Althouse: "I guess I understand the compulsion to find somewhere to engage this national conversation... The white people who do this..."

July 10, 2020

"I guess I understand the compulsion to find somewhere to engage this national conversation... The white people who do this..."

"... don’t realize (or maybe just don’t give a damn) that we’re on different timelines. You learned yesterday what white privilege means? Great! Welcome to 1962. This, however, doesn’t mean I need to engage you about it today. Or tomorrow. Or ever. And most important, maybe I’m out walking, shopping or playing with my children, or out just, I don’t know, staring at a fire hydrant because I want to give myself a break from writing about, from speaking about, from thinking about and from raging about racism, and you’re asking me to work for you for free. And that’s what it is: work. Free labor. An absolution device for your conscience, provided by me, shipped for free. There’s nothing inherently valuable for me out of that exchange. I don’t have a bucket list. But if I did, a 17-minute conversation about lynching, while in line for ice cream, wouldn’t be on it."

From "You Want to Talk About Racism? Pay Me/And even then, maybe not" by Damon Young, author of "What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir In Essays" (NYT).

Conversation is not like money. Handing someone a conversation is not like handing them money, because money is neutrally useful and if it's given to you, doesn't take any of your time. But a conversation isn't just a giving. It's a taking of someone's time, and it's always about something specific. That person has some power over how the conversation goes and can try to move it somewhere other than where you had in mind, but that requires time and effort, and who are you to demand that from them? Did you think about that? Or do you imagine yourself to be a wanted gift?

I looked up where Young lives, because I was trying to picture a place where people see a black man, recognize him as an author of a book about race, and think it's perfectly okay to make an effort to engage him on the topic of race, and have a conversation right there on the street at that moment, because that's where they encountered him. He lives in Pittsburgh.

I'm giving this post my tag "etiquette." Don't people understand etiquette?!

184 comments:

Mike Sylwester said...: maybe I’m out walking, shopping or playing with my children, or out just, I don’t know, staring at a fire hydrant because I want to give myself a break from writing about, from speaking about, from thinking about and from raging about racism, and you’re asking me to work for you for free. And that’s what it is: work. Free labor. An absolution device for your conscience, provided by me, shipped for free. There’s nothing inherently valuable for me out of that exchange. I don’t have a bucket list. But if I did, a 17-minute conversation about lynching, while in line for ice cream, wouldn’t be on it.

This excerpt does not make any sense.

However, I did not read the NYT article. Maybe this gibberish does make sense in the context of the entire article.; 7/10/20, 9:24 AM
RMc said...: You Want to Talk About Racism? Pay Me

My wallet is staying in my pocket.; 7/10/20, 9:25 AM
I'm Not Sure said...: You want to write about racism but don't want people to talk to you about it?

O-kay.; 7/10/20, 9:27 AM
Lucid-Ideas said...: If I have to 'have a conversation' where he talks at me for 17 minutes about lynching than I get to have a 17 minute 'conversation' where I talk at him about how he and his ancestors have been selling each other - figuratively and literally - for the last 750 years.

My favorite part will be the Zanj section of my 'conversation' where I explain Islam's major contributions to the destruction of his race - to this very day. I can't wait to see his eyes bug out of his head on that one. That would be fun.; 7/10/20, 9:28 AM
madAsHell said...: I read it quickly. It sounds like a 14-year-old girl argument......"You just don't understand me!!"; 7/10/20, 9:28 AM
Rob said...: No worries, mate. The last thing in the world I want to do is engage you in a national, regional, local or any other kind of conversation about race. Leaving each other alone is perfect!; 7/10/20, 9:29 AM
Todd said...: Some bubbles are more special than other bubbles.

Isn't he so cute in his own special bubble where he is recognized by the co-bubble people but he is just too busy/important to interact with those bubble people.

Guess this means that even in bubbles, there is a caste system...; 7/10/20, 9:30 AM
Expat(ish) said...: I once met a famous sci-fi author at an airport and when they called our flight (he was in first) he thanked me for not talking about his books.

I imagine this is historically a common problem or opportunity for authors.

I doubt RA Heinlien thought he was being asked to do planetary geology for free when he was engaged by strangers in a strange land.

Heh.

-XC; 7/10/20, 9:30 AM
DrSquid said...: OK, there is no such thing as white privilege. What is very real (and plentiful) is black disadvantage. And the disadvantage is that they seem to never stop thing about being black and what other people think about them because they are black. Giving a shit about what people think about you--even people you don't know and whom you've never met and are never going to meet--is an enormous disadvantage.

I don't give a shit what he thinks about me, but he can't seem to get over himself and giant impact his blackness has on the universe.; 7/10/20, 9:33 AM
Eleanor said...: How about stopping your kid's teacher at the meat counter at the grocery store to discuss your kid's IEP? Or asking your doctor for medical advice at the dog park? Do they get to post onine about how rude you are to expect them to engage in a conversation with you?; 7/10/20, 9:34 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: Socrates philosophized by means of conversation.

In contrast, most philosophers philosophize by means of monologue or treatise.

Socrates thought that conversation is the best means of determining truth. Socrates listened to what the other person was saying, and Socrates asked clarifying questions.

Socrates himself did not explain much. Rather, he asked the other person to explain.; 7/10/20, 9:34 AM
rcocean said...: Does anyone else hate the phrase "Have a conversation about..."? What does it even mean, EXACTLY? It seems to *mostly* indicate someone -usually a POC or Left/Liberal - is supposed to talk and everyone else is supposed to listen.

BTW, has the country gone nuts? Not the average black or white person, but the elite? Why are we suddenly in the midst of all these riots, marches, demands for a "Conversation about Race", and endless blather about the police - when there's never been less racism or less police brutality? Its like living in Bizzaro world. The FBI sends 15 agents to investigate a "noose" in NASCAR garage, and that's instantly followed by Pols and talking heads talking about how oppressed black people are. And lets not get into fruitcake Mitt Romney (Mr. six percent) marching in a mask in support of the Marxist Organization Black lives matter!

So yes, "Lets have a conservation". Lets talk about how the power elite has gone bat shit crazy.; 7/10/20, 9:35 AM
David-2 said...: Don't you have a tag for "bullshit"? (not "civility bullshit" just plain "bullshit") Because I don't believe this happens, no matter how white or how female (or both) anyone is.; 7/10/20, 9:36 AM
Big Mike said...: Don't people understand etiquette?!

