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I Get a Lot of Racist Emails and Here’s My Response
Despite the continuation of centuries of anti-Black violence, members of the Black community remain resilient ‘love warriors’— hopeful for equity
When you write on anti-Black racism and pro-Whiteness, you get a lot of hate mail. I’ve gotten over 30 emailed responses to several of the articles that I have written — most of those responses have oozed with hatred and a clear, seething disgust for Blacks. But these emails pale in comparison to the ongoing killings of Black people. Although these correspondences mark my closest glimpse into the underbelly of casual anti-Black racism, the rampant disregard of Black lives is not a new phenomenon. The histrionic violence against Blacks has been as prominent a fixture in the tapestry of American culture as apple pie and baseball. Yet, through the frustration, disappointment, and, at times, sheer disgust I’ve felt in response to some of the emails I’ve received, I have tried to remain gracious and forgiving and to continue to fight for equity — with the hope for a greater sense of demonstrated humanity for all.
The emails first started when I wrote an article for Vox about the construct of Whiteness and the protests against the Covid-19-induced stay-at-home orders in April. After the article…
