In response to a question posed concerning whether White people could use the n-word, author Ta-Nehisi Coates stated that as a White person in this country, the overall culture teaches us that everything belongs to us and that Whites can go and do whatever they want and people must accommodate that. Coates goes on to explain that Blacks in today's society suffer from the lack of such treatment to the extent that Whites simply cannot imagine a world where Black people can do anything that a White person can do (Coates 3:25-2:50). James Baldwin furthers this argument in his writing of “Notes of a Native Son” by recalling an incident where he almost killed a waitress that told him that they did not serve negros there. In this incident, Baldwin
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For me personally, I have realized that at certain times that I have some subconscious assumptions about a person based solely on their appearance. When I witness a Black person wearing a suit my mind begins to associate certain things that they did to achieve this level of elegance, whereas when I see a White person in a suit I take it for granted without any questioning. Although this does not seem like something extreme, these kinds of associations occur in the minds of many White people and this lays out the foundation for the issue of Racism in our country. I do not take action towards these assumptions, but there are others that begin to act on this subconscious assumption that Whites can do as they please but Blacks cannot. This directly leads to hate crimes, which leads to riots, which then leads to our White government and police force aggressively pushing Blacks back into their “place.” This common subconscious assumptions towards others is an extremely difficult problem to fix because it is subconscious, but a step needs to be taken nonetheless. I personally will become more alert whenever a thought crosses my mind that relates to me subconsciously feeling entitled based on their color. As soon as I realize that what I am thinking is not okay, I will correct myself over and over again until it becomes habitual and those thoughts cease
For me personally, I have realized that at certain times that I have some subconscious assumptions about a person based solely on their appearance. When I witness a Black person wearing a suit my mind begins to associate certain things that they did to achieve this level of elegance, whereas when I see a White person in a suit I take it for granted without any questioning. Although this does not seem like something extreme, these kinds of associations occur in the minds of many White people and this lays out the foundation for the issue of Racism in our country. I do not take action towards these assumptions, but there are others that begin to act on this subconscious assumption that Whites can do as they please but Blacks cannot. This directly leads to hate crimes, which leads to riots, which then leads to our White government and police force aggressively pushing Blacks back into their “place.” This common subconscious assumptions towards others is an extremely difficult problem to fix because it is subconscious, but a step needs to be taken nonetheless. I personally will become more alert whenever a thought crosses my mind that relates to me subconsciously feeling entitled based on their color. As soon as I realize that what I am thinking is not okay, I will correct myself over and over again until it becomes habitual and those thoughts cease