Feminists got rid f it decades ago.; 7/10/20, 9:37 AM
Enlighten-NewJersey said...: Oh, the burdens of fame. Do him a favor, don’t buy or read his work and whatever you do don’t engage him in conversation.; 7/10/20, 9:37 AM
Gahrie said...: Silence is violence.; 7/10/20, 9:37 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: Some black people spend all of their time thinking about white people. These people tend to think that white people spend all of their time thinking about black people. They are wrong.
Imagine the slaves at night, looking up at the slave master's lit window. They wonder if the slave master is worried about them rebelling, or if he is trying to figure out a way to get more work out from them.
In reality the slave master is thinking about his daughter's upcoming piano recital, and is thinking about his slaves not at all.; 7/10/20, 9:38 AM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: Hilarious. Not this enterprising young hustler. But the poor slobs who actually would pay him to assuage their bleeding conscience.; 7/10/20, 9:39 AM
rehajm said...: I like that he posts his picture so we'll know who not to stand next to in the ice cream line.; 7/10/20, 9:40 AM
AZ Bob said...: Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Mark Twain; 7/10/20, 9:41 AM
Mary Beth said...: You learned yesterday what white privilege means? Great! Welcome to 1962

I would not want to have a conversation with someone this snarky.

As for etiquette, most people probably feel that it is flattering for an author to be recognized and for the other person to know what he has written about. Maybe there are a bunch of rude people who don't know or don't care that he doesn't want to have a conversation or maybe it's just a humblebrag - I'm so popular and they're so annoying.; 7/10/20, 9:43 AM
rhhardin said...: Hitler complained about Jews. You beat them in an argument, Hitler said, and then the next day when you come back they don't remember losing the argument to you and start all over again as if you'd never won.; 7/10/20, 9:45 AM
CJinPA said...: WE MUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACISM.

I DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOU CONVERSE ABOUT RACISM.

SHUT UP. SILENCE IS VIOLENCE.

This guy makes a living telling other people how fundamentally flawed their race is; he doesn't get to complain. (NYT: Wrong. We will pay him to complain.)

Let's try to imagine the scenario in which a fellow Pittsburgh resident a) knows who this guy is, and b) feels compelled to start a conversation about race. It's not easy to imagine.

But, just pay the man.; 7/10/20, 9:46 AM
tds said...: I've just wasted 2mins imagining NYT printing same article but with a white author, and black people wanting to talk to him about race relations.

There's theory, that black people are the only ones left with freedom of speech in the US.; 7/10/20, 9:46 AM
Iman said...: I have no interest in discussing anything with this person, so I guess we’re even.

No compensation necessary...; 7/10/20, 9:48 AM
Calypso Facto said...: Young makes money publicly selling black grievance, but then regrets the yoke of his celebrity. I don't think there's a violin small enough to adequately express my lack of sympathy.

From Amazon: "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker chronicles Young's efforts to survive while battling and making sense of the various neuroses his country has given him.

It's a condition that's sometimes stretched to absurd limits: creating the farce where, as a teen, he wished for a white person to call him a racial slur just so he could fight him and have a great story to tell about it afterward..."

So "survive" for him meant growing up with teen angst like everyone else and wishing for more racism so that he parlay it into additional grievance and celebrity (which he now says is also a battle -- sounds like he's probably just a life-long whiner).; 7/10/20, 9:49 AM
Tina Trent said...: I don't think he spent nearly enough time analyzing white people's ignorance about black women's hair.; 7/10/20, 9:51 AM
Unknown said...: Haven't read the article, probably won't, but I do agree, endorse, and appropriate "There’s nothing inherently valuable for me out of that exchange."; 7/10/20, 9:51 AM
mikee said...: Field of Dreams: Ray Kinsella meets author Terrence Mann.
"How about this? Peace, Love, Dope! Now get the Hell out of here!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL_Wfc2yb90; 7/10/20, 9:52 AM
gilbar said...: don't worry!
i won't be talking to you about 'white privilege'
AND, i won't be paying you either; 7/10/20, 9:53 AM
hombre said...: This douchenozzle and others like him don't seem to understand that there is a sea of white people and their tribe out here who understand that white privilege means fighting and dying for the country, obeying the law, and working to pay the taxes that finance black privilege and progressive excesses. Who cares about a national conversation among useful idiots, criminals, the mediaswine and Democrats? We are mostly waiting to see whether the law will be enforced or whether we will be required to protect ourselves and our property.; 7/10/20, 9:54 AM
Conservachusetts said...: On the "this didn't happen scale", I'll give this a 99.; 7/10/20, 9:56 AM
stevew said...: I have two things I say when I hear of people doing this sort of thing: People Suck and I Hate People.

The behavior he describes is that of a self-centered person seeking, as he calls it, absolution for their whiteness, or privilege, or whatever. They need to confess, it's the only way to wash away their sins. Not that they will do anything differently afterwards.; 7/10/20, 9:57 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: "Don't people understand etiquette?!"

Bringing it around on today's Althousian theme:

Etiquette used to be about the individual's manners.

We are now in an era of trying to define a caste etiquette for America: what one collective group may or may not say to another collective group.

Any individual etiquette is now subsumed by the group you are assigned; please sit in your designated area as you are processed.

I am Laslo.; 7/10/20, 9:58 AM
henge2243 said...: "Welcome to 1962."

He was born in 1979 and grew up in what appears to be a fairly integrated area (60% white, 37% black - yeah, I know, no capital B, go die). What does he know about 1962?; 7/10/20, 9:59 AM
tcrosse said...: As I recall, Lionel was not that interested in talking about race with Meathead, much as Meathead wanted it.; 7/10/20, 10:01 AM
Diamondhead said...: Another bad thing conservatives wouldn't do...approach a black man they don't know and ask to discuss racism. Imagine being beset upon by white liberals asking for book recommendations.; 7/10/20, 10:07 AM
Ice Nine said...: I agree with Damon Young on that. But I can tell him of one White person at least who would rather stick needles in his eyes than discuss racism with a Black racism whiner. So it's all good - he saves time, I save money.; 7/10/20, 10:09 AM
MayBee said...: OTOH, isn't it kind of nice they know what he does, what his area of interest is, and strike up a conversation with him?

He can always say, "Oh, that's my work and I am taking a break from that right now"
Just like a doctor who gets approached about a medical issue, a realtor who is asked about the market right now, or a law professor who may be asked about a SCOTUS decision.
People trying to engage with someone else isn't an assault, and it isn't an obligation. Take it as a human interaction where someone is interested in you--and decline from engaging if you don't want to. But don't hate them for trying.; 7/10/20, 10:12 AM
Kevin said...: I guess I understand the compulsion to find somewhere to engage this national conversation...

There has never been an intention to have a national conversation. That would require an uncomfortable level of individuality, and isn't likely to end in your desired outcome.

