Thread by @WardQNormal

Like many of you, I recently realized that I have spent most of my life surrounded by people who are racist, yet insist that they are not. Here are some of the things I've heard them say. Feel free to play along.
#RacistRationalizations

I'm not racist. I just assume that everyone of color who has a good job or a college degree must have gotten there thanks to affirmative action.
#RacistRationalizations

Corollary: Barrack Obama was clearly the least qualified, least intelligent President we've ever had, and the only reason anyone voted for him was because he was black. #RacistRationalizations

It's not racist to be afraid of "those people," given how violent they are and how much crime they commit. It's just statistics. #RacistRationalizations

I'm not racist just because I question whether someone who isn't white might be disloyal to this country and not a "real American." #RacistRationalizations

It's not racist to point out that those people are clearly not from here. They don't even speak English. #RacistRationalizations

I'm sure the Muslim people you've met are all "modern" and "enlightened," but the vast majority of them are fanatics whose only goal is to destroy this country and everything we value. #RacistRationalizations

I'm not racist just because I assume that any student of color at my child's private school must be on financial aid. But I do hope they appreciate the fact that, since I'm paying full tuition, I'm also providing for their education. #RacistRationalizations

I'm not racist just because I assumed that the Asian teacher I recently met must teach math or computer science. It's a compliment to say that they're really smart in those fields. #RacistRationalizations

I'm not racist, but as a white teacher I really have a hard time relating to "hispanic" students. I can talk to them about soccer, but not much else.
#RacistRationalizations

(And I'd like to take a moment to assure all of you that these are not hypothetical "joke" comments. Each of these is a direct quote, or as close as I can get thanks to the passage of time.)

And lest you think I'm just pointing fingers, I have also come to realize that I myself have said and done racist things, held racist beliefs, not fought back against the racism I see, and benefited from a racist system. But I'm trying to learn, and I'm done rationalizing.