Claudia Rankine and "Accidental Racism"

In most cases it is easy for people to empathize with victims of racism because we like to think that we know the difference between right and wrong and that racism is—for lack of a better phrase—black and white. It’s clear when reading Claudia Rankine’s poems who is the aggressor and who is the victim, who is the racist and who is simply living their life. When it gets complicated is when you come across accidental racism, as the student called it. What really struck a chord with me was a student in the audience at the Claudia Rankine reading who had a question, or really more of a statement that she wanted validated: The student grew up in an almost totally white-neighborhood. She said that she felt somewhat sheltered and that there was only one or two African-American families in her town. Obviously she was taught growing up to treat everyone the way you would want to be treated and she was aware of racism around her. So aware, in fact, that she could feel herself becoming hyper-aware of everything she said so as not to offend anyone and to not say something that could be construed as racism when she was trying her hardest to do the opposite. What I really identified with with this student was that she felt that in being overly-careful to not offend, she was, in fact, being racist.

The story seemed all too familiar since I am also from a neighborhood where there was maybe one or two African-American families in my school district and everyone knew them by name. Being Mexican-American, I am fully aware of small, backhanded comments that slip every now and then that most people think are normal but when you think about it, are actually not entirely okay to say to another person. I try to be open-minded and accepting when I talk to other people of color that, like the student at the reading, I worry that I am being racist just by trying so hard not to be.

The real question being asked here is: if we are hyper-aware of our “non-racism” is that racism in itself? It sounds silly at first but makes sense the more you think about it. Of course Claudia took it in stride and laughed and told the student that clearly she meant no harm, that anyone who cared that much was obviously a kind, and thoughtful person who was just being too careful. Hearing another person, whom I had never met, ask a question that I had asked myself once or twice was a kind of relief that I wasn't alone in my accidental hyper-sensitivity. I think that it is important that we have these discussions when reading provoking work such as Citizen because while you may not always speak your mind, someone else might be thinking the exact same thing.