Better to converse through violence and have Nancy Pelosi demand control of all branches of government to stop it.; 7/10/20, 10:15 AM
n.n said...: Diversity (i.e. denial of individual dignity, denial of individual conscience, color blocs, color quotas, affirmative discrimination), not limited to racism, sexism, is a progressive condition under the Pro-Choice, selective, opportunistic religion.; 7/10/20, 10:16 AM
West Texas Intermediate Crude said...: Short version: Mr. Young has no idea how little I care about his concern.

Long version: I grew up in the '50s and'60s. I felt bad when I learned how poorly some white people treated some POCs in this country, starting in 1619 or thereabouts. I supported efforts to eliminate what was really structural/systemic racism and build a color-blind society. We got as close to that as possible, and the movement was then hijacked by people with an entirely different agenda. This is the reason that black people's progress stalled when so many other groups came to these blessed shores and worked their way into the upper levels of American society, despite the combined active opposition of the government, the dominant culture of the times, and corporate America. Mr. Young's failure to recognize this is the reason that I wouldn't converse with him even if he were paying me.; 7/10/20, 10:18 AM
Kevin said...: Your Starbucks barista stands ready to discuss today's racial climate.

Some of them might even be black.; 7/10/20, 10:19 AM
tcrosse said...: Guess who's not being invited to Festivus this year.; 7/10/20, 10:22 AM
gerry said...: What does he know about 1962?

Does that matter?; 7/10/20, 10:23 AM
Kevin said...: You say you want a conversation
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me it's structural racism
Well, you know
We all want to change the world

But when a noted author walks his dog
Don't you know that you can count him out
Don't you know it's gonna be
Not right, not right, not right; 7/10/20, 10:23 AM
n.n said...: He can always say, "Oh, that's my work and I am taking a break from that right now"

He and his fans exhibit a lack of social grace, which has been forced by the normalization of diversity, especially rabid forms including racism, sexism, under the Pro-Choice religion, and he indulges for profit. There has been great progress: one step forward, two steps backward.; 7/10/20, 10:24 AM
cacimbo said...: No, not everyone understands etiquette.Don't people who look for fame understand that fans accosting you in the street is part of the package.This guys book has his image on the cover!Don't put your face on the cover if you don't want to be recognized.Does he not think famous chefs get all kinds of cooking questions by random fans while waiting in line for ice cream.Don't you think the "Top Gear" guys are subjected to all kinds of car chat by random fans.At least it sounds like these white people he is ranting against have all been pleasant.No one has picketed his house or refused him food service - typical lefty tactics against those they disagree with.

Young's racism is blatant.That big media, politicians, and schools not only tolerate, but promote anti-white racism is vile.; 7/10/20, 10:25 AM
gerry said...: But, just pay the man.

Reparations!; 7/10/20, 10:28 AM
n.n said...: Another bad thing conservatives wouldn't do...approach a black man they don't know and ask to discuss racism

Or offer treats to her dog with a threatening overtone. A lack of social grace has been progressive, normalized by sociopolitical special and peculiar interests for profit and leverage.; 7/10/20, 10:28 AM
William said...: I can sympathize. My only problem in life is that people don't treat me just the way I want and deserve to be treated. This is particularly true of good looking women, but the problem is pervasive and systemic.; 7/10/20, 10:30 AM
n.n said...: "to find somewhere to engage this national conversation"... Better to converse through violence,

Protests, occupation, assault and battery, cancellation, and graffiti, too.; 7/10/20, 10:30 AM
Ann Althouse said...: The money is discussed in the sense “You’d have to pay me to do that.”

I think it’s interesting because he’s encountering people—he says—who think they’re supposed to speak up and do conversation.

These people who’ve heard that message and are actually acting on it are trying, it seems, to follow a new rule, but they don’t have a good intuition about it and they are imposing ineptly.; 7/10/20, 10:30 AM
Caligula said...: Another "conversation" that starts with, "You owe me plenty, I owe you nothing"?

No. Truly, I owe you nothing. Not even conversation. You can talk at me, but I have no obligation to listen, let alone reply.; 7/10/20, 10:31 AM
Narayanan said...: "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker" chronicles Young's efforts
----------=============
so the dead in Chicago and other places are less black than their killers.

good to know,; 7/10/20, 10:32 AM
Wilbur said...: "And lets not get into fruitcake Mitt Romney (Mr. six percent) marching in a mask in support of the Marxist Organization Black lives matter!"

He still wants to be POTUS and sees this as his best pathway.; 7/10/20, 10:32 AM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: Don't people understand etiquette?!

Etiquette is about observing a formal, well mapped mode of behavior and discourse that is designed to facilitate relationships between people. A lot of it is about making other people feel at ease and only works if both sides adhere to it. I seriously doubt that Damon Young feels the need to hold back his words or actions, so why should the rest of us not do the same?; 7/10/20, 10:37 AM
Carol said...: Sounds like he's a little embarrassed about his own whining. In public, and all. Now embarrassed about the attention. Whites do go on so...

But it's a living eh?; 7/10/20, 10:37 AM
Wilbur said...: MayBee is correct.

I got this occasionally if/when people would find out where I worked and what I did. I would nicely but plainly tell them that I don't discuss my work outside of the office. People got the message and understood.; 7/10/20, 10:39 AM
John henry said...: I make my living talking, writing and doing lean manufacturing packaging and other stuff.

I am always happy to talk to people about this and answer questions they may have or generally kibbitz.

I never charge for this. I almost always learn something from the conversation or perhaps get an article idea (the hardest part of being a writer)

Sometimes I find a new client this way. I almost always find a new friend.

I also speak at a lot of conferences. Sometimes just for expenses, sometimes even for free.

This guy sounds nuts.

I would also say that thinking about and raging about racism, as he claims to do, is probably unhealthy.

John Henry; 7/10/20, 10:41 AM
Tim said...: Racism?F you. Live your life as you want. The "white world " hasn't held you back, just your own wish to be a victim.; 7/10/20, 10:43 AM
traditionalguy said...: OMG, now mandatory White Guilt includes annoying conversations with other equal races to help Virtue signaling Democrat politicians.; 7/10/20, 10:46 AM
LordSomber said...: One-sided "conversations" are not conversations.; 7/10/20, 10:48 AM
SDaly said...: Althouse should make a “Diversity is Strength (sarcasm)” tag for this post, and spend the next months adding to all prior appropriate posts.; 7/10/20, 10:49 AM
Michael said...: Better idea. No, Damon. We don't really want a conversation about race, white privilege, intersectionality, transitioning. None of it. Thanks and leave us alone.; 7/10/20, 10:51 AM
Rory said...: "What does he know about 1962?"

The thing that Biden put out the other day went right up to Bull Connor and then stopped, as if the Civil Rights Acts had never passed. Is this a thing?

