Stop N Word Entitlement, Cale Bundy Resigns

Cale Bundy, Oklahoma football coach resigned after using the “N word.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cale-gundy-resigns_n_62f0f381e4b09d09a2c58970 Of course, he apologized and said, “it was shameful.” ?I don’t know about you, but after all this time, and all these incidents, and all these firings and resignations, one can only surmise that these are not just “oops slip of the tongue,” “I’m really a good person and just don’t know how that could have happened.”

This is part of a national disease. It’s a national disease of systemic racism, of hate and the growing normalization of violent hate crimes, violent verbal hate, and marginalization of specific groups.

This is not random or a brain eating maggot forcing someone to use the “n” word or any other slur.?A white person or anyone else not Black who uses this word, uses it because that’s how they feel, that’s how they think and that’s how they act.?A coach, a teacher, a cop, or anyone else who uses this word is expressing how they feel about Black people. And if you are in a position of influence, authority, or impact, then you will be acting towards Black people or any other group you denigrate the way you feel. If you are a coach, a teacher, a cop, etc. who talks and thinks this way, whose opinion will you give more weight to, who will you blame or even falsely accuse? ?

And to think any other way is an insult to the intelligence of people who believe in inclusion, justice and actual equity and equality.

Someone tried to tell me during a DEI workshop I was leading years ago, that their father was a police officer who used the N word but treated everyone with equal respect. Uh huh!!

Here’s a question. What is the obsession that some white people have about using the word? Why do they want to? I think it’s about the enforcement of white supremacy. There’s a twisted, KKK mindset entitlement. I think it goes back to slavery and ownership of slaves, and still having that sense of ownership. It’s the same mindset of the white people in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 who were outraged at the success of Black people in their town, that they committed mass murder and destroyed the community. It’s the same mindset that encourages the murders of Black people living their lives like Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and on and on.

The public murder of George Floyd brought out people of every color and background. It raised the consciousness of people across the world, although George Floyd was one of many for many years. It was happening right in front of people’s eyes if they had only looked, and it still happens every day. People are back at work, people are out of their house, and many are back to not paying attention unless they are from a marginalized or “othered” group.

So, what can those of us who are not Black, specifically those of us with white skin do? Respond with outrage. Speak up every time. It doesn’t matter whether its your old frat bro, or Uncle Edward. Stop making excuses. People know it’s wrong. Even more than that, it’s beyond the vocab, it’s the daily thought process. There’s so much I can say about this, so much I think, and feel but let’s start with this. No excuses, no all of a sudden apology, stop co-signing. I’m sure Cale Bundy used that term on the regular around other white people who also thought it was ok. If you don’t, then speak out. Silence means consent. Don’t be a “consenting adult” to racism.

#racism #Nword #CaleBundy #StopRacism #entitlement #conversationsonrace

#SDIG #EleanorStutz