Tony Dokoupil talks with white Americans about racism

Summary

This video script explores the stark divide in perceptions of racism between black and white Americans, highlighting the disconnect in beliefs about equal job opportunities. It features local conversations in Stanford, Connecticut, where white Americans are asked about racial treatment and benefits of being white. The discussion with Boston University professor Ibram X. Kendi reveals the complexity of defining racism and the struggle many have with acknowledging racial inequality and systemic racism. The script emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing both individual and systemic racism to foster understanding and change.

Takeaways

• 🔍 There is a stark divide in how black and white Americans perceive racism, especially in areas like job applications where 67% of white Americans believe black applicants have equal chances, but only 30% of black adults agree.
• 📊 A disconnect in racial perceptions is leading to a crisis of inequality, with many white Americans struggling to understand systemic racism.
• 🗣️ Local conversations in Stanford, Connecticut, were initiated to explore white Americans' views on racial treatment and their own potential benefits from white privilege.
• 🤔 Many individuals struggle to define racism, often associating it with individual evil rather than systemic discrimination.
• 👥 The script includes interviews with white Americans who were asked about their understanding of racism and whether they have benefited from being white in America.
• 📚 Boston University professor Abram X. Ken is featured, providing insights on the definition of racism and the common misconceptions about what it means to be racist.
• 💬 Conversations about racism can start easily but quickly become uncomfortable, highlighting the difficulty many have in discussing racial inequality.
• 🏦 The script points out the economic disparity between black and white families in America and the struggle to explain this gap.
• 🤷‍♂️ Some individuals express difficulty in acknowledging their role in systemic racism, despite recognizing its existence.
• 🌈 The importance of recognizing and respecting racial differences is emphasized, as opposed to the 'colorblind' approach, which is criticized as misleading.
• 📈 The script concludes with a call for self-reflection and conversation among white Americans to address and understand their part in systemic racism.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is the stark divide in the perception of racism between black and white Americans, and the national dialogue about race.

What is the percentage of white Americans who believe that black applicants have the same job application chances as them?

According to the poll mentioned in the script, 67 percent of white Americans believe that black applicants have the same chances as them when applying for a job.

What percentage of black adults agree with the statement about equal job application chances?

Only 30 percent of black adults agree with the statement that they have the same job application chances as white Americans.

What is the term used to describe the disconnect between the perceptions of racism among different racial groups?

The term used to describe the disconnect is 'crisis of inequality'.

What did the team do to start local conversations about racism?

The team started local conversations by asking white Americans on the streets of Stanford, Connecticut, basic questions about how to treat people of a different race.

What is the common misconception about racism according to the script?

The common misconception is that a racist is an evil, horrible, and bad person, and that being racist is part of someone's identity.

What is the definition of racism given by Boston University professor Abram X. Ken?

According to Abram X. Ken, racism is when one person feels that they are better than another person and is discriminatory against somebody else's race.

What is the issue with the term 'racist' as described in the script?

The issue with the term 'racist' is that it has become a bad word that many Americans are uncomfortable using, even though it is a descriptive term and not an identity.

What does the script suggest about the typical black family's financial situation compared to the typical white family?

The script suggests that the typical black family in America has much less money than the typical white family.

What is the concept of 'colorblindness' criticized in the script?

The concept of 'colorblindness' is criticized in the script because it ignores the importance of recognizing and respecting racial differences and understanding different cultures.

What is the role of white people in addressing systemic racism as per the script?

The script suggests that white people play a part in systemic racism and should be involved in conversations to understand and address it.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Racial Perceptions and Disconnects

This paragraph discusses the stark differences in how black and white Americans perceive racism, particularly in the context of job applications. It highlights a poll showing that while 67% of white Americans believe black applicants have equal chances, only 30% of black adults agree. The disconnect leads to a crisis of inequality, which many white Americans struggle to understand or describe. The script then shifts to local conversations in Stanford, Connecticut, where white Americans are asked about their views on race and racism. The video also includes insights from Boston University professor Abram X. Ken, who explains the misconceptions around the definition of racism and the reluctance of many to identify themselves as racist, despite exhibiting discriminatory behaviors.

