Q7. Mixed Feelings

Question #7. Is there any argument or idea you have heard that has left you with mixed feelings or a lack of clarity as to where you stand? If so, could you share the topic and some thoughts on what contributes to this ambivalence or uncertainty?

·  I think what is puzzling to me right now are black police officers. Why aren’t they talking about what is going on right now? Why aren’t they being transparent with the community right now about their own killing us and their own being killed. I have a lack of clarity and understanding on where their minds are with all of this. Are they being bullied in the police stations by Police Chiefs not to speak about this? If so, who is keeping them safe from harm?

·  I’ve only heard about arguments like the utility of protests at this point because police officers have been profiting from this protest and that it feels like many large corporations are using the BLM movement as a marketing ploy to save face. I feel torn because those are good points but until there are openings made to erase the profit value of protesting, it is sustaining the attention of the world.

· Yes, there's a few things. I think the idea of where corporations stand with social justice is a topic that sometimes makes me feel conflicted. They are in business to make money- however if it's people that help build these corporations, shouldn't they feel obligated to invest back into the community? I also don't support "earned immunity" for police officers. I don't believe that should exist at all. We are taught to believe all officers are good, but America struggles to see black people as non-threatening.
·  I feel uncertain about many things. For example: How do I feel about American “forefathers” like George Washington or even Abraham Lincoln? How do I feel about more radical actions like looting? The biggest, messiest question in my mind, though, right now is how do we respond to racism at an individual level? One of the few ways to improve intergroup relations is cross-group contact--but there’s still so much we don’t know and perhaps being anti-racist is better seen as an art than a science. How do I learn to respond better in specific situations? What approaches and scripts can I use to effectively address racist comments? There’s something that bothers me in these conversations at times where it feels like our egos are all wrapped up in it, whether from the apparently more or less “woke” side. Is this inevitably the case or even a problem at all? How often do discussions actually move us forward anyway? Some part of me believes discussions do help, if the participants have enough skill, patience, and trust between them--but can I advocate for tolerance and patience when others are understandably exhausted from these conversations and racist situations? The more I think about it, the more questions I have. 

·   [No mixed feelings per se, but frustration--] Bias in the work place and not addressing the lack of diversity in leadership. So many POC qualify and deserve the promotion yet won’t get the opportunity and it isn’t fair. SO many go under valued and under paid yet their life stories and continued hard work is why many agency thrive. The Black story is still being raped and abused in white America for community. People need to see more of themselves and maybe care numbers for communities in need could get better.

· Not really. I’m very certain that I stand with helping any and all who need it. And I do not care where they come from, what they look like, or anything else for that matter. I am not colorblind. I am sure I have automatic associations. But when you spend your life trying to associate people (Even the one’s you feel justified in hating) with “someone I should treat well no matter what,” I think you are on the right path.

·  Nope. Education is the answer. In the end, all human beings want a sense of security, love and compassion. I believe that.

·  No mixed feelings. It just angers me when people are unable to accept that you can be part of an oppressed group, and even be doing good work for that group and still be wrong. Like when gay Toronto Police personnel wanted to participate in the pride parade and BLM kicked up dust and got the organisers to exclude them. I'm not a champion of parades in general but on general principles, What the fuck dude? You're BLM. You're not GLM. Your general hatred of police does not entitle you to interfere with people's parades... [They end up] much like the oppressors they purport to fight against.

Other respondents said, no, they had no mixed feelings. Not a lot of uncertainty on questions of racial justice in this group!