It seems important. The Democrats came out of those acts appearing to have made a peace between the wings of the party. The hardcore segregationists surrendered on the issue; in return they kept their offices, they moved up in Congressional leadership, they got buildings named after them, and Confederate culture in the form of flags and statues were accepted. That deal is substantially what's under assault - the blood money that wasn't demanded out of the actual segregationists is being of their grandchildren, along with the grandchildren of people who opposed the segregationists, and of people who had no connection at all to the dispute.; 7/10/20, 10:52 AM
CWJ said...: I immediately thought of Goldfinger.

So Blackperson, do you expect me to talk?

no, Mister White, I expect you to die!; 7/10/20, 10:52 AM
Dude1394 said...: What is he bitching about, his entire brand, livelihood, reason for being is wrapped up in the racism business.

Too bad, you keep asking for a conversation, you are going to get one.; 7/10/20, 10:53 AM
Gahrie said...: These people who’ve heard that message and are actually acting on it are trying, it seems, to follow a new rule, but they don’t have a good intuition about it and they are imposing ineptly.

That's because the new rule is actually: There is nothing you can do to satisfy the enraged, and trying just gets them angrier.; 7/10/20, 10:53 AM
walter said...: He's monetized his rage.
Fuck off freeloaders!; 7/10/20, 10:54 AM
Wince said...: You Want to Talk About Racism? Pay Me

"Oh, sorry, is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?"; 7/10/20, 10:54 AM
Sam L. said...: RAAAAAAAACism is TOTALLY off my list of "things I want to talk about".; 7/10/20, 10:54 AM
robother said...: I guess the literary equivalent of a Hate Crime Hoax is an Etiquette Hoax. I find it unbelievable that the average Pittsburgher waiting in line for an ice cream cone has any clue who this World Renowned Black Writer is, much less wants to engage him in The Conversation.; 7/10/20, 10:54 AM
Jupiter said...: "I don't think he spent nearly enough time analyzing white people's ignorance about black women's hair."

Yeah, me too. I doubt very much that this sad sack has anything to say that I want to hear, but is it OK if I touch his daughter's hair? How about if Joe Biden does it? If you won't let Joe Biden touch your daughter's hair, you ain't black!; 7/10/20, 10:55 AM
mccullough said...: Who waits in line for 17 minutes for ice cream?

This whole account sounds like bullshit. Since it’s in The Times, it must be bullshit.; 7/10/20, 10:57 AM
robother said...: I guess the literary equivalent of a Hate Crime Hoax is an Etiquette Hoax. I find it unbelievable that the average Pittsburgher waiting in line for an ice cream cone has any clue who this World Renowned Black Writer is, much less wants to engage him in The Conversation.; 7/10/20, 10:57 AM
Rory said...: "Another bad thing conservatives wouldn't do...approach a black man they don't know and ask to discuss racism."

White conservatives talk to black Americans. White liberals talk down to black Americans:

https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/white-liberals-present-themselves-as-less-competent-in-interactions-with-african-americans; 7/10/20, 10:57 AM
Sebastian said...: "a 17-minute conversation about lynching, while in line for ice cream"

I call BS.; 7/10/20, 10:58 AM
stonethrower said...: Mr. Young may be onto something, albeit accidentally. If everyone(!) had to pay real money in order to talk about race, what a great world it would be.; 7/10/20, 11:05 AM
Pianoman said...: If 2+2=4 is considered "racist" / "privilege" right now, I would assume that all of etiquette falls into the same bucket.

Manners are lacking in the Era Of That's Not Funny.; 7/10/20, 11:06 AM
bagoh20 said...: You can't pay me enough to have small talk with a stranger, but I'd love to have a serious conversation about race with those who don't see it as I do. Maybe I could learn something and so could they, but that never happens. I never see it on TV, videos, or hear it on the radio. There is one set of approved arguments and the other side is "racist". Even a weak attempt at the fringes of the alternative arguments gets shut down, talked over, dismissed or ignored. One side absolutely refuses to listen while they yell at the other, and the other is usually cowering in fear of being seen to be the slightest bit non-compliant.

Racism and slavery are both universal and operate in all directions, so I'm pretty sure that THE one argument offered is insufficient to get us anywhere near honesty, and without honesty there will be no healing.; 7/10/20, 11:10 AM
bagoh20 said...: Blacks should carry around little tiny medals they can hand out to White progressives looking for confirmation of their struggle for goodness. Just hand it to them, and off they go with a big smile to show their friends. Then they hang it on their wall above the boldly labelled recycle bin next to the photo of them yelling at cops from behind the barricades. Warriors.; 7/10/20, 11:17 AM
Gahrie said...: Remember, this guy isn't attacking the KKK, or Aryan Nation or even the Republican Party. He's attacking the well-meaning dupes that agree with him.; 7/10/20, 11:17 AM
walter said...: "Ann Althouse said...people who’ve heard that message and are actually acting on it are trying, it seems, to follow a new rule, but they don’t have a good intuition about it and they are imposing ineptly."
Yes, their intuition should tell them the "conversation" is a monologue where you listen until prompted to apologize.; 7/10/20, 11:18 AM
Gahrie said...: I guess I understand the compulsion to find somewhere to engage this national conversation...

It's not a compulsion, it's an attempt to satisfy the mob before the tumbrels start rolling.; 7/10/20, 11:19 AM
Ken B said...: I get his point, that clueless people assume he wants to talk to them. I say, let him eat his waffle.
But I do want to point out that “Pay to talk to me” is not something underlings normally say to overlords.; 7/10/20, 11:20 AM
Richard Dolan said...: Very hard to understand the earnest folks who would seek to engage a guy like this in conversation about race while waiting in an ice cream line. Definitely not a NYC thing, where most people (even sane, uber-earnest people) understand the importance of not invading someone's space without at least a tacit invitation (a smile or even a look can do). This fellow evidently delights in giving off the opposite vibe as strongly as he can, which makes it hard to believe any reasonably sane yet naively earnest person couldn't pick it up. Perhaps one or two especially obtuse characters managed not to see what was in front of them, but his gripe seems too writerly, too pat to be believable. Just his persona-of-the-day performance in today's progressive kabuki theater, what the narrative demands as a portrait of nice, white uber-earnest people (to wit, completely clueless). Sort of a country cousin to the racial hoax episodes which seem to have caught on in equally overheated precincts.; 7/10/20, 11:23 AM
bagoh20 said...: It is kinda tough today if you want to find value in your life, to do things that rise above simply living, to feel important and challenged when you have few responsibilities or demands upon your time. Fighting racism today is kind of like fighting Covid-19. The actual problem is far less of a fight than those of the past, so exaggerating the problem is at least half the work. The last thing you will ever admit is that the dragon you are fighting, is just a old sickly one, the last of its kind and near death.; 7/10/20, 11:26 AM
ga6 said...: book can be found in the fiction section..; 7/10/20, 11:26 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: This is so lame and so predictable.

