This post will implement the unisex name “Leslie” to avoid overuse, and the subtle passive-aggressive tone of the pronoun “they.” Leslie, will symbolically represent white and non-black collectives respectively.
Author’s Note: Leslie also encompasses the ideology of melanated individuals who are only black on the outside. Because these individuals, while dangerous, do not enjoy the systemic advantage of other factions, they are not the central subjects in the post.
- Leslie redirects the conversation in an “all lives matter” fashion, meaning he or she highlight the “struggles” of other factions. Example: ” Blacks are not the only ones struggling. Consider the native Americans, migrant whites, women (insert any other subculture demographic).”
- Leslie refers to blacks as “racist” or “bitter”
- Leslie references the fictive “black on black crime” as a justification for crimes against black people
- A casualty of privilege, Leslie fails to see race’s role in every component of a person’s life.
- Leslie inserts individual examples to counter a collective injustice. Well my (insert relative) came here from (insert non-African country) and they (insert material “evidence” of conventional success)
- Leslie condemns Micah Johnson and Gavin Long, but make excuses for white terrorists
- There will almost always be a reference made to a Toni Morrison novel, Tyler Perry film, or the latest movie by or starring black people as a primary source. This is not to say either source cannot be discourse for discussion, but that this individual references these in ignorance of Dr. Ben, Dr. Neely Fuller, Dr. Davis, e.t.c.
- There will be an attempt to alter the context of a racial dialogue because they said so. Example: “Don’t call them Africans, call them African-Americans.” This act will be racist in both execution and content and only helpful in exposing whites and non-blacks as inherently racist.
- Leslie may seem to accidentally misinterpret commentary from blacks, but in actuality purposefully misconstrues your words to assert a personal agenda
- Instead of asking about the many blacks unjustly murdered by police, Leslie will redirect the attention to soldiers of white supremacy killed in the line of incivility–a risk made clear prior to their inclusion in the field
- Many will not talk at all, and will objectify blacks like gorillas in a cage and watch them discuss race. The contents of discussion will eventually be passed off as “new” ideas by these spectators in a form of racist plagiarism
Black Power ❤
Whispers of a Womanist 
Leslie is delusional. Black people like this are their own worst enemy. The sad part is they don’t even realize it. I know a few Leslie’s in the workplace. They can be very annoying.
Lol Prince, very annoying indeed!
It’s very important to bring attention to these types of behaviors and attitudes. Generally Non-Blacks views us through the lens of the White Supremacists gaze. I concur with you and Kushite Prince, black people who are extremely confused and also harbor these anti-black sentiments are really aggravating, I have to interject one of Neely Fuller’s Code, minimize contact to minimize conflict. “You don’t believe we are in a System of Racism White Supremacy”, “well black people treat me worse than white people”, or the classic “what about black on black crime”, and we can’t forget “we’re all a little bit racist”. To all of that I simply smile and it a calm polite voice I say, ok, well enjoy the rest of your day and exit the conversation. To keep the conversation going will only lead to conflict. A black person cannot change the mind of more confused victim of racism, if the individual is not open to honest and truthful dialogue. The only people who can change these victims mind is the White Supremacists and they can change it in record time! It really boils down to what Mr. Fuller has in the front of his book.
“If you do not understand Racism White Supremacy, what it is and how it works, everything you do understand will only confuse you” – this is definitely represented in the excellent points you laid out!
Hello there, just finished reading your post on Teyana Taylor and I was really intrigued by the well-made points and insight into a matter that can become a bit of a gray area. As a non-black person of color, I would like to educate myself on such issues (without inappropriately inserting myself into others’ narratives) and try to not only listen, but catch myself if I’m being a Leslie, so I would like to know how you would respond to point 5. I have had a point 5 conversation with a Leslie and although Leslie was open to talking and letting me speak without interrupting, I don’t think he understood the other side.
Hi Leslie. Oh the irony!
Thank you for your comment. In situations like these it’s important to point out cyclical disenfranchisement as hanging over blackness. So mentioning a white or non blackberry elder “struggled” so a white or non black person can “have what they have” functions as it should. As blacks as ancestors struggles too, as some know, but we face the same compartmentalizations and conflicts of our ancestors. Their sacrifice only gave way to a different manifestation of what they faced–I emphasized this point because a figure like President Obama seems to thwart this idea, but look at all the adversity he faced.
There is also no becoming white for blacks-Asian, Indians, Some hispanics and latinos and migrant whites all consummate a journey to whiteness–a journey no black person can. Now, it’s not that whiteness should be or is the goal, but to conceptualize why pointing to the transition of other demographics from migrant, poor or what have you to conventional success, spits in the face of cyclical disenfranchisement.
These points don’t always resonate as you see, but the cycle is something that is far too often attributed to black inferiority and not systemic racism. This person will commonly say “well I didn’t fall into the ‘trap'” but the reality is, they were never supposed to.
Sorry for the essay. Have a nice day!