Since no criteria was given, I'll cite this: Let me know if you want me to change the parameters. And Ill take that in small bills.
To Tell If You’re A Racist. A Test.
https://medium.com/@elizabethgrattan/how-to-tell-if-you-re-a-racist-a-test-d543a3c8640a
“Dutch Gap, Virginia. Picket station of Colored troops near Dutch Gap canal,” November 1864. Digital restoration by Lise Broer.
Take a look at that photo. Are these men on offense or defense? Your perspective of a black man in arms matters. During the civil war or during civil unrest, our experiences shape our lens.
Now, certainly a more comprehensive test could be and has been created to determine the question I ask. This is not a scientific test. Nor is it intended to cover the full scope of the history of the United States. However, in light of current events, perhaps it might be a good idea to take 3 minutes and ask yourself how many of the following do you personally identify with. Are you a racist?
Be brave. Take it.
You have quoted or shared a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. meme because that’s the only black male leader you have ever heard of.
The above is “no” because you’ve also heard of Malcolm X.
You called a WoC a “Mother of the Year” for putting “one of those juvenile delinquents in their proper place”.
You don’t know or care what WoC stands for.
You hide behind the etymology of the word “thug”.
You remind people slavery is over.
You bring up Oprah Winfrey in any discussion about the struggle of the black community.
You mention we have a black President. But not because you grasp historical relevance.
You think black culture is awesome but the experience of the black community is their problem.
You called for an end to violence only after you couldn’t access the convenience of your CVS.
You cited a rap sheet of a dead man.
When you hear the words law and order, you’d rather talk about Olivia than Miranda Rights.
You refer to riots as the cause of unrest instead of a symptom of it.
You use the term “race card”.
You mention or allude to welfare offices not being burned down in the midst of chaos.
You are still referring to the killings of unarmed black men as isolated incidents.
You use the term “reverse racism”.
You believe being colorblind is enlightened.
You think having a black friend means you couldn’t possibly be racist.
…because he/she is different and doesn’t “act like that”.
How many did you identify with?
None.
You will be the person who shares this test every time you see ignorance on the internet about race relations in the nation. You acknowledge the system is broken and are striving to find ways to bridge gaps and empathize with your fellow man. You aren’t proud of passing it and you aren’t guilty or apathetic.
1-3:
You likely suffer more from
White Privilege. You aren’t necessarily racist, but you also don’t seem to grasp what racism actually is. Without acknowledging your privilege, you become part of the problem. Education on the evidence can make all the difference.
4–5:
Beyond White Privilege, you enjoy the current dynamics because they offer you advantage and you think historical legacies have no impact on current ideologies, including yours. You won’t acknowledge your privilege nor do you care about the
documented evidence of inherent bias in our systembecause in doing so, you’d have to fight against the very power structure that benefits you. This is a subtle racism and you could work to change your perspectives, but you likely won’t.
More than 5:
Yes. You are a racist.
Learn more. Talk less.
The current unrest in our nation has a root. Let’s stop trimming the branches. Let’s stop blaming our communities for rising up and defending themselves against injustice. Let’s stop calling the riots the cause and acknowledge they are a symptom. Let’s stop pretending because our experience is different, another’s is irrelevant.
Riots are a small part of protest. Civil disobedience is a fraction of the efforts. Many many voices are longing to be heard. Many many people are simply asking you to open your eyes and see their plight.
Frederick Douglass said:
“Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship.”
It’s time that right was respected.
