The Tyranny of False Civility
By
May 25, 2018 at 06:46AM
via My Reading List: Unread https://politicalorphans.com/the-tyranny-of-false-civility
«It is uncivil to call out racism, a breach of good manners and grace. In the white community, racism is always the fault of those who name it. For most American whites, racism exists only when it is spoken into being. In explaining that "We don't talk about these things," Rep. Kelly is deploying one of our oldest defenses of white supremacy: Civility.
Authentic civility creates an environment in which differences can be aired, discussed and often resolved without rupturing our shared ties. To be civil means we discuss our grievances in a direct, sometimes even painful manner without seeking to harm or demean one another. A shared commitment to civility creates a framework for healthy disagreement while preserving our ties of shared citizenship.
We have never allowed minority communities access to this kind of civility. Any attempt to raise concerns about white supremacy, even with a gesture as civil as kneeling, is by definition uncivil.»