Racism 101: White Tears
Ever notice the way the temperature drops whenever a person of color brings up the issue of racism around a group of white folks? Things can be going great, the conversation rolling along, but then someone says something racially insensitive, and a POC holds them accountable, throwing open the gates and inviting all hell to break loose. White tears start flowing, washing the POC’s original point away in a turbulent, exhausting current of sympathy-seeking bullshit.
Non-POC readers, y’all might be tightening your alabaster brows right now, wondering what in the hell white tears are. The way I use and understand the term, it represents any situation in which a white person responds less than gracefully to a real or perceived accusation of casual or overt racism.
Still not picking up what I’m putting down? Let’s use an example to shed some clarity, shall we?
White person: You must be really happy that Amendment 4 passed. Now so many black people will be able to vote again!
Person of color: Actually, most of the former felons who are getting their voting rights back are white.
WP: I just figured you’d be excited about this since most of the people in jail are black.
POC: Wow, that’s a really racist statement. It’s also untrue.
