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There is no such thing as being "not racist," says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. In this vital conversation, he defines the transformative concept of antiracism to help us more clearly recognize, take responsibility for and reject prejudices in our public policies, workplaces and personal beliefs. Learn how you can actively use this awareness to uproot injustice and inequality in the world — and replace it with love. (This virtual interview, hosted by TED's current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers and speaker development curator Cloe Shasha, was recorded June 9, 2020.)
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“Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.”
― Joseph Fort Newton
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.
@Ok:overall Knowledge it’s almost like vigirously attacking someones past and removing historical figures, & attacking what amounts to iconic fiction might feel like a racist attack.
@Optical Clarity the Nazis were National Socialists, not Democratic Socialists. There’s a massive difference there. Please don’t feel obligated to speak on topics you aren’t educated on.
Tell that to those 100 people that were just murdered by boko haram yesterday.
“Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented”
– Elie Wiesel
Optical Clarity you’re not the only one who thinks this way. I still consider myself independent but align in values more so with today’s conservatives. The democrats feel stifling, and their culture today is draining on the soul. They want everyone to feel guilt and oppression. When I see white protestors on their knees shackled together I can’t help to think how counter this message is to the growth in our country. I’ve come to believe that today’s democrats are no different than the Dixiecrats of the civil war era with their hate and oppression. They have now just masked their tactics of race baiting, hatred, oppression into “reform” rather than open slavery- it’s as you said indoctrination of belief that the “master” democrats are the righteous. Funny thing is people like you and me who call the democrats out are labeled the worse of names it reminds me of the allegory of the cave by Plato.
@Optical Clarity you’ve simply swallowed the bs of one side, while both are in the wrong, repubs are terrible, democrats are too they are just better at hiding it, as a people we need to excise the old leaders that only act in order to secure they’re positions and own personal gain
Subby indeed. We should all speak against black supremacy.
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.
Muhammad Ali
I agree. That is why I speak out often against the leftist holocaust of the unborn.
When we discuss iniquity and equality, why is it a racists discussion ? Why is culture and economic status attached to a color? I believe we should all get out of our flesh. Stop listening to MSM and Hollywood.
@sertaki look at the data on wealth between white populations that come from France vs Russia. Culture is pivotal. If you have a culture that places a high value on consumer goods (e.g. new shoes) vs investing in materials that retain their value (e.g. home ownership) then you will see a wealth disparity. This is not rocket science.
@Honest Person you just referenced groups coming from where slave owners come from. They were given a different mentality yo start hundreds of years ago. That is irrelevant to the oppression that has kept minorities at a disadvantage.
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.
Muhammad Ali
@sertaki thank you for your response and trying to educate those with a misconception of what has actually happened and how this is a systemic problem rooting hundreds of years back
There are very many differences between races, ethnicities, sexes, cultural background. Everyone is different, no one is the same. That’s suppose to be something good, not condemning. But for some reason it’s always racist. No, you are not racist or anti racist, we are all just people trying to get along, and division only breeds more division.
@Dumas Davy De La Pailleterie you’re making a lot of logical leaps in so few words, that’s impressive.
Goths are different than Punks. Punks are different that Hippies. Germans are different than British. White are… 100% the same, and even if all of them were hippies and other group would be 100% punks its illegal to tell the facts.
People are different, the only way to be equal is in misery. Equalists aren’t libertarians – equalists are communists – trample all for the god of equality.
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.
Muhammad Ali
I think these terms have to be applied to all people. Blacks have to be antiracist also.
Also , we need to differentiate between results based on skin color vs results based on culture. Example, does skin color or culture determine fatherlessness? Does this affect future success? Or does city living vs country living affect life choices .
Honest Person I disagree, anyone can be racist
@Jere’Al Dorsey-Emodiae no under the Cancel Culture you cannot say this. The new religion says that “oppressed groups” cannot be racist. Get with the program.
So you just gonna ignore Jim Crow? What why grandparents went through? It wasn’t that long ago.
@Brian In the jim crow era black people had waaaaaaayyyyy less fatherless homes. It’s now up to 72% How can you blame it on jim crow? Lol….that’s really stupid
@Hallie Elizabeth So young browns are forced to break the law against their will?
