones who feel they have to say they're NOT racist.
My personal fave "but I didn't mean you."
I agree that Shut The Hell Up should be the first chapter. They have to be able to do that to listen to the rest. And maybe include Tim Minchin's song "Prejudice" as an object lesson.
There are songs that relate to this. I propose a song list be included in the book.
Just in case they're not going to read much, can we start with #7? 7. Shut the Hell Up: The Art of Not Speaking When You Don’t Know Anything
And can we get sticky notes of these points and post them around towns, restrooms. inside library books, etc.
I have to applaud all the chapters but #3 hits close to home. Love Lisa MT618's suggestion of pamphlets to leave around. Even single sheets printed on both sides would be beneficial and handy. Please activate this idea. It's a winner.
Damn good idea. Keep it simple. If they can read at all it’s at a third grade level.
You are being generous...3rd grade. Maybe it needs pictures!
Do you watch the show "Resident Alien"? Maybe a series of pictures, as at the beginning of the show, that demonstrate (facetiously) cause and effect?
That might be too obscure for the intended audience...
My input, in order:
1. “I’m Not Racist, But…”
5. Intent vs. Impact
7. Shut the Hell Up
Etc.
Another brilliant satire by CttE.
Definitely a chapter called “You people.”
Subtitled "Better to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
This is probably a subchapter of I'm not racist but or "my black friend' I'm not racist, some of my best friends are... (black, Mexican, gay, etic)