The Reckonings-"Againt Whiteness"/Lacy M. Johnson/2018
Lacy Johnson’s The Reckonings brings light to the many topics that are frequently silenced in the world. I really respect how Johnson never shies away from the truth. One chapter brings attention to a serious problem in the U.S. relating to race; a touchy subject for many to openly talk about in this day in age. The chapter “Against Whiteness” is based around the issue that people aren’t sticking up for each other in situations when racism becomes a factor. I do believe that racism is still relevant today, something which I have never been able to understand, but another problem arises when we are aware of racism and don’t do anything about it. Most of the time, as Johnson writes, it is white people who refuse to speak up when they see the mistreatment of people of color. “”Where the fuck were you?” she asked. I didn’t have an answer to that question, and none of the other white women in the room had an answer either. I was wrong to say nothing and I knew it. We all knew it.”(Johnson 114). Johnson thinks back to when she was in a college class and a white professor made some very racist remarks in a lecture. There were 4 people of color who were in that class, one of which decided to speak up and question this professor's meaning behind his teachings. The professor then attacked this brave girl for calling him out yet nobody stood up for her in response to this man’s rage.
Racism has fortunately gotten a little better over time but there are too many people in the world today who avoid speaking up for those still affected by racism. I am sure that a lot of the time this is unintentional by many solely due to the fact that society has affected the way people respond to certain situations. No matter if someone thinks something is right or wrong, I feel that people have become more afraid to voice their opinions in fear of judgment. As a society we need to begin pushing past this worry of being criticized by others and stick up for those that we care about and the things that we believe in. This may be a hard concept for some people to grasp but we have to start listening to those that are frequently silenced without responding in judgement or anger. Once we can all accept each other's differences and support one another no matter if we agree or disagree is when we will finally outgrow this ugly word called racism.
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