White Silence Speaks Volumes | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

White Silence Speaks Volumes

How White People are Often Witness Racism, Yet Ignore It

34
White Silence Speaks Volumes
Huffington Post

Just in the past week, we've seen two acts of racism that made waves and headlines all over the world on social media. One being an older white woman going on a racist rant over two women checking out at a JCPenny. The other one is when popular Youtuber Adam Saleh was escorted off his plane because he was speaking to his mother on the phone in Arabic, which made those (white people) around him uncomfortable. One thing these stories have in common is white silence.

White silence is when white people are witnesses to blatant acts of racism but choose to ignore the situation that is happening right before them.White silence is problematic because even if one believes what's happening isn't right, it still creates a mob-like mentality against the victim. White silence helps no one but the aggressor because no one is fighting against them.

I will give context to the subject but here's video of the rant.


In JCPenny, two Hispanic women were just checking out during the busy holiday shopping season. One of the women left and came back quickly with two more items to be checked out. A simple eye roll would've been necessary, but nope, this lady went beyond. In her rant, she begins yelling about how the woman should go to the back of the line. Then she goes on to tell her "You need to go back to wherever the f*ck you come from lady." The cashier rolls his eyes and tells the lady yelling to watch her language. She also tells the women that they're "nobodies" because they're immigrants. She also suggests that the two Hispanic women were on welfare. One person seems to have stood up for the two women in the video but the older white woman defends her racist claim. At the end of the video, the woman actually says "I'm sorry I'm that way but you all need to realize that you're not the only ones around here." She's sorry that she is loud and belligerent, not that she's racist.This lady should realize that other people have feelings and more importantly that racism is unacceptable.

Here's what should have happened. The older lady shouldn't be so racist in the first place but what can you do in a country that is in the dawn of the Trump Era. (That has to be a discussion on its own for another time). Second, the cashier. He should've (or he should've been trained to) called security when a customer is causing a disturbance. Also, more people should have confronted the racist woman instead of freezing up or worse, laughing at the situation behind a behind a box. She should learn then and there that what she was saying isn't acceptable.

People really are questioning if this rant is racist. YES, THIS WOMAN IS INDEED RACIST. Telling someone to go back to where they came from is racist. Suggesting that immigrants should "act like everyone else" is, in fact racist and xenophobic. Calling people "nobodies" because they're immigrants is racist, xenophobic, and dehumanizing. Assuming someone is on welfare because of their race is racist. Saying to someone "Speak English, you're in America; don't know it, learn it." only breaks the charts in xenophobia and racism. But only one person stood up to them. White silence enables. White silence is still violent.

The mall responded by banning the racist woman. The store responded by compensating the two Hispanic women for their experience. People have discovered where the racist woman works and I wouldn't be surprised if she gets fired if she hasn't been fired already. Louisville mayor Greg Fischer said that he is glad that the video has prompted people to have conversations about racism in America.

In the next situation, we have popular Youtuber, Adam Saleh. He is known for his skits and pranks and being racist and sexist but again, let's save that discussion for another time. Here's his video while he was being kicked off his plane.


He was speaking to his mother in Arabic which made those around him "uncomfortable". A man rose up and yelled at him yet Saleh was the one kicked off the plane for causing a "disturbance". He and his friend were escorted off and while he was being escorted, he took video of what was happening. He spoke into the camera and showed his audience the passengers and some waved "bye" to him while he was being escorted. He said the plane was full of racists. No one defended Saleh but one passenger who wasn't white either. People booed, video over.

I am absolutely horrified as most people should be. People reserve the right to speak any language they want. People were uncomfortable because they're xenophobic and racist. They perpetuate the ultimate stereotype that Muslims are terrorists. Delta has had a history of racism as well such as not believing a black woman was a doctor when another passenger had health difficulties or kicking a Muslim couple for speaking Arabic, texting, and "sweating".

Some people were skeptical of the story because of the youtuber's history of pranks. Some of his pranks include hiding in a suitcase at an airport or suggesting what Arabs shouldn't wear on a plane. His story is real but regardless of whether the story is real or not, we cannot deny blatant racism or hide behind white silence.
















Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

20 Things You Forgot To Thank Your Mom For

Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

294
family
Facebook

Dear Mom,

You took care of me and my brothers our entire lives and you still continue to! I will not be able to truly grasp all of the hard work that you put into this family until I create my own one day. But, I know that there are plenty of times I forgot to give you a simple thank you or an appreciative smile. I thank you for everything that you have done for me and will continue to do for me. Here are some examples of those times where you had my back and I forgot to pat your back for saving me:

Keep Reading...Show less
pumpkin
Holytaco.com

College is hard. As people ages 18-22, we’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with our lives, our careers, our eating habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and other necessities for adult life. We definitely don’t take proper care of ourselves; it’s basically impossible when we have essays, tests and readings due and somehow we’re supposed to eat right, exercise and sleep. We’re doomed to get sick. I have zero experience in science but when I get sick there are certain things I do to make myself better.

Keep Reading...Show less
Bob's Burgers
Hyannishyball

First of all, there is no shortage of fun when you're together.

And you often find yourselves entertaining each others terrible ideas.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

8604
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments