You’re forgetting an alternative here. The only possible non-racist thing to say is “I’m not racist, all of my best friends are black.” Clearly, no such person can be racist. Again, by conservation of expected evidence, having any non-black friends whatsoever is evidence of racism.
As I understand it, there is no non-racist thing a white person can say in some social circles. The best bet is something like “I’m racist, but trying to become less racist.”
Sadly, yes. And the best way to signal that you are trying, is to accuse other people.
And because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it is best to start accusing others even before you are accused.
(To prevent possible misunderstanding: I believe that there is real racism and real racists; and I also believe that there is a status game played about this topic. And precisely because the racism is harmful, it would be good to distinguish between real racists and people who are simply not good enough at playing this status game; and also between people who genuinely help and people who are simply good at playing this status game.)
For a demonstrated historical example of something very similar:
There were (are?) social circles where there is no non-witch thing a presumed witch can say, nor any non-witch thing a presumed witch can do. There is no best bet: They will kill the presumed witches even if they “repent” and demonstrate willingness to correct themselves.
You’re forgetting an alternative here. The only possible non-racist thing to say is “I’m not racist, all of my best friends are black.” Clearly, no such person can be racist. Again, by conservation of expected evidence, having any non-black friends whatsoever is evidence of racism.
As I understand it, there is no non-racist thing a white person can say in some social circles. The best bet is something like “I’m racist, but trying to become less racist.”
Sadly, yes. And the best way to signal that you are trying, is to accuse other people.
And because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it is best to start accusing others even before you are accused.
(To prevent possible misunderstanding: I believe that there is real racism and real racists; and I also believe that there is a status game played about this topic. And precisely because the racism is harmful, it would be good to distinguish between real racists and people who are simply not good enough at playing this status game; and also between people who genuinely help and people who are simply good at playing this status game.)
An example of what you’re talking about on the positive side.
For a demonstrated historical example of something very similar:
There were (are?) social circles where there is no non-witch thing a presumed witch can say, nor any non-witch thing a presumed witch can do. There is no best bet: They will kill the presumed witches even if they “repent” and demonstrate willingness to correct themselves.
“Two plus two equals four.”
I should have been more exact—something like “In some social circles, there’s no way for a white person to demonstrate that they’re not racist”.
I’d guess that any such circle is anti-white racist, and so best avoided.