Yes, Black People Can Be Racist

Because anyone can support (or defend) white supremacy

Yes Black People Can Be Racist

While I have stated that Black people can be racist before, I never explicitly stated so in a stand-alone column.

Yes, Black people can be racist. The surprise is the fact that it’s not in the way that folk’s may commonly think.

Being that racism requires power, understand that power can be delegated.

First and foremost, Black people can be white supremacist. I have explicitly said this before and gone in immense detail in stating so. Thousands if not millions of Black people in America lend their skin to support and defend white supremacist talking points and policies, and have done so all across time and space. Black people have supported/defended white supremacy in the same manner how gay people have stood for anti-LGBTQ communities, as women have stood against feminism and womanism.

Understanding racism and white supremacy when a Black person does it is like understanding sampled music or cover songs; you can sing that song all day, but we all know who wrote the song. A dude can sample James Brown, but we all know who the originator is.

With that out the window, let’s point out that skin tone is not a scrutiny shield. It is common for a Black (or non-white) white supremacist to point at their skin and go, “how can I be a white supremacist” in retort, as if their skin tone is a clever infinity shield to perfectly guard from scrutiny. The ideology makes the white supremacist what he or she is, not the skin tone. White supremacy is not a person; it’s an ideology. And as an ideology, anyone can pick it up and adopt it. As a matter of fact, by way of white supremacist ideology it is preferred that a non-white person take up the mantle and run with it full speed, ensuring that the white person is safe from scrutiny, judgment or any repercussive harm.

While most white supremacists are visibly of European descent — Caucasian — that alone doesn’t mean that white supremacists can only be of European descent. While I’m certain a top leader in white supremacy (in its extreme) will never be allowed to be non-white, there will always be room for non-white persons to be fill rank and file roles.

White supremacy allows itself to have a Black best friend here and there.

In light of that fact, I want to also address white people operating in Blackface in online spaces like Twitter or Medium, and all people pretending they are Black while spewing white supremacist talking points — we see you. It is fascinating to see this because they too, have to operate with the notion that being Black is a scrutiny shield in order to use Blackness as one. For those who think they can pretend they are Black behind fake avatars and profile pictures, we see you. You’re not fooling anyone.

Many Black conservatives don’t actually debate; they perform. ~ Source

White supremacy exists on a spectrum, and Black people too, can find placement on there. For some they love the attention and attaboys, preferring a life of pats on the head like an obedient dog. For others, it pays well. There’s some who really are true believers, and there’s people who fall in-between.

There’s utility in being a Black conservative that simply doesn’t exist for white conservatives…Black conservatives as pundits function as white supremacy ventriloquy; they perform as Black bodies that the more racially ignorant white people can live vicariously through. Progressives and liberals don’t need Black bodies to validate their stance or say what they want to say. This is also why white progressives/liberals tend to colonize intellectual Black space; They rather literally displace us in the conversation versus letting us speak, which is a whole other problem to expand on another time. ~ Source

On the weak side of the white supremacist spectrum, many agree with the policies of white supremacy-lite politicians and get sucked in supporting the worst when said politicians are scrutinized. For the true believers there’s a spectrum of self-hate and finding self-worth, and you can always find these confused souls by watching who they perform Blackness for. They tend to loathe the fact that Black people are aware of the state of their Black personhood and experience in the United States, but go, “Look at me, I’m a Black conservative! I’m Blakety Black Black!” when it comes to political discourse. It’s like they only love being Black for white supremacist agendas.

Being that I’ve stated motives in detail before, it’s best to simply read from that conversation, here:

Conclusion

So yes, Black people can be racist. White people have no problem with Black people supporting white supremacy at all, and they are always looking for volunteers.

For Black people reading this, please stop reflexively saying Black people cannot be racist. Always point out that Black people can be racist, with the orientation of systemic harm still being pointed at Black people. You can point out a few examples of Black people actively doing this, for there are plenty. But let’s not deny those from recognition. Do observe Black people adopting white supremacy.

White supremacy isn’t a skin tone; it’s an ideology anyone can adopt. White supremacists adore Black people doing white supremacist activities; makes the job easier.

Yes Black people can be racist, it’s just that the fact of the matter is that racism is always oriented towards Black people. Being that racism requires power, understand that power can be delegated. Actions and duties can be delegated. White people have no problem delegating white supremacist duties upon nonwhite people, and the politics of America shows for it.

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Johnny Silvercloud is a U.S. Army vet turned civil rights/conflict photographer and anti-racism/sexism writer. Not a fan of intentional stupidity or passive-aggressive racism supporters, which tends to overlap. You can subscribe to Johnny here, and get his street photography, here. Twitter, here. Instagram, here. Facebook fan page, here. His publication of like-minded educational activists, here.