It’s the infamous defense phrase used in racial arguments, debates, and confrontations: “How can I be racist? I have black friends.” But just because you categorize a person of color as your “friend” doesn’t mean anything. Yes, you can have ‘black friends’ and still be blatantly racist.
Are you baffled by how intelligent and well spoken your black friend is? Labeling them as different from the others because of their surprising intellect implies that you perceive most POC as illiterate, rowdy people. It all begins with a stereotype, a common misconception used in society to generalize a group of people to a particular standard. This is a prime example of one.
Idolizing a black friend and putting them onto a pedestal creates the poster black person. It spreads the idea that we (POC) should aspire to be similar to them. It’s a privilege that your friend isn’t like those other black people you despise, right? Once again you’re obliquely supporting biased statements about African-Americans, suggesting that since we’re not like your companion we’re worse by default.
The “I’m not racist because I have black friends” excuse is becoming more prevalent and exercised everyday. For example, last October a police officer in Columbia, South Carolina forcefully dragged and pulled a black student from her desk while the class watched. As outrage began to spark the sheriff of the department took to the podium to address the situation. He stated that this officer couldn’t possibly be racist because he’d been ‘dating an African American female.’ How convenient, using his connection to a black person to justify totally unacceptable police brutality.
Having a black friend does not give you the right to openly express racist comments, nor does it excuse any racial motivated behavior or actions. Just because you’re acquainted with a black person or know of one doesn’t amount to anything quite frankly. There’s a difference between being an ally and using black people as pawns to show how you can’t possibly be bigoted. If you want to support your black friends then use your privilege and speak out against the prejudice hurting us. It’s essential that we dismiss the idea of justifying racism in any form.
