Comments on: White girl guilt

By: Heather Hummel

Heather Hummel — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:06:24 +0000

Its weird because all I date are black guys but at the same time I’m afraid of them. It probably goes back to when my dad molested me and my mother did nothing to help. My family hates black people and I can’t help but rebel because I hate them so much.

By: Dee

Dee — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:01:13 +0000

@Karen – I agree with this post and PQ’s comment about “the worst thing men/women” have to fear. It would be dumb to put fear of being racist over your safety. It’s when you prevent someone from having a job, or other opportunity that you have to investigate your racism.

By the way, when I was in college, I, a black female, and a while female friend of mine, both took a class about race and I remember my white friend telling me that the class opened her eyes and made her realize she really does imagine a black person whenever she hears about a crime, regardless of whether a description of a suspect has been given. The funny thing I realized, is that I always imagine a white man when hear about an attacker!

We tried to figure out why this is, and we came up with, maybe it’s because we see the people we spend most of our time with as dynamic. People we spend less time with and rely on media, our parents, community, and myth and legend to tell us about, we imagine as these static characters, and often in the worst light. This DOES shade how we deal with people, whether we perceive it or not- so for issues other than personal/child’s safety, we should try to deconstruct our perceptions. For example, it’s really not fair for me to always picture serial killers as thin, glasses-wearing white men.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:31:34 +0000

I don’t blame you. As someone who was mugged in a tragically frightening way by 2 black men I find that I can’t help but be scared by those situations. I’m a 5’2″ white girl who wouldn’t have had a shot in hell at defending myself and yet somehow still ended up in the hospital. They got $20 and some bus tokens. I got an enormous medical bill. Sometimes life experiences drive you to your feelings wether you like it or not. A lot of our feelings are unconscious and come out despite our best inclinations that they should not.

By: keiara

keiara — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:07:33 +0000

I didn’t read all these comments so excuse me if I’m repeating someone else. I just wanted to say that I think it’s very brave of you to write about these feelings so openly when society is so ridiculously PC that many will condemn your thoughts even though you admitted to feeling bad for thinking them. It’s nice to know that some people aren’t afraid to discuss their feelings even though they’re aware how some people will react to them. Thanks, PQ :)

Love,

keiara

By: PastaQueen

PastaQueen — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:39:18 +0000

@kym – That’s true, but this really is a bad part of town. Indianapolis lets you view crime reports within the last 90 days within a radius of a certain location. I just looked up my friend’s address and this spot had multiple reports of burglary, larceny, vandalism, domestic disturbance, arrests, threat to life, narcotics investigations and fraud within the past 3 months.

By: kym

kym — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:21:33 +0000

Oh, another thing just because a lot of blacks might live in an area doesn’t automatically make that area “seedy” or the “bad part of town.”

By: Kym

Kym — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:13:30 +0000

You all have to do what you have to do but as a black women you all sound like a bunch of racist white folks patting each other on the back for being such. Being racist is about fear, fear they “they” are going to take over, fear that “they” are going to harm us…etc. No one in America has been harmed more than by white men. Bush, Slavery, Wall Street, etc..

You know who does more crimes to white females? White males. Yet most of you are more afraid of Black men. Ok.

By: sb

sb — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:21:10 +0000

@Doji Bo -

I’m wondering if you have statistics to back this claim up?

Since African-Americans are only about 13 or 14% of the total population, I’d have a hard time believing that they commit the “majority” (meaning more than 50%) of the crimes.

If you have data, great… lets’ sees it. And I’ll apologize. But, If you don’t, perhaps you should re-think that statement.

And for the record, I’m a white girl. ;-)

By: Doji Bo

Doji Bo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:57:44 +0000

The sad fact is, in many cities, the majority of violent crimes are committed by black men, and they are also more likely (according to police reports) to be carrying guns than white men. To be aware of this fact is not racism in my opinion.

By: pam

pam — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:28:12 +0000

Being white or being a woman didn’t make me a target, but standing in Times Square with my necklace out did make me a target!