BLACK LIVES MATTER + RACISM

Here's Why We're Tired of White Folks Playing Dumb About Racism

As long as they "don't know," they will never be held accountable

Allison Wiltz M.S.
Momentum
Published in
5 min readOct 13, 2021

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Photo by Dmitry Vechorko on Unsplash

Since the racial reckoning began, Black folks have compiled numerous resources to "teach" White people about racism, why it's harmful, and what they can do to fight against injustices. But, like many Black people, I'm having trouble believing that White people don't know all of this already.

Also, isn't it kind of condescending to speak to them as if they don't know? Research shows White babies can distinguish between races as early as five months old, discrediting the notion that some White people don't see race. The cat is out of the bag, so it doesn't make much sense for White people to play dumb.

Remember what happened at Elementary school dances? All the boys went to one corner, and the girls went to to the other. We were wallflowers back then. But, it seems like that same hesitancy we had when first approaching members of the opposite sex is at play here.

When it comes to dismantling racist systems and practices, White people keep tip-toeing towards the line, and Black people, not wanting to scare them off, tiptoe at that same pace. But I can't help but think we're doing it all…

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Allison Wiltz M.S.
Momentum

Black womanist scholar and doctoral candidate from New Orleans, LA with bylines @ Momentum, Oprah Daily, ZORA, Cultured #WEOC Founder. allisonthedailywriter.com