1. Demand national conversation.
2. Harangue America.
3. America has questions.
4. Declare time’s up.
5. Rage about America never listening to their demands.
6. Repeat.; 7/10/20, 11:32 AM
Saint Croix said...: maybe I’m out walking, shopping or playing with my children, or out just, I don’t know, staring at a fire hydrant because I want to give myself a break from writing about, from speaking about, from thinking about and from raging about racism, and you’re asking me to work for you for free. And that’s what it is: work. Free labor.

He's using his anger to write, and he's getting paid for it, so it's a job. Obviously when people aren't working they don't like to be dragged back into work. And when he's dragged back to work, and not getting paid, it reminds him of slavery. So basically the nice white liberal who just wants to talk to him about injustice is cast as the slave-owner who is stealing free labor from the black man (again). Meanwhile, the conservative white guy who doesn't recognize him and doesn't give a shit gets a free pass.; 7/10/20, 11:42 AM
FWBuff said...: @MayBee, thank you for your sensible and kind comment.; 7/10/20, 11:43 AM
Kevin said...: There is no white privilege. There is only leftist privilege. Only leftists have carte blanche to do whatever they want to do with no consequences.; 7/10/20, 11:43 AM
PM said...: New rule? Just treat people decently and move on. Same as always.
If you see yourself as 'imposing ineptly', you've already lost.; 7/10/20, 11:44 AM
n.n said...: These people are following his diagnosis and asking for his prescription. They need to step back, discover their dignity, and reevaluate the characteristics of color judgments including "racism".; 7/10/20, 11:45 AM
n.n said...: Individual dignity. Intrinsic value. Inordinate worth. Natural imperatives and limits. Reconcile.; 7/10/20, 11:46 AM
Fernandinande said...: "You Want to Talk About Racism?"

No. But you'll do it anyway because Silence is Golden.; 7/10/20, 11:48 AM
donald said...: If you’re a realtor, you will take about realty anytime, anywhere.; 7/10/20, 11:48 AM
AlbertAnonymous said...: “You’re silence is violence!”

Also

“Shut the fuck up!”; 7/10/20, 12:02 PM
wendybar said...: Go boycott Goya because they praised the President. So sick of the left.; 7/10/20, 12:06 PM
Butkus51 said...: Maybe 7 years ago i had a "job interview" in Pittsburgh. I put that in quotes as I knew what they wanted, I told them I cant (non-compete), but they begged me anyway. I was expecting Gary Indiana. At least what I saw of it, Pittsburgh and the surrounding area was beautiful. Were talking puzzle landscape beautiful. Rolling hills, red barns, etc.; 7/10/20, 12:06 PM
Nichevo said...: In general the drive is for power and control. They (just like you, Ann) want to be in charge. Talk, don't talk, act, don't act, topic, other topic...rules? They'll let you know.

Enjoy the world you have created.; 7/10/20, 12:11 PM
Nichevo said...: rhhardin said...
Hitler complained about Jews. You beat them in an argument, Hitler said, and then the next day when you come back they don't remember losing the argument to you and start all over again as if you'd never won.

Nichevo complained about rhhardin. You beat him in an argument, Nichevo said, and then the next day when you come back he doesn't remember losing the argument to you and starts all over again as if you'd never won.

(I am not Hitler, nor am I Laslo.); 7/10/20, 12:15 PM
JPS said...: "This, however, doesn’t mean I need to engage you about it today. Or tomorrow. Or ever."

Funny, that is exactly how I feel about professional racial obsessives.

I know, I'm naive. I will be made to care. In the meantime, everyone who wants me to hang my head and be lectured to - let alone pay for the privilege - can fuck right off.; 7/10/20, 12:26 PM
tim maguire said...: Eleanor said...
How about stopping your kid's teacher at the meat counter at the grocery store to discuss your kid's IEP?

Or lawyers who get hit up for free legal advice at every gathering.

But let's get real. All conversation is a give and take and someone is always sharing information with the other person. Is it the case here that Young wrote a book and now he's angry that people who bought this book ("pay me!" Screw you, buddy, they already did) and spent a few hours reading it now want to talk to him about it?

Why is he angry about that? Didn't he write the book to change people's minds? And now he's pissed off that they are actually trying to talk to him about the mind changing that he encouraged them to be open to?

Just another New York Times narcissist. Yawn.; 7/10/20, 12:28 PM
Stv30 said...: Leper: "Lord,heal me.
Jesus: "Pay me!"; 7/10/20, 12:31 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: a one-shot, reasonably priced "Certificate of Racial Absolution"*
just may be worth it**, so you dont have to hear this shit 24/7

...but most likely the terms are for a pricey, open ended service contract

*issued by an Authorized Wokeness Dealer
**many, in truth, dont need one; 7/10/20, 12:35 PM
Just an old country lawyer said...: Lot of highly developed privilege and entitlement right there. Bless his heart.; 7/10/20, 12:35 PM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: "a 17-minute conversation about lynching, while in line for ice cream"

If he had video, could he monetize that on YouTube? It would probably be worth more if it were shorter. In effect he has monetized it into a NYT piece.

I am wondering where that ice cream shop is. If people are willing to stand on line for upwards of 17 minutes, it must be pretty good ice cream. That's my white privilege thought for the day.

Why is white privilege so hard for some to understand? You don't feel privileged? It's not having a societal handicap.; 7/10/20, 12:36 PM
rehajm said...: Come November we'll all go back to none of this matters anymore...; 7/10/20, 12:39 PM
rehajm said...: Psychiatric Help 5 ¢

The Doctor is WAY IN; 7/10/20, 12:43 PM
Bilwick said...: (Slipping into Andy Rooney voice): Didja ever notice how the people who talk most about "white privilege" are also big on State privilege? Why is that, do ya think?; 7/10/20, 12:48 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/10/20, 12:52 PM
Jim at said...: Regular people I know are getting pretty fed up being scolded all the time. About things they have nothing to do with. And of which they have no control.

