Food for Thought

This piece of art is posted at the Atlanta City Hall and has come under protest from the police force, whose offices are in City Hall. The picture, entitled 'Formula for hate' at first glance looks harmless. Read the link on the title to give you more information, but the picture has writing on it that states 'Politically it's OK to hate the white man' and 'Is it OK for me to hate if I've been a victim'. Thought provoking, at best. The artist, Alvaro Avillar, has stated that in this society, it's OK to hate the white man, and he doesn't feel that's acceptable. Hhhuummm, once you know the message, and you realize it isn't against the white man, but for him, being a white person, it makes more sense. I'm not sure how a person of color would interpret this painting at first. I think the police are being just a bit super-sensitive. But the message isn't immediately understood, as the writing isn't immediately visible. At my first glance, I was offended. But then I saw an interview with the artist and heard what he had to say and I see it's value.

I've experienced this in my own life, in our breakroom at work. I have been the only white person in a room of young, black people, listening to them talk about other black people, and I couldn't say anything, even if I agreed with them. I was also in a room of Ethopian immigrants who were talking badly about another immigrant population, but again, I couldn't agree or disagree. As a white person, I can have no opinion on anything relating to my culture. I cannot comment on appropriate or inappropriate behavior, laugh at racially directed jokes or even make comments. If the people know me and are comfortable with me, then it's OK. I sat in on a discussion of 3 black people talking about the various shades of black people can be. It was a very interesting conversation, how neat it is to have such diverse colors but yet, they identify themselves as one group.

It's a sad fact that interpretation of what one says is based on one's color. White people can't comment on the state of Black America, Immigration or even Muslim behavior without being judged as racist. But we all live together, don't we?