Mike in London brings up a good point. And I appreciate that this white man ks self-aware, acknowledges his privilege and wants to use it for good. I just feel a way about a white man feeling like they are “woke” enough to speak on my behalf. He may be able to sympathize with a person of minority, but he will never be able to empathize and place himself in our shoes. I just feel like I’m this day and age, people should be able to adapt with the times and learn as they go. Black people don’t have the luxury of separating themselves from the world as a measure of self-protection, so why should we tolerate a white-only space?? I don’t know man. I’m torn, but I’m leaning towards a no, bruh.
Mike in London - 6 years ago
Maybe it's the same as when we work with male perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse against their partners, it has to be in an all-male group of perps. They learn together. It wouldn't work if you had victims in the room with them.
If you are going to change them, the class cannot be about punishing them. You can only do one of those two things at a time. They may have already been punished under the law, or they may be attending voluntarily, but the class is about educating their attitudes to women and violence, not about punishing them. I guess maybe this is a similar "perpetrators of racism" class??
I thought your discussion of the white man class was really good and balanced.
Mike in London brings up a good point. And I appreciate that this white man ks self-aware, acknowledges his privilege and wants to use it for good. I just feel a way about a white man feeling like they are “woke” enough to speak on my behalf. He may be able to sympathize with a person of minority, but he will never be able to empathize and place himself in our shoes. I just feel like I’m this day and age, people should be able to adapt with the times and learn as they go. Black people don’t have the luxury of separating themselves from the world as a measure of self-protection, so why should we tolerate a white-only space?? I don’t know man. I’m torn, but I’m leaning towards a no, bruh.
Maybe it's the same as when we work with male perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse against their partners, it has to be in an all-male group of perps. They learn together. It wouldn't work if you had victims in the room with them.
If you are going to change them, the class cannot be about punishing them. You can only do one of those two things at a time. They may have already been punished under the law, or they may be attending voluntarily, but the class is about educating their attitudes to women and violence, not about punishing them. I guess maybe this is a similar "perpetrators of racism" class??
I thought your discussion of the white man class was really good and balanced.