That includes me. STFU. I don't want to hear it anymore.; 7/10/20, 12:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Mr. Young is right. He doesn't owe me any conversation of any kind. Anyone who expects him to engage in a conversation, whatever the subject, it just plain rude, and a conversation about race, all the more. Correspondingly, I don't owe him any acknowledgment of my alleged white privilege. "Welcome to 1962" pretty well sums up the disconnect between aggrieved racialists and everyone else in this country. It's always 1962 for race hustlers. Keep it up, race hustlers, and it will always be 1969 at the Dudley St. MBTA station for everyone else.; 7/10/20, 12:57 PM
M Jordan said...: But but but didn’t Eric Holder tell us to have this conversation? Didn’t he call us cowards for not having it?; 7/10/20, 1:07 PM
gbarto said...: On the one hand, having people recognize you and want to talk to you is part of the biz of being a writer/researcher maybe. On the other hand, there are some people who view their every encounter as free therapy and exhaust everyone they meet. I can see this sort of person being drawn to an author who writes about race so they can get their free session allaying their fears they are a racist while mentally noting all the things they're going to tell their other white friends about the very special conversation they had today. In this case, the guy doesn't even need to be there, a plastic bobble-head that appeared to nod in understanding every few minutes would do the trick.; 7/10/20, 1:12 PM
steve uhr said...: I agree with his 1962 comment. People today are just now coming to the realization that- everything else being equal - there are advantages to being white in America? If he doesn’t want to spend his time holding the hand of fragile sorryfull white people seeking absolution that’s his choice. If he finds people willing to pay for that “conversation” good for him. Remember when “coaching” was a big thing .:. In California? Maybe it still is. They don’t work for free.; 7/10/20, 1:16 PM
doctrev said...: bagoh20 said...

Racism and slavery are both universal and operate in all directions, so I'm pretty sure that THE one argument offered is insufficient to get us anywhere near honesty, and without honesty there will be no healing.

7/10/20, 11:10 AM

I don't care about healing, I'm not wasting my time on conversation, and I'm sure as shit not paying you for the dubious privilege.

That's the long version of what Damn Young needs to hear. The short version is "Fuck you" followed by your choice of racial epithet (try not to pick the absolute worst one) and drawing a gun on him. I mean, you're going to lose your job and house anyways if this affirmative action grifter lays eyes on you. May as well deserve it. And that way your sacrifice will benefit the broader community.; 7/10/20, 1:34 PM
Narayanan said...: ... You Want to Talk About Racism? Pay Me ...
-----------==============
wondering if Mr. Young is also the commenter who goes on and on about REPARATIONS; 7/10/20, 1:38 PM
Narayanan said...: FOR FREE TOO; 7/10/20, 1:38 PM
n.n said...: A light-weight religion and a mortal god who refuses his followers. Even mortal gods, and goddesses, are asked to share their body, their mind, and their time. Let us bray.; 7/10/20, 1:41 PM
n.n said...: He is the philosopher of a light-weight religion ("ethical" code), a mortal god, who refuses his followers. They should burn his effigy in protest. Let us bray.; 7/10/20, 1:46 PM
Drago said...: Li'l Stevie Uhr: "If he finds people willing to pay for that “conversation” good for him. Remember when “coaching” was a big thing .:. In California? Maybe it still is. They don’t work for free."

Maoist revolutionaries talking about Fee for Service....

....now THAT'S funny!; 7/10/20, 1:50 PM
Todd said...: Left Bank of the Charles said...

Why is white privilege so hard for some to understand? You don't feel privileged? It's not having a societal handicap.

7/10/20, 12:36 PM

Wait, what? Well shit, someone should have done something about all of my formative school years then!

I never got picked first for ANYTHING.

I never got to sit at the cool kid's table.

I made the kids in that "weird science" movie look like the cool kids.

The "awkward" kids shunned me.

My "social handicap" makes my golf handicap look like Tiger Wood's and I shoot in the triple digits!

Where the hell was my social privilege?

(I'm here all week and don't forget to tip your waitress); 7/10/20, 1:52 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Isn't this more sad and pathetic proof that the left's division and segregation along racial lines is working?; 7/10/20, 1:54 PM
I'm Not Sure said...: "People today are just now coming to the realization that- everything else being equal - there are advantages to being white in America?"

There are advantages to being in America, period. People of all colors from all around the world want to come here- you might have noticed? Perhaps Whining Black Man would prefer to trade places with one of them?

No, I didn't think so either.; 7/10/20, 2:01 PM
Mike Sylwester said...: My own comment at 9:34 AM
Socrates thought that conversation is the best means of determining truth.

Another person who had that opinion was Sigmund Freud.; 7/10/20, 2:02 PM
LordSomber said...: I don't think he spent nearly enough time analyzing white people's ignorance about black women's hair.

"All hair problems are First World Problems."
-- Johnny Gutts; 7/10/20, 2:21 PM
Francisco D said...: steve uhr said...People today are just now coming to the realization that- everything else being equal - there are advantages to being white in America

That is ridiculous. Ask anyone who has applied to graduate school if they were advantaged in being White.

Ask an urban cop or firefighter who took promotion exams if they were advantaged in being White.

The disadvantage in being White goes back 50 years in those and other situations due to racial quotas/affirmative action

You know that steve.; 7/10/20, 2:22 PM
bagoh20 said...: Sure, but do you really not see any advantages to being Black? You get preferential treatment, often regardless of merit in many things. Go to any government office and you will see those coveted jobs with pensions for some reason go to Blacks at about 5 times their representation in the population.

What do you think your chances as a White guy are against a Black for any government job, college admissions, sports franchise, and many other places where race is actually the first consideration for a position? Your application starts out on the bottom of the pile.; 7/10/20, 2:23 PM
Jim at said...: Why is white privilege so hard for some to understand?

Because it doesn't exist?; 7/10/20, 2:29 PM
stever said...: I call BS on the story. Common sense privilege.; 7/10/20, 2:40 PM
MadisonMan said...: It would never occur to me to bump up to a black man and engage in a conversation like that. I ponder the gender of those who do and ask: Primarily Male, Primarily Female, or some of each?
That said: There is an art to steering the conversation. Learn it and you'll be happier.; 7/10/20, 2:55 PM
Charlotte Allen said...: I can sympathize with him up to a point. It's like when you tell people you're a lawyer, and they immediately unload on you whatever legal problem they think they have. But there's a way to deal with that politely. Lawyers can mutter something about their specialty being something else, not qualified to give advice out of their specialty, etc. So this guy ought to be able to think of a way to change the subject, too.

I must say, though: If haranguing someone for 17 minutes about while standing in line for ice cream isn't on his bucket, believe me, listening to someone haranguing me for 17 minutes while standing in line for ice cream I'm waiting for an ice-cream cone isn't on my bucket list.; 7/10/20, 2:56 PM
whitney said...: At this point you should treat all black people like venomous snakes. Back away, don't engage, that thing can kill you; 7/10/20, 2:57 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: OT:

Watch Nancy Dance.
The modern (old dying) democrat party - this is it. Wow - freaking embarrassing.; 7/10/20, 2:59 PM
Lovernios said...: " "Welcome to 1962" pretty well sums up the disconnect between aggrieved racialists and everyone else in this country. It's always 1962 for race hustlers. Keep it up, race hustlers, and it will always be 1969 at the Dudley St. MBTA station for everyone else."

