You said you make six figures. 1) You can make your job help people somehow. 2) That's twice as much money as I make. Maybe you can use some of your money in a way that makes you feel better.
This is exactly how I feel. Even in 1989, when I was stationed in a town near Pensacola, the fear of being attacked as a man or woman of color was real. Sailors were told not to go into Brewton, Alabama, because racism was still very real there. Guys I worked with were terrified of getting pulled over by cops in that part of the country when they went on leave. I was told there was still a sign on a public pool in Brewton that said something like No Colored People Allowed. I was shocked, and so naive to what people of color were still going through. I guess I grew up sheltered in Sagemont area, because I didn't see this stuff happening in my neighborhood as a kid in a predominantly white area. There wasn't any racial hate against people in my High School at Dobie then. Some of the most popular kids were the minority. I remember when I worked downtown and invited a couple friends of mine over to hang out one night. They were black, and were scared to come over because of KKK. I was renting an apartment in Pasadena at that time. I didn't even know KKK still existed. I was that naive. Needless to say, they came over and it was fine, but I learned that the world I thought I lived in wasn't the real world. I was lucky to have had so many friends from all backgrounds in the Navy for 20 years. Listening to them, hearing their stories, and seeing what life was like for them opened my eyes to the real world. People can do great things when given the opportunity. I hope for a better future for the children of tomorrow, and especially for those who grow up in a way no human being should have to endure.
Is white supposed to be capitalized now? Now that Black and White people are forgetting who they are/were, they have become colors, and therefore their colors need to be capitalized? Maybe this is natural, but this doesn't feel right.
Op if you are really feeling lost ATM step away from connecting possible depression with politics. Don’t listen to that Senator poster guy. I personally have music and films I love that help get me through those moments. The Cure has got me through some really tough moments. I’ve also gone camping alone for a night or two. Maybe go to Wimberly or somewhere in the Hill Country for day or two. Anything but go deeper into politics. When you get your head right, focus on who has the policies that help or hurt your personal economics first. Does trickle down economic policy benefit you? Then look at health care. Do you think it’s better to let the health care market go full blown free market corporate or do you want Bernie and AOC to be a voice in the room when the next healthcare bill is passed? Then there is finally the culture aspect. Do you want to support a political culture of vilification of “the other”? Is that how you want to feel? Does that bring the world together in any way? Is that healthy for you to harbor hate for political gain? Because that’s a big difference in Republican vs Democrat. Biden is not perfect. Not by a long shot and he’s not even perfect to the minority communities in his past statements and his policies. However everyone knows where his party stands and we know who is there with real power to move him on policies where we know he’ll be moved in the right direction, and let’s be honest.... we know he’s a good man. Astrodome, Texx, Bobby, etc will say the opposite but everyone knows it. The guy isn’t perfect but he has good people around him and seems to have his heart in the right place. But in the end if you want to vote Trump that’s on you brother. But first before making that decision, go take care of yourself.
what are things you could do as 'a white guy'? help other low income white people? focus on all people not just white? volunteer of some kind? im being serious what can I do? community service? if i go to ymca they will just send me to parking lot to pick up cigarette butts. so what could I do? once my kids are in 20s I could spend the rest of my time doing real stuff for real people whether its india africa or here. i have never worked at homeless shelter or tried anything like that. how impactful is that? if we all started volunteering? i guess the question is what is most impactful? you arent going to change mood or tone but you can help people. but is that good enough? i dont think it is to be frank.. not saying you are attention seeker or looking for recognition but is helping someone enough for you? i think many people want to just pat themselves on back for being some catalyst of positive change not really helping someone. "ive seen too much? all ive seen is a bunch of low foreheads that think they can change the world with dreams and talk... its too late for that... if your're not ready to act then gimme a break and shut up" some voice to text will auto capitalize certain words. this is why trumps tweets have odd capitalization. i know dudes who cant spell and talk into phone then edit after.
Start going to a black church, but leave the Glock in your car. You could also just start going on cruises like Tom Segura's dad, just to see black people having fun.
Voting is most impactful. Local elections are important. Primaries are important. You want to get rid off the status quo establishment politicians who keep getting reelected purely out of name recognition and incumbent donor money, vote in primaries.
If you really are a gen-X black guy from Harris County, as I am, you've probably had more than a few Deckards prop you up. Think about the deeply drawled white man who taught you polynomial long division, chaperoned your first Jr. EYC lock-in, gave you your first business valuation internship, or, more recently, just upped your dosage.
@xaos you can't change everything at once. Each of us individually can only do so much. Start with charities like Meals on Wheels. Go donate blood. Work with people or causes you support. Participate in the local election process. Attend school, city and county board meetings. Focus on the smaller picture and you will get to the point where you feel you are making a change for the better. Good luck
No I suggest using context and being informed. Seek for candidates that concentrate on economic reform rather than culture wars rhetoric. For example if the candidate you are looking at uses terminology such as "woke", they probably don't give a **** about economic reform and are just going to use culture wars to pander votes. My point is just go vote in local elections and primaries. Even if you select people I might disagree with ideologically on things like economic reform , as long as you chose candidates that are sincere in their views rather than pander to culture wars, this country will be a better place. We need sincere political discourse and putting in the right leadership is a good start for that endeavor. The more people vote in primaries the less incumbents can get away with using their position as a grifting scheme to live a long cozy life of multiple terms being doted by lobbyists and the more they would have to put in a sincere effort in representing their constituents.
I understand about feeling depressed about the situation of things. I understand too about looking at our political choices and being very disappointed. That doesn't mean we are just helpless. I believe politics are very important. The direction of our country, what we stand for as a people are decided by politics. I'm going to spare you a lecture on why I think you should vote for Biden instead of Trump. I would suggest you do the research. Listen and read a range of media sources. Don't rely on social media that said there are arguments that are valuable on social media but be careful about views that claim that only one side is right and the other side is wrong. As Fchowd said participate in elections on all levels. Too many people just focus on presidential elections when really your local city elections will have for more effect on your everyday life than the presidential election. This is where things like your local paper, local public radio can help as they will provide far more information on local races than national media. Get involved in your local community. There are many opportunities to help through things like neighborhood cleanups, food drives, in addition to public meetings held by local government on things like road construction or changes in zoning. Be prepared to help your neighbors. If you live in Houston there are always the possibilities of major floods. Be ready to help out your neighbors in dealing with those things. You can also fundraise to help out your neighborhood or other causes. If you see in my sig I have a link to the an organization that is rebuilding my community following the destruction during the George Floyd riots. At the minimum you should get to know your neighbors. It's very easy to get overwhelmed by everything that is going on. It's important to keep perspective. If you get caught up in all of the problems facing this world it can get overwhelming. All these problems like racism, poverty, climate change, etc.. won't be solved by any of us individually. What we can do though is take small steps. Just working in your neighborhood can make a difference and the example you set can influence others to the same.
I grew up in a very similar situation, and I'm not sure how this relates to voting. You think Biden is incompetent ... and that Trump is only insensitive? I dislike Biden's politics a great deal, it's still in no way a question for me, I don't see a single positive Trump would offer over Biden, the negatives, on the other hand, are massive. The way COVID was handled was unacceptable. The denying of our climate change crisis is unacceptable. The budgets have been unacceptable. The destabilizing of our already incredibly weak and flawed democracy is unacceptable Look, I have zero faith Biden will make this country significantly better... but I have a ton of faith that Trump will make it significantly worst. I honestly don't understand your reference of growing up as a white minority here, could you elaborate a little more on the relevance of this in your confusion on who to vote for, or how to change the world?