05:02

🤔 Addressing Systemic Racism and Personal Responsibility

The second paragraph delves into the complexities of defining racism and the societal implications of such definitions. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing both individual and systemic racism, and the need for white individuals to engage in self-reflection and conversation with peers. The paragraph also touches on the discomfort some white individuals feel when discussing racism and the tendency to avoid the topic or dismiss its existence. The discussion includes the idea of being 'color brave' or 'color conscious' instead of 'colorblind,' advocating for an acknowledgment and respect for racial differences as a means to combat racism. The conversation underscores the significance of these dialogues in the current social climate, especially for white individuals to challenge their own beliefs and assumptions.

Keywords

💡racism

Racism is a belief that one race is superior to others, often resulting in discrimination and prejudiced actions. In the video, racism is a central theme, with discussions focusing on how different racial groups perceive it and the disparities in these perceptions. For example, the script mentions a poll showing the stark divide between white and black Americans' views on job application chances, highlighting the impact of racism on societal opportunities.

💡perception

Perception refers to the way individuals interpret and understand situations or information. The video script explores the differing perceptions of racism between black and white Americans, emphasizing the gap in understanding and agreement on racial equality in job opportunities. This concept is crucial as it frames the national dialogue on race and the need for open conversations to bridge these gaps.

💡inequality

Inequality denotes the unfair or unequal treatment or opportunity between different groups of people. The script discusses the crisis of inequality resulting from the disconnect in perceptions of racism, particularly in economic terms, such as the wealth gap between black and white families in America. This keyword is pivotal as it underscores the systemic issues that perpetuate racism beyond individual beliefs.

💡national dialogue

National dialogue refers to a widespread conversation or discussion within a country on a particular topic. The video emphasizes the intensifying national dialogue about race in America, indicating the importance of these discussions in addressing and understanding racial disparities. It sets the stage for the local conversations initiated in the video as part of this broader conversation.

💡colorblind

The term 'colorblind' in the context of the video refers to the idea of not acknowledging racial differences, which some argue can be counterproductive to addressing racial issues. The script critiques the 'colorblind' approach, suggesting that recognizing and respecting racial differences is necessary to combat racism. This concept is highlighted through the reactions of interviewees when discussing racial issues.

💡anti-racist

An anti-racist is someone who actively works against racism by opposing discriminatory practices and advocating for racial equality. The video mentions Boston University professor Abram X. Ken, an author of 'How to Be an Anti-Racist,' indicating the role of education and active participation in fighting racism. The term is significant as it provides a pathway for individuals to contribute positively to racial equality.

💡discrimination

Discrimination involves treating someone unfairly based on their race, color, or other characteristics. In the script, discrimination is a key aspect of the definition of racism provided by the interviewees, illustrating how racism manifests in individual actions and societal structures. The concept is essential for understanding the personal and systemic impacts of racism.

💡systemic racism

Systemic racism refers to the ingrained racial discrimination within societal systems, such as education, housing, and employment. The video acknowledges the existence of systemic racism in America, suggesting that it plays a significant role in perpetuating racial inequality. This keyword is crucial for understanding the broader context of racial disparities beyond individual actions.

💡opportunity

Opportunity in this context refers to the availability of chances or prospects for advancement or success, which can be influenced by race due to systemic and societal factors. The script discusses how racial inequality affects the opportunities available to different racial groups, particularly in economic terms. This keyword is important for highlighting the tangible impacts of racism on individuals' lives.

💡color consciousness

Color consciousness is the awareness and acknowledgment of racial differences and their implications. The video script contrasts this with the 'colorblind' approach, advocating for a recognition of racial identities as a means to address and overcome racism. This concept is highlighted through the discussions on how to treat people of different races and the importance of understanding cultural differences.

💡contradiction

Contradiction in the video refers to the conflicting beliefs or attitudes that individuals may hold, particularly regarding racism and racial equality. The script notes that people can hold both racist and anti-racist ideas, indicating the complexity of addressing racism. This keyword is significant for understanding the internal struggles individuals may face in confronting their own biases and beliefs about race.

