What Black People Really Need From You

These are some amazing articles and thoughts, and I'm prepping for an interview so I don't have time to even begin to dive in and do it justice (just preparing you for my imminent post and ghost) but I have some thoughts, which may or may not add anything to the discussion.

From a behavioural science perspective, it is human nature to make decisions from comparisons, and to derive well-being from doing slightly better than others. A well-known example is the choice given to participants to own either a) a 3,000 square foot house but everyone in your neighbourhood has a 4,000 or 5,000 square foot house OR b) a 2,000 square foot house but everyone in your neighbourhood has a 1,500 or smaller house (I don't remember the exact numbers but you get the idea). People will mostly choose the objectively smaller house that makes them comparatively better off than their neighbours. This is important because of last place aversion, which states that it we will actively avoid being in last place in our comparison group. An example of how this plays out is that the people who tend to be the most against increases in minimum wage are those make just above minimum wage, as it reflects a reduction in their relative place in the world which is a threat to their well-being. People who make much more money are not against increases, but not necessarily because they are so liberal, educated, evolved. It's because it doesn't impact their position in the world.

This is one explanation for the type of people who are most likely to be racist (vs not) and why it is so prevalent among women. It's a (immoral and unjust) way to avoid the existential pain of seeing oneself in last place - choose another group to lean down on. None of this is new of course. I think the notion of why people do not oppose the increases in minimum wage is just as important as those who do oppose it, especially if it's the same last place aversion that drives some racism. Just my opinion, but I think this is important when we think of ourselves as liberal anti-racists. Is it really that I have such evolved morality or is it just that black people aren't a lean-down group for me, and it doesn't cost me anything to talk the talk. I think as people who consider ourselves Liberals, this is a question we need to ask ourselves.

This isn't a very developed thought, but women are brought up to be human givers and part of that role is to be enforcers for white patriarchy. If we have human giver syndrome (and I do) we may have a little Aunt Lydia in us, which I suspect is a partial explanation for karens.

Finally, let's not forget that women are just as capable as men to be evil assholes. Society has been entrenched with the belief in white women as victims and this means we get away with just a ton of nonsense and bad behaviour. An example in my area is a woman who went to police claiming that she had been the abused wife of a serial killer, which the police believed because what other explanation could there be? Turns out, hubby only turned into a serial killer after marriage and horrifying video footage made it clear that she was at least an active participant, if not the instigator of the murders.

Which is a winding path to say, human nature + human giver syndrome + women are just as capable of evil as men.