Summary

The author acknowledges their own racial biases as a white individual and discusses the impact of these biases on their interactions with people of different races, nationalities, and accents, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and change.

Abstract

In a candid personal essay, the author, a white female, confronts the uncomfortable reality of her own racial biases. Despite being raised with liberal values and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, she recognizes that she harbors prejudices against certain groups, including Indian men due to a traumatic experience with an Indian boss, and people with strong accents or unfamiliar names. The author reflects on her privileged upbringing and the lack of understanding it fostered regarding racial issues. She also critiques the outsourcing of jobs by American companies, which she believes contributes to her discomfort due to communication barriers. The essay calls for self-awareness and a broader appreciation of diversity, suggesting that reading literature like "The Hate U Give" and "Small Great Things" can challenge and change one's perspectives on race and bias.

Opinions

The author believes that admitting to having racial biases is a crucial first step towards addressing them.
She expresses frustration with the outsourcing of jobs, particularly in customer service and recruitment, due to communication challenges and accent barriers.
The author admits to having a racist bias against Indian men, which she attributes to PTSD from a traumatic experience with an Indian boss.
She acknowledges the discomfort and prejudgment she feels when interacting with people who have strong accents or names that are difficult for her to pronounce.
The author suggests that people from certain countries, such as India and South Africa, are at a disadvantage in the job market due to racial biases.
She recommends reading specific books to gain a better understanding of racial issues and to challenge one's own biases.
The author advocates for keeping call centers in the United States, hinting at a political stance on job outsourcing.
She emphasizes that despite systemic disadvantages, individuals from various countries can still find success and encourages them not to give up on their dreams.

I’m White, and I Have Racial Biases

And admitting it isn’t easy — but we all do, and admitting it is the first step

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medium.com

I have racial biases.

Writing those four words was hard, and I wish they weren’t true. I don’t think anyone wants to admit they’re a racially biased; however, I need to be honest with myself and everyone.

As a liberal-raised white female, I think everyone should be treated the same. Even though I know it’s important to say that “Black Lives Matter,” I also believe that everyone’s life is important.

I won’t just say “All Lives Matter” on posts about “Black Lives Matter” without thinking. This is the only time I’ll write these words.

Two of my favorite books on race are The Hate U Give* and Small Great Things.* Both of these books changed the way I view race and helped me become aware of my own biases on race

Black Lives Matter stands for so much more than one race. It stands for all minority groups.

My Privileged Childhood

In my high school, there was a club just for African-American girls. A lot of the white kids, like me, didn’t comprehend why there was a club just for one race and gender. We wondered why it was allowed when it wouldn’t be okay to have a club just for white girls or boys, according to the law.

We were privileged to not understand.

Some of the Black girls at my school were really noisy. I was a quiet girl who liked to study in peace, so their loud behavior bothered me.

They frequently voiced their concerns to the teachers about race and would say any time they got in trouble or got a bad grade, “It’s because I’m Black.”

I believe in the power of generational scars, and I understand today why they may have felt that way, whether it was true or not. However, as a teenager, I was privileged not to understand their feelings.

When we talk about racism, it’s normal to think about what Black people have gone through, but racism is more than just about white and black. Lately, I’ve noticed that I sometimes have unfair thoughts about other groups of people too.

It’s Your Voice

Job Recruiters

Nothing bothers me more than when I make or receive a call, and the person on the other line has a strong accent. Most large companies in the United States seem to outsource their hiring to staffing agencies that have recruiters overseas.

So, often I find myself receiving calls from these recruiters, and I have to try to understand their explanation of the job. Often, I have a hard time understanding them.

Also, since many scammers are from overseas, it makes me uneasy to give out personal information to these callers. Most often, I’ve found they are legit. These agencies have scheduled interviews with reputable companies. However, the whole process makes me uncomfortable.

Billing Departments

Some United States billing departments have been outsourced overseas.

This frustrates me, because I’m already upset when I’m calling a billing department about an issue, and it’s even more frustrating trying to communicate with someone who either a) has a strong accent or b) is simply speaking from a script.

Customer Service Representatives

The majority of big companies use overseas customer service representatives now, which is wonderful for offering 24-hour customer service. However, I’m the type of person who only calls customer service if something is really wrong, so like with billing departments, I can quickly get frustrated if the person on the other line isn’t easily understood.

My husband was able to speak to someone in the United States from Amazon once when his credit card number was stolen. So, I guess Amazon keeps its fraud department in the States.

It’s Your Face

I have a racist bias against Indian men, and I hate admitting this. My past Indian boss caused me a lot of trauma, and when I see an Indian man (even in a photograph), my PTSD attacks me. Even Raj from Big Bang Theory makes me feel these feelings.

It’s not you’re fault if you’re an Indian man. You’re probably a wonderful person, but you make me uncomfortable.

Maybe it’s not all Indian men. But many do have similar features that remind me of my former boss. Raj from Big Bang Theory has most of these features. His full name is even close to my former boss’s.

Think of it like getting out of an abusive relationship, only to be triggered by men who remind you of your ex.

It’s Your Name

I’ll admit that I’ve refrained from replying to people because I couldn’t pronounce their names.

I have felt uncomfortable when someone with a long, foreign-sounding name followed me on social media.

Red flag warning signs go off in my head when I receive private messages from foreigners.

Part of this reason is because I’ve encountered so many scammers from India and South Africa on the internet, so I’ve never trusted anyone from those countries. It wasn’t until I joined Medium that I learned real, legitimate people come from these countries, and they write beautifully.

I’ve come to the point that I don’t even look at your name when I read your article. I look at the headline and content before looking at your name, and I can’t tell how many times I’ve been surprised to learn that the writer is from India or South Africa.

What’s the Point?

You can’t change your face or your voice. It’s not your fault you have certain facial characteristics or a strong accent.

It’s one reason I believe the United States should keep its call centers in the United States, but that opens up a whole other political can of worms.

Every day, I see writers from various countries complaining that they can’t find high-paying writing jobs and that they’re at a disadvantage because of their race and nationality.

While you can use a pen name, you shouldn’t have to. You should be allowed to be proud of your heritage.

You are at a disadvantage, and I’m sorry this is the case. However, many people all over the world are finding success, despite the racial biases many Westerners, like myself, have.

It is possible to make your dreams come true, so don’t give up.

You just have to work even harder.

I highly recommend anyone who wants to challenge their views on racism to read The Hate U Give* and Small Great Things*.

*= Affiliate link — I may earn a small commission if you purchase these books from Amazon with my affiliate link.