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Am I a Racist? Are You a Racist?

By Linda | July 22, 2013

Take your pick of medium:  TV, radio, podcasts, internet, face book, twitter, newsprint, blogs, email, etc.  No escape for anyone from the Zimmerman-Martin case.  And just articulating that sentiment bought upon me the label of “racist.”

How did this come about?  After 12 long hours in the OR, in a rare moment of insanity, I sat down and turned on the TV.  Intending to turn on the Turner Classic Movie channel, I had a glimpse of the protests of the verdict. I couldn’t stop watching and heard analyses, reactions and replays of key moments in the trial.

I shared my feeling of weariness of the day and the news coverage with someone close to me who railed at me for being a “racist.”

I am sure that this trial is seen by many to be a referendum on race relations. And perhaps it is. But I didn’t follow it and don’t know the details.  But I do know that the jury gave its verdict, and in the USA, whether right or wrong, justice is thus “served.”

Justice cannot erase the tragedy of a life lost.  And no matter what really happened that night a  tragedy occurred that should raise more than the question of racism.  Why was Zimmerman afraid? Why is there a neighborhood watch?  Why did Zimmerman need a gun to protect the property (and maybe the lives and limbs) of people in a gated community?  Is this an aberration or a pattern of behavior? And for whom?

But those questions were shooed away by my accuser when I said I was weary of hearing about this trial.  I was branded a “racist.”  Astonished, I protested (which absolutely proved this accusation to be true!)  But I plowed on, “After all, I have spent my life helping people regardless of race, religion, social standing or ability to pay.  I roomed with a black woman in college.  Some of my friends are black, and so on……..”

When it comes to racial/ethnic relations, there is no straight talk.  It is a double bind is that we must learn about different cultures so as to be “culturally literate/sensitive.”  And yet when I make use of my “generalizable” understanding of say, the eating practices in the African-American community (useful in my treatment of obesity and acid reflux), these generalizations can become labelled racist.

I don’t think this is right.

Not every crime committed against a person of color is racially motivated any more than a crime against a Jew is always one of Anti-Semitism.

And what about other culturally based behaviors and how well they are tolerated?  Okay, here is my personal story.  (Not the same magnitude, but my personal experience.)  As a New York Jew, transplanted to mild mannered mid-west like Buffalo, my way of speaking loudly, firmly and fast is intimidating to some people.  Well, this is my culture.  Do I not deserve the same cultural sensitivity?  Clearly not as evidenced in how I was brought forward for discipline because I spoke too loudly during a clinical emergency of one of my patients.

I have shied away from controversial topics recently.  Recently lost my taste for too much conflict.  But I felt compelled to share with you why I don’t think that I am a racist because I am tired of hearing about a trial that should have been over when the jury spoke.

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3 Comments

  1. The WP
    Posted July 22, 2013 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    Not to worry; there isn’t a person in this country who _isn’t_ a racist in one way or another. The minute you worry because a kid with gang insignia gets on the elevator with you…..you’re racist. The minute a rapper goes on about “the man” or the social condition, he/she is racist. The minute you think “minority” anything, you’re racist.

    The trick is to recognize your own triggers and figure out how _not_ to let you own prejudices automatically influence your actions.

    As for the person who called you a racist…ask them how they know they’re not one, too.

    similar subject addressed in this week’s blog.

  2. Linda Brodsky
    Posted July 23, 2013 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    I read your blog. It was great. I tried to post an answer but it wouldn’t let me. Much better than mine in the insightfulness, but I am sure you put a lot more thought as I haven’t given this much thought.
    thanks for your comments.
    I am not scared of black people. I used to be when I lived in NYC. Now after 30 years of practice with many patients whom I adore (of all colors, etc), I just forget the differences and act my usual bold self. So far so good. But yes, we all have bias, and some of it is well founded, some is not.

  3. Susan
    Posted July 23, 2013 at 5:29 am | Permalink

    Well said, Linda!

    Linda Brodsky, MD
    Linda Brodsky Respected Pediatric Surgeon, Advocate and Mentor for the Next Generation of Women Doctors, and Founder of Women MD Resources

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