Your definition of anti-racist is my definition of not racist. Please stop twisting reality. I care about truth, justice, kindness and empathy way more than you could immagine. Being not racist means you simply don’t care about other people’s race and all judgement positive and negative is based on your character expression and actions. Being anti-racist will sometimes lead you to the same murky paths that racists that deny being racist are walking. You will copy their actions and deny that you are doing anything wrong because you are justified in taking revenge. Think again dude. If a murderer kills your parents and you kill his parents as an act of revenge, what does that make you? A murderer.
Stop copying what you fight against with this anti-racist bullshit and just don’t be racist. From that stance alone you will be able to start making some progress by leading by example.
@FINETUNED GAMING That makes two of us big guy…I’d love to
@FINETUNED GAMING BTW, I don’t have a political leaning..I hate both sides…but, you are ooozing leftist propaganda. Good job being manipulated
@FINETUNED GAMING Sorry about the last comment. I thought you were talking to me. By the way, please don’t jump to conclusions too fast. There is a lot more to people that you might not know about. I think you are right about one of those statements because it is in his text but for the rest, you have no evidence.
@Honest Person I don’t think you understand it correctly. In the view of POC, if you do not accept the idea that racism EXISTS, then there is a problem.
Thank you for making sense.
The question where is the line between the two. Is it racist to state truth? e.g. what it you say an area does not have a high standard of living? Then someone points out that the area has a high population of black people and calls you a racist. I really think that racism is subjective. The idea is to be a decent person. If someone is sensitive about their race it is very hard to interact with them because every comment/action is filtered thru their sensitivity. e.g If you hear a child crying and look around to make sure the child is not hurt or in danger. As you look and see that the child is simply being naughty for his mum but his mum catches your eye and yells at you ‘What are you looking at white #@#@?” Brotherhood means being kind, thinking with an open mind, judging not by race or creed but by character and deed. Brotherhood means not to be slaves of race and bigotry.
@Shada Is it racist to simply speak the truth?
*bullshit example*
I suppose not…
ALL I’M SAYING IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE IQS…!
AND WHAT ABOUT THE WOODEN DOORS?
THIRTEEEEEEN…. FFIIIIFFFTYYYY
It’s every single time, honestly.
@Shada This is the very thing i am pointing out. Thank you for proving my point!!
@Paul Harris I agree my example is a bit lame. But it has a point as you say. I really am trying to get a grip on where this ‘line’ is. I am anti racist if that is a thing. I am for decency and kindness. I am finding the whole racist/ anti racist thing a bit murky atm it feels like if you disagree with someone they call you a racist. It is like this big bad label that if you have any opinion but the one given then you’ll get labeled with it. If you are in need of help, I will help. I don’t care what race/color you are. Do black lives matter? Of course they do, all lives matter! People who are sensitive about their race/color see racism at every turn. OK here is a real life example a black person walks into a shop and asks to use the toilet. They are told no and exit the shop calling the shop owner racist. In the shop there is a sign on the wall that states that nobody can use the toilet. There was no racism but because the person who asked was skin sensitive they automatically went to racist.
@Jo Gould What are the true things you’ve been called a racist for, and for what purpose did you choose to make up a scenario that hasn’t ever actually happened instead?
@Brian G Don’t you have a Sargon video to watch?
Not good when 30 percent don’t like the video. Even though I think everyone is racist consciously or subconsciously but its not always towards the same groups. Could be towards random groups with little things or words said. Antiracist is to try to be better yes. But people are Not racist! I concur!
People don’t like when uncomfortable truths are thrown into their face.
@FINETUNED GAMING Or, people have just had it with every little psuedo intellectual idiot trying to tell them what to believe. We are ALL brothers and sisters, we ALL came from the same ancestors!! So if everyone would just STFU and stop inflaming sides for their own political agenda we’d be all good. Like I have stated multiple times, keep your leftist, or right wing propaganda to yourselves!! Keep picking political sides and you are part of the problem! They want us seperated so they can easily control us. Everyone is either blind or likes being controlled and not having to think for themselves
@Motivatedk9 INDEED. I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY.
In my decades of my interracial marriage, I have experience a lot more Racism from African-Americans to us and my children, than any other groups.
That’s why you cannot individualize when you’re having this discussion. Your marriage is YOUR experience; it’s not the collective experience. COLLECTIVELY, the white advantage and privilege is undeniable and at the root of the system of oppression. That’s not to invalidate your experience but the “racism” you feel you’re experiencing is a branch on the tree of racism, not the root that authors like Kendi try to get at.
