Thread by @Haines4Laura

Attn: White friends: Take a breath, take your ego out of this, LISTEN to the invaluable words of this invaluable black woman & LEARN something: "The devil doesn't need an advocate. Can you explain what makes white people want to quickly forgive their favorite bigots? [thread]

I'm seriously curious. It happens regardless of politics with liberal & conservatives alike. Even if it's an icon that's been a lifelong bigot. Within the week it becomes a free for all to the forgiveness tour. [2]

Within 24 hrs of a press released "apology," people like you want to give bigots a hug, forgive & forget. [3]

Here you are asking about letting him move on without any behavioral indications of remorse or change. Saying, "I heard he reached out to the Black community, etc." That's not remorseful, that is cliche & patronizing. [4]

Why do you need us to forgive a racist? Why does he get to keep his job but you want Trump out? What is your allotted timetable for minorities to process & get over it? [5]

You've never been hunted in the country for sport. Never been threatened with arrest or death for existing or told your skin looks like you're covered in shit. Or have a doctor excuse physical abuse, because he believes all black people beat their kids. [6]

Maybe since the offense was never against you in the first place it's cool as long as he gives a press conference that makes his white supporters comfortable. [7]

You see his picture & it's just awful or embarrassing, it might make you uncomfortable & you want to call it ancient history. But I see that picture & I see my cousin Michael who was lynched down south in 1981 by the KKK, only 3 years before the governor's picture was taken. [8]

I see that picture and imagine the terrorist klan laughing and drinking as they threw molotov cocktails through my grandfather's home when he was a kid. If he'd been home it might have killed him and his 5 siblings; eliminating the 3 current & all subsequent generations. [9]

Thats why when I see comments like yours, I vacillate between saying "sit down," "shut up," and "kiss my ass." [10]

By asking how fast can we be friends with the bigot again, it reveals:
1. Your unwillingness/inability to empathize
2. You don't fully buy into the atrocities & depth of harm bigoted jokes & behavior cause
3. You only want to be an ally against oppression if its convenient. [11]

Rooting out bigotry is hard ass work. But you have the privilege of choice because you're white. If you wanted, you could structure your entire life NEVER thinking or dealing with racism or being around black people. [12]

I've never known that luxury. For me fighting racism is life or death. [13]

This fucker was a doctor. Unless his patients were all whites he caused some harm to minorities. His being a Democrat should not shield him or the damage he caused. [14]

But, hey, what do I know. I'm just a Black woman.
This nation has never valued my life, voice or lived experience."

-- The invaluable words of my invaluable friend, Raine French. [15} [end thread]

@threadreaderapp Please unroll, you magnificent beast.