Highlights

Stark divides in perception of racism between black and white Americans

67% of white Americans believe black job applicants have equal chances, only 30% of black adults agree

Crisis of inequality due to disconnect in views on racism

Local conversations started in Stanford, Connecticut to understand perspectives on race

Many white Americans have never had conversations about race at home

Some white Americans admit benefiting from being white in America

Defining racism as feeling superior to another race, leading to discrimination

Americans struggle with the label 'racist', viewing it as an evil identity rather than behavior

Conversations about racism can quickly become uncomfortable

Some people struggle to explain racial wealth gaps in America

Misguided views on intelligence and race, suggesting black people are less intelligent

Few people used the term 'racist' to describe themselves despite holding racist views

Racism is not an identity, but behavior that can be changed

Some Americans recognizing systemic racism and their role in it

Importance of acknowledging and respecting racial differences to combat racism

White people need to have these conversations with each other

Rejecting the idea of being 'colorblind', instead advocating for being 'color brave' or 'color conscious'

Need to include society in the definition of racism to effect change

Transcripts

we're back now talking about the stark

divides in the way black and white

Americans perceived racism even as the

national dialogue about race intensifies

when it comes to applying for a job for

example one poll said 67 percent of

white Americans believe black applicants

have the very same chances only thirty

percent of black adults agree with that

statement the results of that disconnect

and many others is a crisis of

inequality that many white Americans

still struggle to describe amid our

national conversation about racism we

decided to start a few local ones on the

streets of Stanford Connecticut

we asked white Americans some basic

questions about how to treat people of a

different race

I don't remember conversations at home

it just didn't happen you look at the

person not the color of their skin

sometimes fielded questions of our own

do you think you've benefited by being

white in America of course do you within

showed clips of our interactions to

Boston University professor Abram X Ken

D the CBS News contributor and author of

the bestseller how to be an anti-racist

helped us pick out patterns how do you

define racism when one person feels that

they're better than another person what

is a racist then a racist is someone

being discriminatory against somebody

against somebody else's race were you

surprised by those answers oh not in the

least bit

Americans are taught that a racist is an

evil horrible bad person that it's in

someone's bones that someone literally

is a racist that's their identity and so

that's not me I'm a good person

sometimes our conversation started out

easy how do you define racism racism is

is the unjust treatment of people of a

different color national origin that is

either from face-to-face interaction but

also more importantly institutionalized

and yet things could quickly grow

uncomfortable you define racism the way

you did do you fit in that definition in

any way I'm not right

I don't pull those views and no nor

associate with people who do most people

struggle to explain racial inequality

for the typical black family in America

has much less money than the typical

white family how do you explain that

some of it is opportunity some of it is

what is some of it your drive some of

it's the way you're brought up but

there's a lot of black people that don't

get to where they can get I don't know

you know intelligence wise if they're

not as intelligent as white people I

mean there are a lot that are very

intelligent and almost no one used the

term racism the term you're

uncomfortable with the term in some ways

I am yeah I think what's striking is

racist has almost become like the n-word

it's like the R word in which so many

Americans think in and of itself it's

it's a bad word to say when indeed it's

a descriptive term it's a term candy

says that could be applied to just about

anyone at times people can have a racist

thought for example but that doesn't

mean they are racist yeah a racist isn't

an identity it is not who a person is

it's what a person is being and I think

we have to recognize that people hold

both racist and anti-racist ideas and

people are deeply contradictory and in

this moment of national reflection we

did find some Americans trying to iron

out those contradictions in society and

in themselves I do believe in the

systemic racism that we have in America

so as a white person I would say of

course I probably do play a part in that

racism

technically although right I would never

just say I'm racist and I hate people

based on the color of their skin of

course I would not want to do that but I

also think it's misleading when people

say I don't see color you have to see

color you have to respect the

differences you have to understand

different cultures in order to grow out

of the racism that you've been taught so

there's a lot there guys one thing that

leaps out to me is just that you know

when you define racism as something

between people you leave out Society and

if we leave out Society we're never

gonna change it Gael yes I have to say

Tony I lost my hearing after that one

woman said well there are some of them

that are intelligent but what I like

Anthony is that a white person white

Tony Tecopa

is talking to other white people because

I think of a black person had tried to

do that it makes people even more

defensive and they think it's

confrontational these conversations are

so important and it's very important for

white people to ask each other these

questions right now the whole issue of

racism in that word has white people

have a very hard time with it they don't

understand that as Tony pointed out yes

yeah I hate colorblind because of course

you see color

I'd say color brave or be color

conscious but I hate colorblind no it's

very well done Tony tacomas indeed