@Angie R it’s ALL RACISM and no one kind of worse than the other! They are all bullshit! Haven’t you noticed how American politics has everyone seperated? Wonder why? Control ! Dems are preaching one side Republican the other. Me in the middle screaming Wake up idiots!! We are ALL, meaning every human is being manipulated to keep people in power or put someone into power!! This is why I refuse to align with a party.
I hope my comment goes over well…
Usually, the hatred towards interracial relationships aren’t because of the couple, per se. It is the judgement of the offended culture that thinks, “what makes them better than ours?” Or, introspectively, how does a person of another race found better than myself, a person of the same race. They take it personally = opinionated by their own alienated sense of self.
It is said, a person’s treatment is a reflection of self, but yet, everyone prefers the superficial “mirror” rather than reflecting from within.
Sorry you and your family have to endure such hatred. We all suffer in one form or another. Mine… well, its self hatred.
You said I and not we, perhaps you should speak to your wife
It seems there’s a double standard existing in the black culture here in the US. Blacks want white society to end all racism and treat everyone equally which of course is a great goal that most people of any color agree on.
But at the same time many blacks grow up being taught it’s ok to hate the white people as a group. The two agendas are at odds with each other.
I will not follow any hate speech laws.
“Dichotomous thinking: The tendency to think in terms of polar opposites—that is, in terms of the best and worst—without accepting the possibilities that lie between these two extremes.”
.
John McWhorter (a black Liberal Democrat) has a great article comparing Antiracism to religion: https://www.thedailybeast.com/antiracism-our-flawed-new-religion
It is a religion
3:30 “To be racist is to constantly deny the racial inequities that pervade American society to constantly deny the racist ideas that pervade American minds”
I looked up the word “pervade” —————–
Here is one definiton: to become diffused throughout every part of
Here’s another: (especially of a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of.
And another: (of an influence, feeling, or quality) be present and apparent throughout.
Anyone can look up the word “racism”. You won’t find this extreme twist of the English language (at 3:30) in any legitimate dictionary. Racism simply does not “pervade” America that way … in a way that it is everywhere, like a stench that you can’t get away from … that clearly isn’t true. It may pervade the news channels but racism “pervades” mainly from exposing rare incidences of racism over and over through the media but racism itself does not meet the definition where it “pervades American society”.
The comment at 3:30; by this bizarre standard, calls me a racist. The rare times when I have personally witnessed racism, I called them out and made it clear that I don’t approve. I don’t see racism day to day in my life or church or work life … it just doesn’t exist that way … until I turn on the news. To call someone a racist because they find no evidence of racism “pervading” every part of America, is incendiary; it’s antagonistic, it’s divisive; it’s a lie … it’s simply not true.
Certainly incidences of racism exist but to act as though it exists in every nook and cranny of society is an absurdity. I feel empathy and compassion for anyone subject to racist remarks or actions. I was subjected to a racist remark a few days ago from a black guy who used the hashtag, #stopracism; he was clearly a hypocrite.
Where is the outraged for acts of racism against *all* races? From the press, I only get the impression that the problem white racism against black folks. If you take issue with racism, why not address all races?
If one dwells upon a thought … in this case, the notion of “racism pervades every part of American society”, in their mind, that thought seems to be true because it’s always on their mind. If I think someone hates me and I’m obsessed with that thought, in my mind, that thought is true. But what if that person doesn’t actually hate me? What about the majority of Americans who don’t constantly dwell on the idea that racism pervades America? In a person’s mind who dwells and obsesses about such a thought, I can sympathize. But the truth is, racism doesn’t pervade every aspect of life in America.
@Zenn Exile Hi Zenn, nice to meet you! Considering we’ve never met, I am genuinely surprised you believe you know more about my subjective thought processes I. It is possible you may be psychic, but it may also be a case of one calling the pot kettle black with a cognitive distortion of one’s own known as “mindreading”. I will add the Fresh Prince is dope though!
.
Going by your last comment to Laurie, my assumption is we’re actually on the same side here in rejecting the presupposition of “pervasive racism” and didn’t realize it. For context, I have added a disclaimer to my initial comment as I do not support “concept creep”. 🙂
The pervasiveness of racism refers to the prejudice and unconscious bias that exists within every one of us.
@Donald Arteaga back in West Philly where I was born and raised, we’re all psychic.
@Laurie Less Like you have to sit in certain areas of the bus still?
