Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Black Folks, White Folks, Big & Small (Things Helpers Need to Know)




Hello white colleagues.


Please know this:

Vague negative language is a primary channel for the transmission of institutional racism through well-meaning white folks directly into the ears, hearts, and souls of our Black colleagues and students.

If we use it, we are perpetuating injustice--no matter what our intentions are.


If we call a colleague “difficult,” a student “defiant,” a parent “confrontational” or anything else that carries the weight of an accusation yet deprives the recipient of the specificity that enables correction or refutation, we are abetting institutional racism, and practicing interpersonal racism.


Furthermore, when we have those judgments, but we keep them to ourselves without reflecting upon the actual evidence, and avoid risking the confrontation, appearance of pettiness, or even accusations of racism, that might spring from direct discussion with our Black colleagues, we are adding fuel to a time bomb of obliquely racist insinuation that perpetually drives our colleagues and students out of institutions that so desperately need their talents.


There is disbelief in the concept of “microaggressions” among many white folks these days. So be it--that arguably makes the term microaggression itself “vague negative language,” doesn’t it, so let me demonstrate specificity. When teachers repeatedly mistake one black 12-year-old for another; when pinkish band-aids disappear on the arms of white students but stand out on the arms of black students; when e-mails to working groups repeatedly leave off the Black member of the group; when colleagues express both enthusiasm and surprise at the quality of their Black colleague’s input during a meeting... when things like this happen all day, every day, people get tired, and angry, and depressed. And then, often, a white gaze that cannot risk exposing these connections for fear of appearing biased, quietly connects fatigue, anger, and depression as parts of Blackness, flaws of Blackness.


If vague language is the vehicle that drives bias directly into the hearts of Black folks while white folks steer that vehicle or stand obliviously by, white fear is the fuel. The injustice is staggering: the collective white fear of embarrassment costs millions of Americans a fair shake at access in all the halls of power, all institutional gateways, every arena in which diverse paths cross. Please let’s be brave, and share our own experience, not as facts or truth, but as our own experience, and if we are uncomfortable or put-off by a person, or their language, or any of their actions, can we admit that it is a result of mutual difference, not their wrongness and our rightness? Can we start with curiosity, respect, and kindness? And the willingness to be wrong? The willingness to learn? This means listening more than we speak, but not neglecting to speak at all.

Even if we don’t yet have the courage to step up and stop fueling the time bomb, moment to moment; even if we do keep silent when something troubles us, though the consequences of us stepping up are so utterly insignificant compared to the consequences for others when we don’t step up and speak up, at least we can all eschew the vague language, can’t we? And correct it when it slips in on the fly?

Please let's tell the parents exactly what was said, exactly what their child did, and exactly what other children did, or were doing, at the same time. And if we can only describe positive specifics and negative generalities, or vice versa, let's reflect on why that might be. What eyes am I watching with? What do my colleagues see, looking at the same situation? All of my colleagues.

When speaking to a colleague, student, or parent, especially one of color, let’s think about our words ahead of time. If I am offering a criticism, is it specific enough to be addressed? Otherwise, I am basically name-calling. If I do that, and expect anything but push-back and resentment, then I am too awash in my privilege to be helped. If we really mean to help, we will be specific and frank. If we can’t, then we shouldn't criticize, but we should reflect upon our own biases.


Please.

1 comment:

  1. I recently read a performance review and practically choked as I realized, oh duh!, the exact kind of vague language of which I speak is the very fiber many of these kinds of reviews: vague categories, vague break-downs of performance "levels," a invitation to ambiguous praise or finger-wagging in the narrative sections. Please, let's not accuse anyone of not-playing well with others unless we can describe multiple incidents specifically, and describe what should have been different. Even with praise, make it specific so any reader can see we weren't just basking in the warm glow of their inviting Whiteness or skeptically put-off by their alarming..non-whiteness. Whether or not we, individually, are guilty of unexamined biases--the fact is, most of us are to varying degrees--the very fact that there IS so much bias out there means that ambiguous language MUST be regarded with skepticism, and the only way to avoid that, is to reflect, expand, and specify...or leave it out.

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