-Richard Fagin.

In the early Sixties, my brother and I used to shine shoes in Boston. We lived right next to Forest Hills station and would ride down to Dudley station and work our way back, hitting every bar and tavern on Washington Street. Dudley was the dividing line between the white and black neighborhoods and it could be dangerous for a couple of skinny white kids. But there was a bar, the Golden Cafe, behind the Ferdinand building that was a favorite watering hole for my father. The Golden was patronized by working class whites. It was very lucrative for a couple of "house" shine boys. Everyone knew we were Sonny's kids.; 7/10/20, 3:07 PM
Skeptical Voter said...: National "conversations" with angst filled white liberals. It's the new Black Man's Burden.; 7/10/20, 3:09 PM
Nichevo said...: Im thinking that kindness to strangers is not his priority. Fair enough, but then why must it be ours?; 7/10/20, 3:10 PM
dgstock said...: I avoid conversation about race because it inevitably boils down to the principles behind bills of attainder and corruption of blood, both of which, like Original Sin, I reject.; 7/10/20, 3:29 PM
walter said...: At least no one ripped off his shoes to wash his feet.; 7/10/20, 3:41 PM
Balfegor said...: I don't care for Young's casual implication that he is in a position to be dispensing racial absolution, but as an author who gets paid to write about this stuff I suppose he certainly has grounds to demand people pay him rather than getting his content for free in conversation.

But this is really just the flip side of Starbucks employees trying to start a "conversation" about race when all their customers want is their morning coffee. Or Whole Foods employees wanting to promote Black Lives Matter while they're on the clock. It would be irritating and intrusive if it were Starbucks employees doing it to you while you wait in line, so I expect it would be equally, if not more, irritating and intrusive to have other customers doing the same thing.; 7/10/20, 3:43 PM
rcocean said...: Fighting racism? There is no real racism. The hysteria over "Racism" has risen proportionately to the fall in any real discrimination against black people Again, I wonder why well-to-do, powerful White People are always banging on this drum. It sure as hell isn't "White Guilt" - that's giving them too much credit. Especially, since they don't seem to feel guilty about anything else.

When multi-millionaire, son of Governor, Harvard Grad, now Senator Mitt Romney is marching in 100 degree heat and praising Black Lives Matter, then something is going on. And its not "love of black folks".; 7/10/20, 3:45 PM
Ambrose said...: I am fine with him never speaking to me. So he's got that going for him.; 7/10/20, 3:45 PM
Mark said...: Once again, we have someone whose real complaint -- if you pay attention, which too many of you DON'T -- is about the racism of white PROGRESSIVES.

And, once again, we have a bunch of people here -- many of whom profess to be conservative, or at least not-progressive -- running as fast as they can to the defense of these white progressive elitist racists.; 7/10/20, 4:01 PM
rehajm said...: Why can't I just eat my waffle...ice cream cone?; 7/10/20, 4:02 PM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Nobody hurts you harder than yourself... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrIGU0YlpnQ
Graham Parker has a lesson for him.; 7/10/20, 4:11 PM
MadTownGuy said...: First, reparations.
Then, retribution.
After that, supremacy.
Finally, genocide, if it comes to that.; 7/10/20, 4:15 PM
GingerBeer said...: Just don't be out riding a Harley in Wisconsin. “Navarro said that if President Donald Trump and white people are going to create the world we are living in, he has no choice and that people are going to have to die,”

https://fox11online.com/news/local/fond-du-lac-county-to-release-more-details-on-july-3-crash; 7/10/20, 4:27 PM
Francisco D said...: rcocean said...Fighting racism? There is no real racism.

"Racism" is the magic word that allows people to destroy your argument without understanding it or making a counter argument.

It should not be a surprise that Marxists use that word to also hide behind Black people.; 7/10/20, 4:29 PM
MayBee said...: FWBuff said... thank you, FWBuff!; 7/10/20, 4:31 PM
Howard said...: The dude is spot on. Time is Money; 7/10/20, 4:32 PM
donald said...: I don’t know anybody that wants to talk about this shit. I’m an Atlanta guy. Nobody wants to talk about it. Apparently a lot of cocksuckers wanna fight, murder and riot, but the talking is long over.; 7/10/20, 4:48 PM
cubanbob said...: steve uhr in a country that is 68% white, what did you expect? You think you will have white privilege in China? In Angola? In Japan? And just what exactly does white privilege do for poor whites?; 7/10/20, 4:49 PM
donald said...: Oh, and loot. That’s the real goal.; 7/10/20, 4:49 PM
Sebastian said...: Mike: "Socrates thought that conversation is the best means of determining truth."

I thought that Socrates thought that conversation with Socrates is the means of determining truth.; 7/10/20, 4:50 PM
Rory said...: "Again, I wonder why well-to-do, powerful White People are always banging on this drum."

The real privilege is what has always been called privilege - money and connections. The well-to-do and powerful warn of the dangers presented by regular old white people, then stick their greedy snouts back in their troughs full of goodies.; 7/10/20, 4:51 PM
DavidUW said...: Only white women do that. And as we know white (american) women are the worst.

American woman, get away from me.; 7/10/20, 5:21 PM
The Vault Dweller said...: Yeah I don't get people who try to engage with random people out in public in anything other than polite chit-chat. Polite chit-chat has two components it has to be mutually enjoyable, and the topic has to be light. If one starts sensing that either of these no longer exist then the polite thing to do is end the conversation. This reminds me a little of people who go up and try to engage in conversation with celebrities. People will go up to celebrities on the street and gush over them and try to engage in conversation like the celebrity was a long long friend. This is rude behavior.

However much like celebrities I don't have that much sympathy for the author. Celebrities typically cultivate their celebrity status. They want to be out in the media as much as possible, they want to be on news magazines and celebrity gossip sites, they want people to think of them as part of their in-group. This gets them better roles, opportunities, status, and also more money. Part of this is that because you are so well known some people will feel free to come up and engage you. To some degree it is a package deal. You knowingly tried to gain celebrity status to help yourself and exploited it, it is only fair that you get the other end of it too. So this author says that he has spent his career trying to make racism against black folks common knowledge. To put it front and center in the public discourse. To make white people feel responsible for racism. Congratulations, you found fertile ground in the minds of many white lefties **cough cough** inherent moral inferiority complex **cough cough**. Now part of this package deal is naturally that these white lefties who bought in completely to what you were saying now want to feel good. Your neo-religious revival preacher shtick has convinced them they are all terrible sinners. At least those travelling salesman had the decency to offer their audience a chance at absolution at the end.; 7/10/20, 5:22 PM
Michael K said...: More of that white supremacy that Howard worries about.; 7/10/20, 5:40 PM
Ken B said...: Conversation tag. But it’s not conversation at all that is sought. It’s absolution.; 7/10/20, 5:41 PM
Doug said...: Conversations about racism with blacks begin with them telling you what you can and cannot say.

