Is there anyone out here whose brain isn’t all jumbled up? I feel like there’s so much noise bouncing around, so much crap banging up against each other….it’s a lot.
It’s a whole lot.
I also fell down some rabbit hole with what appeared to be a cranky young adult online. During a conversation about Juneteenth she went from “you don’t know me” to “Makes me wonder how much you know about history. You are aware Africans sold their own right? To white people? Both races took part in what happened.” to “You want to see injustice in just one side of a very difficult conversation…You aren’t a person of color. The offense you feel is misplaced by ignorance.”
And then my head exploded. Because did she just there are very fine people on both sides in reverse?? Like, I TRIED. I feel like I failed except not really because the success is in having the conversations. Will it always be a lightbulb moment? Maybe not for Jade B. who repeatedly assured us that she has hours long conversations about this with her black friends (no, she doesn’t capitalize Black) and they are not offended so therefore I am just an ignorant white woman who isn’t educated enough to understand the complexities of [check notes] SLAVERY. Maybe Jade isn’t the win; maybe someone else who reads through our messages will find something new to think about.
Yeah. There’s a lot banging around in my head. Maybe finding a good word jumble puzzle would help.
Linda hosts Stream of Consciousness Saturday. This week’s prompt is “jumble.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Riddle from the Middle 
I thoroughly enjoyed this post. As an African-American, I too find myself frustrated with much of the current societal rhetoric—coming from all ethnic and social groups. “Inclusion” may be the mantra of the moment, but too often, what’s really happening is just a more subtle form of exclusion dressed in progressive language.
I’ve been around long enough to remember echoes of this same nonsense before. In truth, it never really left… it just changed shape.
And that’s a shame.
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Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this. I think your note “In truth, it never really left… it just changed shape.” rings absolutely true. I feel as a whole we’re failing to evolve into a community that strives for everyone’s liberation and that is most definitely a shame.
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so true. I posted some rants earlier this week venting my frustration with the societal views in different ways, but your post reminds of those. Something like Shipwreck ?? and something about a Black Card ??? I rant a lot I don’t remember off the top of my head.
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Can’t the talk of color just be accepted and put aside? it is 2025 by the way! Not making this comment to you, just to the issue in general.
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By accepted and put aside did you mean inconsequential to living or not worth discussing? Putting aside race does not help us understand or do better.
Race very much impacts the experience of living and unpacking how we all contribute to that is important for making the world a better place. In 2025 this is still a major factor in how people live their lives.
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I just mean diminishing the idea that one color is more superior to another. How can the color of skin make a difference in people? There are good people and horrible people in all races and ethnic groups! I wish conversation was more about how to bridge the gaps that exist, not wasting time defending opinions that are based on nothing but judgement.
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I absolutely agree that the idea of one color being superior to another needs to be diminished. The color of skin doesn’t so much make a difference in the people as it makes a difference in how people are treated in the world.
The problem I’ve found (with anyone who isn’t a white supremacist) is that without the conversation many people say things like I don’t see color or we’re all the same without really looking at how our systems are set up to be unequal. The conversation isn’t meant to divide or widen gaps; it’s so we can see the things we’ve not thought about.
I really appreciate you taking the time to talk about this with me!
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Yes, I agree that when people say “its not about color” is that is exactly what the problem is. There is a difference because society has set it up. It shouldn’t be about color it should be about character.
One year I was teaching in an inner city school (I was there more than one year, but…) and I was the only white person in the class. The kids tried telling me I was a racist and I had to laugh. I said if I was racist do you think I would be here, the only white person in the classroom? They looked around and realized I was the only person that was not black or hispanic. I didn’t say it to them to be any way but I wanted them to see that I was the minority and still proud to be there.
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I admire your courage to try to have hard conversations. The older I get, the more I want avoid them (unless there are ground rules, respect, balance, and listening) It seems to be easier for people to vent anger online. Don’t know whether that’s good or not. Glad you found good pieces in this.
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The online thing is touch and go sometimes. My husband says that’s a lot like having a hard conversation by text — too many ways to misinterpret what someone is saying. He’s right about that one.
I find a surprising number of people online have a hard time admitting when they’re wrong. Or at least I’ve taken people by surprise when I do it…about ten years ago I was on Instagram talking in an adoption community and someone in there jumped on me bc I’d done what we were discussing with my own profile pic. I thanked them for pointing it out and they came back at me with something pretty aggressive. I was just like yeah, I know, I screwed up. That’s why I thanked you for pointing out my blind spot and changed the photo…
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Wow! In situations like that, I try to tell myself that the other person must have their own issues to react like that. But it’s weird. Still stings.
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Laura, there are and will always be people who don’t understand or accept reality or factual history because they have never had to face any type of oppression or hardship. They sit in their own minds, in their own truth, and when we challenge that truth, they become defensive and hostile (I have had people call me “woke” and close-minded). I see it on social media every day, have been on your side of conversations about race, sexual orientation, politics, etc. It can be a losing battle to have an intelligent and respectful conversation, so I try to stay away from anyone who rejects reality.
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Laura, there are and will always be people who don’t understand or accept reality or factual history because they have never had to face any type of oppression or hardship. They sit in their own minds, in their own truth, and when we challenge that truth, they become defensive and hostile (I have had people call me “woke” and close-minded). I see it on social media every day, have been on your side of conversations about race, sexual orientation, politics, etc. It can be a losing battle to have an intelligent and respectful conversation, so I try to stay away from anyone who rejects reality.
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For sure. It was the first time someone sent me a clown emoji though 🤡 so that was a milestone! 😂🤣 I had a hard time getting her past “but I talk with my friends of color and they say…” to even look at another point of view (that I had learned from older Black women). I tried. I also eventually cut it off because we were making no progress in that conversation.🤷🏻♀️
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Ah, my Laura – take a step back, consider the source and know facts remain facts whether accepted or not. This type of pompous & destructive attitude has been prevalent for decades (centuries). Privilege vs the realities of life. It’s easy to become derailed by its in-your-face prevalence in these modern times. Looking outside the box of curated thought reminds me that yes, there’s a whole wide world of good ‘out there’ and I’m a part of sustaining that thread of hope! From, your Laura
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There is indeed so much good. I love how many people are open to having hard conversations and it’s crazy when they’re in the same space. In that same Thread I talked with a woman who’s half Lakota and learned a lot about her community and how she’s feeling in the world right now. Sometimes you have to look for it but the good is definitely there.
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My daughter also says that people with privilege ( meaning me- a stay at home mom) can guess what others are going through.
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I agree with her that I’ve been very privileged to stay at home. When she says “can guess” does she mean we can’t really understand because we’re not out there? I want to make sure I don’t misunderstand the point she’s making.
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I think she, and my daughter meant that we think we can imagine but can’t really know as we haven’t been there in their shoes. At least that’s what I understand.
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Ahhh…yes, that’s what I was thinking but I’ve learned to ask because assumptions can go sideways. She makes an excellent point. One thing I’ve really appreciated about TikTok is how many young people are on there talking about their lives and how they see the world.
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Very true. There is some good in social media after all. 💖🫶🏼💖
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there’s always something….
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Isn’t that the truth.
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