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The Toxicity of Inflicting Whataboutisms When Discussing Racism
Why using this strategy to deflect from Black trauma says more about you than you know
Standing up against racism is not for the faint of heart.
It requires extremely thick skin. It requires the ability to purge hateful rhetoric from your brain to function normally in your daily life with loved ones. And it requires you to become a master wordsmith to shut down the viciously racist commentary about your work or a master at using the “block” feature to preserve your energy quickly.
I’ve been a Medium member for less than a year, but I’ve penned articles and essays on racism for decades. One common thread between any platform I’ve ever submitted content to promote an equitable society has been those who storm the comment section with their “whataboutisms.”
A whataboutism is defined as the technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counter accusation or raising a separate issue.
The minute any writer sees this, we immediately have a clear picture and understanding of the perpetrator. If racism is the topic, whataboutism takes the form of a wailing siren — the writer has just encountered a racist. There is no way to sugarcoat this or, as some have suggested, “change my tone” when speaking to white people if I want them to listen to me. If you are consciously deflecting from the deadly effects of racism in America, you do not have concern for the safety and well-being of Black people. It’s just that simple.
There is no topic related to human oppression where whataboutisms would ever be considered appropriate.
Let’s examine the level of respect given to Jewish people around the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism is easily considered one of the most abhorrent behaviors a person could exhibit; it’s immediately punishable with ostracization from any respectable and reputable organization.
It simply isn’t tolerated, and rightfully so. Inflicting pain on those whose ancestors were already subjected to one of the most vicious and savage atrocities in history is cruel, inhumane, and beneath anyone who considers themselves to be a good, compassionate, and…
