http://www.policymic.com/articles/55379/a-letter-to-white-people-i-know-you-re-not-racist-but
A recent article on PolicyMic in the wake of the Trayvon Martin verdict sparked my interest, not because of the contents of the article itself, but because of the comments that followed.The young white woman in the video that the article linked to claimed that middle-class whites who take up the “I am Trayvon Martin” rallying cry are, in fact, deluding themselves if they believe the cultural education that they have received doesn't teach fear of black people.
Most of the white commenters responded angrily, denouncing the video and claiming that they were never taught to be racist. I could not adequately respond in the comments so I decided to write a letter and publish it here.
controversial truths are difficult because initially both sides reality are not the same, some by denial others by refusal to admit there is a difference denial disavows existence, refusal is knowing but won't admit it exist.
and therein lies our conundrum, listening with an open mind is questionable at best because one mans truth is another mans misinformation, we enter with a difference of opinion products of our reality, understanding that can help hear the other side what if any action taken is up to each individual.
"Smart people know what they know and wise people know that they don't know", truth is a toss up, everybody has their own sharing and altering if need be are the stepping stones to understanding.
my only hope is that this will be read by all who see it and launch serious discourse not of an accusatory type but and education type, before we can see each other we have to have an idea of what we are looking at it's up to us take a step.