Move along, Gifted Author.; 7/10/20, 5:43 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Firing Shannon Sharpe is the only way to end this plague African-Americans face. Abolishing the racist NFL is only the first step after that.

Everyone knows Black Americans could make a new sports league not racist or based on racist ideas of war, but many support the racist NFL league nonetheless, even Blacks. The crazy thing is, Blacks would only have to work half as hard as whites to develop their own equal league, yet they still support the old white racist league.

Heck, if you were told you could work half as hard for the same recompense as current efforts beget, what would you do? Keep working for tha Man?

Maybe white people will have to figure out for Blacks why they shouldn't work twice as hard for half as much? Or maybe live and let die works out best for everyone considered?; 7/10/20, 5:56 PM
Krumhorn said...: A predictable result of this upheaval has been a critical mass of white people either doing the absolute least or the absolute most. This is where I’m supposed to write, “Not all white people.” I won’t. But if it helps, you can imagine I did

This guy reeks of a snarky sense of aggrieved moral superiority since, for the moment, he has the upper cancel culture hand. But this constant race-baiting is bringing out the worst in everyone. Me included.

I’ll make a deal with this assclown. I’ll avoid having a conversation with him about race if he’ll agree to avoid me altogether on that or any topic.

- Krumhorn; 7/10/20, 6:00 PM
bagoh20 said...: Without modern progressives, Blacks and everyone else would get along a lot better. We would all definitely save a lot of time, because there would only be real issues to deal with, like what do individuals need to do to get ahead and accomplish their dreams? You can't really work on that stuff when you are busy blaming people for not getting there yet. The two things are just mutually incompatible, so which one do you want to work on. Which pursuit is likely to get you real personal success? You know what person success times millions of people is? It's the opposite of what you get from riots, bitching, and accusations.; 7/10/20, 6:02 PM
Zbig said...: When I come to Canada few decades ago, I seen just human beings around me. Recent events prompt me to notice first color of the skin. "Different timeline" all right. Not my fault though.; 7/10/20, 6:34 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: I guess, as I've fucked 'em so well, I know what owning/having/sharing a pussy is like, better than most women even.; 7/10/20, 6:39 PM
JAORE said...: He doesn't want to talk to me about racism.

At F'-in last.

'Cause I sure as hell don't want to hear from him.; 7/10/20, 7:00 PM
Banjo said...: Is there a way to bring this blog post to the Famous Author's attention?; 7/10/20, 7:11 PM
JAORE said...: You Want to Talk About Racism? Pay Me

Only if you guarantee a happy ending.; 7/10/20, 7:14 PM
Real American said...: people calling for a "conversation on race" always want to do all of the talking in this "conversation".; 7/10/20, 7:18 PM
Biff said...: For quite a while, I've been hearing that I have to be part of "uncomfortable" conversations and confrontations at any time that someone woker than me wants to have one.

Some days, I just want to do my job or otherwise go about my business, but that's just proof I'm -ist or -phobic over something or other.

Etiquette has been gone for as long as requests for etiquette are at least as likely to be answered with "F* you! Who are you to tell me how to talk/behave?" as an apology. Well, f* that!; 7/10/20, 7:26 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: If it weren't for racism, the NFL would be 99.98 percent Blackthletes and 99.99 percent Blackmanagers and 100 percent Blackowners.

Totally that would be the only game in town, like the NBA ought have been 3 decades ago.

Baseball sucks.

Hockey is racist.; 7/10/20, 7:38 PM
Paul Doty said...: Yep, maybe I don't give damn. You're finally getting it, Sparky.; 7/10/20, 8:00 PM
Mea Sententia said...: The ongoing need to have a 'national conversation' on this or that has worn me out. I will focus on other things.; 7/10/20, 9:23 PM
Lewis Wetzel said...: Sometimes I go up to black people and start a conversation about racism. Often these black people are not really black, but are Mexicans, or Sri Lankans, or just white people with brown hair and eyes. But it doesn't matter. The conversation is the important part!
I am pretty sure I saw a real black person at the thrift shop today. He had on a snazzy jacket & a snap brim hat. He was looking at the jackets in men's wear. He had an afro. He didn't find anything he liked, in his size, so he left without buying anything. I saw him drive away in a four-door Saturn. Are those cool cars, now?; 7/10/20, 9:42 PM
wildswan said...: It just shows how strange it is to be human - this guy went at warp speed from "Listen to me" to "Leave me alone."; 7/10/20, 9:54 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/10/20, 10:04 PM
Largo said...: bagoh20 said...
Blacks should carry around little tiny medals they can hand out to White progressives looking for confirmation of their struggle for goodness.

Why medals? Hand them 'gold star' stickers that the kindergarten teachers use. Cheap, and abundantly available at ant stationery shop.; 7/10/20, 10:20 PM
Greg the class traitor said...: Hey Damon: go fuck yourself

"White privilege" is utter bullshit. Sorry you're stuck in your delusional world, but I'm not

Racism is when you decide people should be treated differently based on their skin color. Got it? Good. Now we can shut up about it.

Bye, you whiny, self-indulgent asshole; 7/10/20, 11:24 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: Can’t they just let him eat his waffle?

You can’t win with Professional Black People. All they have to talk about is the Black Experience in the USA—a topic they have larded with a combination of self-regard and monomania (did transgender activists learn from black activists to make everything about them all the time?) Professional Black People never want to talk about the Black Experience in the Caribbean, or South America or Africa or the Arab world or China. Only the USA, where they basically won the important arguments fifty years ago. But if you talk about the Black Experience in the USA, you have to do it on their terms, their topics, and apparently their timeline. What? No National Conversation on Race? But Clinton, Obama, and their acolytes in America’s newsrooms have assured me that we need that conversation. Now, this guy wants to take a break? He wants to be paid to whine?

Pull the other one, mate. It has got bells on it.; 7/11/20, 6:17 AM
Bunkypotatohead said...: What's the etiquette for when his buddies loot my business and set it on fire.?

He'd have to pay me to read his book, and I still wouldn't.; 7/11/20, 3:01 PM
Doug said...: With that attitude, maybe white people wanted to talk about lynching HIM because if good shitty attitude.; 7/11/20, 4:21 PM