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If I Choose Not to Write About The Race Riots, Am I Racist?
It’s about telling your story
I’m a white woman in the UK.
This is the first time I have ever started a piece of writing with this information, but it seems relevant.
Like most sane people in the world, I hate the murder of George Floyd. And, like a lot of people, it has made me look at myself.
I am not racist. I can confidently say that. I do not treat people differently based on the colour of their skin (or their gender, hair colour, country or sexuality).
I have very rarely noticed racism. I’m not naive enough to say that it doesn’t happen, but I don’t see it. I’ve noticed some sexism and some prejudice against disabled people, but not racism.
Actually, that’s not true. I've not noticed racism aimed at black people, but I have noticed racism aimed at other white groups. Polish and Romanian, mainly. Often they are just grouped together as ‘foreigners’. I hear people talk about the differences in the families (“You don’t want one of them living near you…”) and lifestyles (“They don’t have the same values as us”). I also hear people saying prejudiced things against disabled people. A care home for young adults with autism wanted to open near me and I went along to the council planning meeting. Most…
