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RACISM
Dear White People, Having a "Black Friend" Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Racist
Knowing Black people doesn't change how you feel about them
When community members accused New Jersey Mayor Sal Bonaccorso of using racial slurs against Black people, he told reporters that their accusations were offensive. Oh, how dare they think he was racist, right? Bonaccorso insisted that he would never use that type of language because he had "many Black friends." But, here's the problem — having Black friends isn't the flex many White people think it is.
You can have a Black friend, colleague, spouse, or child, and it still doesn't shield you from being a racist. And if you're the type of White person who opposes criminal justice reform, equal academic, employment, housing, and healthcare opportunities, then your friendship isn't worth a dime. With racist friends, who needs enemies?
Rubbing shoulders with Black people won't keep the wind in your antiracism sails because only putting in the work to dismantle racist beliefs and systems will get the job done. And besides, Bonaccorso got caught in a big white lie. Turns out, the longtime Mayor of Clarktownship, NJ "called Black people the n-word and spooks. And when the audio came out, his denials fell on deaf ears. But, keep in mind, the…