@zain no, it really doesn’t. Not to the core audience. To the majority it is a suggestion that racism is everywhere all the time. In reality social conflicts are at all time lows. Tribalism is just being magnified by the internet through the monetization of outrage media and the adspace it generates.
Getting woke means understanding that the internet is a megaphone for the minority and an ocean of sound proof foam to the majority. It’s the nature of the corporate internet and how we have been convinced to use it. It is what allows a Brand to spend money creating the “illusion of pervasivity”.
If you’d ever bothered to read the Rules of the Internet, you would know this.
Sweeping generalizations. Someone who knows nothing of me and would rightfully would not want to paint him any given way, basically doing that very thing … but it is alright for him. The sad thing is at the root of the topic we agree. I’m just tired of being blamed or assumed to be blaming others for attitudes or actions we neither personally did not and would not commit. Are we willing to admit there are as many racist blacks as whites as Asians, etc.? I’ve never committed any of the claims accused. Want fairness? Be fair all the wat around. Remember, when you point one finger you have three more pointing back at yourself.
Imagine arresting a son for the murder their father committed…reparations is a farce. Everyone has ancestors that were slaves, guess I should go pester the Roman descendants based on this guys ideas…
@That one dude imagine burying your 12 year old baby. At the hands of someone who supposedly was there to protect you.
Why are you making this such an old issue? And what exactly are you mad about? Being called a racist? Take it as a criticism. Reflect. Have some water. We’re all in this together, my friend.
“I have a dream that one day our children will be judged not on the content of their character, but by the color of their skin” – Modern leftists
@Joannot should be called “one sided views”..
@Joannot his reply will be called
Strawman 2: return of the over generalisations.
@Joannot Just claiming something is a strawman isn’t an argument. Tell me how this isn’t an accurate description of left wing politics these days. I’ll wait…
@Mac Ton LMAO
@Joannot Everyone notice how she cannot explain how this is a strawman.
I don’t understand why black people support the democratic party. During the Clinton administration, their war on drugs was one of the main reasons for the inequality of black men in prison. Obama and Clinton’s part in overthrowing the government in Libya lead to the terrible circumstances where there is literally black slavery now. Ibram talks about people being accountable for their past mistakes but I don’t see the democratic party admitting their mistakes. Racism MUST be non-partisan because it can happen in ANY group or party. To think democrats are innocent is extremely naive. And Trump is barely a Republican and has supported many Democratic people in the past.
I hate both parties because BOTH parties are corrupt with greed. Corporations own our politicians all over the world and it is the elite who enslave us all with their tyranny. People need to reject both corrupt parties if they want anything to change. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We have had decades of slow downhill collapse and it doesn’t matter which side is in control, money gets funneled to the elites and that is the cause that unites us all.
If people want to do something truly revolutionary, they need to reject both corrupt parties. Vote by writing in who you think is a true leader and who deserves to lead us. Stop accepting these bought and paid for candidates who will never fight for equality or for what is right. Ibram telling people that they must vote democrat if they want to fight racism is wrong. It seems extremely manipulative for an agenda. Racism is a non-partisan issue 100%.
Keep the propaganda coming race vultures!
Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Ben Carson, Lil Wayne all disagree with you. By the way I disagree too,, this dude has got to be the most racist one of all
In my opinion i think the people like him are the most anti racist because they talk about the problems and knows what is hapening
Actually Morgan Freeman and Lil Wayne very much support the BLM movement 🙂
@Bavrogar Lil Wayne does not support BLM. There are countless videos of him not wanting to take any part in their BS.
@Bavrogar That’s a lie
@Meesa while yes, he doesn’t appear to be a very vocal person when it comes to politics, he did recently commit a whole episode of his internet radio show to talking about racial issues and the protests and also voiced his support
Да уж… на сколько оказывается в РФ такая проблема изжита… СССР был самым антирасистским государством в мире)
25:15 I think the focus on making things ‘non partisan’ is a fools errand. First you have to break the bi-partisan system. A choice of two is no choice at all. Only when you have multiple voices can you have something that resembles representation.
There is so much wrong with the US economy and politics, racism is merely a symptom. You can’t fix racism without fixing the underlying problems.
This is why I fear BLM is eventually going to result in non-solutions.
I agree with the ending of the two party system, but what would you propose to replace it with? In India, there was a recent disastrous election where the minority vote won because it happened to be the biggest out of 100 or so political parties.
The media is purposely not showing any of the people behind the Libertarian party, such as Eric July.