10 responses to “Racial Equity Anti Hero: Joe Biden”

1. 

   Lee Carney

   February 28, 2021

   Hi Emily,
   Good question! Yes, where have we started from? On the right, after the second world war, I think covert white supremacy politically but over the years it’s become more overt to the point of our blatant “hostile environment” stance that we have now. On the left of the spectrum, it’s traditionally been not-racist/covert socialism but now seems to be covert/overt white supremacy. They like to call it centrist.

2. 

   Emily Holzknecht

   February 26, 2021

   It’s such a strong argument for anti-racism work not being individual or private to point out how community supports our rooting. We learned our supremacy in social context (this soup we swim in) and we need social context to unlearn it too.

3. 

   Emily Holzknecht

   February 26, 2021

   When you originally said that the UK is veering towards a binary system where there is supremacy and overt racism on the right and supremacy and covert racism on the left, where were you thinking the UK was starting from? Over racism on both sides? Covert racism on both sides? No racism on one or both sides? I know you changed what you were saying. I am interested in where you were coming from before you changed your mind though.

4. 

   Emily Holzknecht

   February 26, 2021

   I was not familiar with these specific quotes. I am not surprised though. Likely white people would argue that he was being nice, but it’s what is left unsaid that shows how it is harmful. I wonder if Biden has anyone walking with him on “how do you think that landed with Black people?” so that maybe in future he could consider his words before he says them. But saying the things in ways that are not harmful is not enough. White people need to also not DO harm. Not saying harmful things and not doing harmful things also requires not thinking harmful things. I come to this community every day to retrain not only what I say and do but also how I think.

5. 

   Lee Carney

   February 24, 2021

   I think in the US and we’re very quickly veering to this in the UK (actually forget that, we’ve arrived) is that there is supremacy and overt racism on the right and supremacy and covert racism (and some overt case point above) on the left. We now just get a choice of which flavour of that we want. I think as Jesse has said below, not long ago, I too have heard comments from political leaders and not absorbed what’s being said.
   I think that at this next stage of my awareness some of these things become glaringly obvious but that’s a road of enlightenment, not a sudden light bulb on. Then the work begins in relaying this to people around you that it’s not a case of “you can’t say anything anymore” but informing them that they’re causing real harm.

6. 

   Lee Carney

   February 24, 2021

   “I need to allow myself to be seen as I am (WHILE confronting the racism and white supremacy within) so that others who are in community with me can come alongside and point out the areas I haven’t yet seen or begun to excavate.”
   I can see myself reflected in this. Reminds me of when I ask my partner to retrieve something from the cupboard, it’s never there until I get it then he’s like, ‘oh yeah’

7. 

   Danielle Holcombe

   February 23, 2021

   Liberal does not equal anti racist. Conservative does not equal racist. The messages of white supremacy get absorbed by everyone who lives in this toxic soup.

   My partner says Biden is every bit as racist as Trump. The only difference is how overt they are about their racism. Biden, for all his potentially good sounding words can and will be every bit as harmful if he does not look at the issues residing inside himself.

   And the same is true for me. I can look at the Proud Boys or other overtly racist groups and feel better than they are because their hateful words don’t spew out my mouth. But if I’m not careful to check the arrogance, entitlement, biases and assumptions, self-focus and more, that reside within me, I can and will still be so violent to those around me that I profess to care for.

   This is the added weapon of wearing a “good intentions” mask and so many of us are willing to be fooled by it, refusing to believe that the “nice” person we know could actually be so violent and harmful.

   I need to allow myself to be seen as I am (WHILE confronting the racism and white supremacy within) so that others who are in community with me can come along side and point out the areas I haven’t yet seen or begun to excavate.

8. 

   Clare Steward

   February 23, 2021

   The problematic and dangerous things Biden has said and then tried to justify is a great example of trying to place the importance of intent over impact which is a go to in the white playbook of not acknowledging the harm done and dodging accountability…”that’s not what I meant, go ask my Black friend because they think I am a good person”

   When I say or do something wrong or inflict harm and it comes to my attention, whether I can see it myself or people I am in community with calls me in, I have to approach it with an open mind and heart so that I can really hear what is being said. I have to own and apologize for what I did and then work even harder to make sure I do not continue to harm. (this is why it is so important to be in a trusted community and follow the leadership of and listen to Black and Brown people)

   This reminds me of discussions we have had here and I have seen in other spaces about how white liberals/progressives can be even more dangerous than overt racists….we inflict a whole lot of deep wounds under the cover our good intentions and garner a lot of support and respect from the platforms we stand on while we act in ways that uphold the current systems. Refusing to own our failings and abusive behaviors upholds our comfort and our perceptions that we are good people and ensures we never have to do the work required to make long lasting, marrow deep changes

9. 

   Jessie Lee

   February 23, 2021

   I am cringing to admit that at the time Obama was elected, the racist subtext in Biden’s faux endorsement would have been lost on me. Now it’s glaring. During Obama’s presidency, I used to delight in the friendship between Obama and Biden. When Trump was elected, I grieved the loss of that friendship and the basic human decency it represented to me at the time. Tiffany’s post is prompting me to hold up my mirror and notice that my version of decency excluded Black people. That Biden’s backhanded non-compliments of Obama did not raise a red flag for me signals that I too believed what he was saying, however unconsciously.

   It’s sobering and galvanizing to consider that the majority of people harbor those beliefs. Those beliefs will continue to feed supremacist systems unless they are challenged— unless I challenge them— until they become obsolete.

10. 

    Rebecca McClinton

    February 22, 2021

    This reminds me of conversations we’e had here at Lace on Race about keeping our leaders accountable, especially ones that we voted for, and how I can all too readily choose to dismiss things as “good enough,” when they aren’t. I also notice my initial clench to say, ‘how do I hold someone in such a high political office accountable?’ By discussing and addressing his decisions and and considerations always through a racial and social justice lens, for starters.