DiAngelo, 68, followed suit, saying, “On behalf of myself and my fellow white people, I apologize — it is not you, it is us. As long as I’m standing, I will do my best to challenge it.” — ‘White Fragility’ author Robin DiAngelo gets tricked into paying reparations to Matt Walsh’s producer in ‘Am I Racist?’ documentary, The New York Post, September 8, 2024
With all due respect, Robin DiAngelo, please keep your $30. I don’t need it and nor does anyone in my family. I can’t speak for over 40 million black Americans as acceptance of 30 bucks for “400 years of oppression” may not offend some.
In the documentary “Am I Racist” released today, podcaster Matt Walsh had a splendid sit down session with Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility. Walsh posed as a kindred spirit committed to the aims of anti-racism. In a nice touch, Walsh offered to pay his black producer “a few bills from his wallet” as recompense for 400 years of oppression. It wasn’t much but it was all that Walsh had in his wallet. Walsh then challenged DiAngelo to get into the Christmas, er, Reparations spirit as well. DiAngelo hemmed, and hawed, before finding $30 to give the black producer as recompense.
There was no evidence the black producer was a former slave. I would wager every last cent of my net worth the producer was not a former slave. Who wants to take that bet?
There was no evidence presented that the producer suffered from the lingering effects of American slavery. I repeat my aforesaid wager.
Basically, DiAngelo perceived the producer as a panhandler, someone to be pitied because of his skin color and (presumed) descent from American slaves. But suppose the producer was the son of Igbo immigrant parents? The son of immigrants from Jamaica? The son of immigrants from Haiti? The son of a white Mom or a white Dad?
It is an insult to offer a grown, successful man $30 as reparations for American slavery. Said offeror must think very, very little of black people.
I have hundreds of ideas why one should oppose reparations. Perhaps, the most basic fundamental reason is human dignity. If one is a Man, one stands on one’s own two feet in life. There is no need to claim shadow victimhood of ancestors long, long dead. Do better, DiAngelo.
Conclusion: I need human dignity in life, not 30 bucks for reparations. Dogma and slogan words encourage black Americans to think of themselves as panhandlers on the street thirsty for reparations from the benevolent hands of writers like DiAngelo. I don’t come from people who think little of themselves. In fact, leave my ancestors out of it. Me, myself and I came into the world in 1961. I care more about the future of 2060 than the past of 1860.
I am the architect of my own life and sense of self. The condescension of DiAngelo should be rejected. If my Grandma born in 1897 would have laughed DiAngelo out of the room, we must appreciate how hateful and insulting reparations would be to any young black individual today. Consider this scene from A Raisin in the Sun where husband and father Walter Younger played by Sidney Poitier explains human dignity for a plain family, Old Americans for six generations:
Grandma Lena Younger: You teach him (Walter’s son) good like Willie Harris taught you. When you show him by where our 5 generations done come from. Go ahead, go ahead.
Husband and Father Walter Younger: Mr. Lindner (white presenter of check to family so that family would waive their dignity to homeownership) what you, ah, me and my family, because we are plain people, you know. We are plain people.
Mr. Linder: Yes.
Husband and father Walter Younger: I work as a chauffeur, you know, most of my life and my wife works in people’s kitchens. And so does my mother. I mean we are plain people.
Mr. Linder: Mr. Younger (holds up papers for Walter to sign)
Husband and Father Walter Younger: My father was a laborer all of his life.
Mr. Linder: Yes.
Husband and Father Walter Younger: And my father once, my father once almost beat a man to death because this man. He called him some kind of name, you know. That’s my sister. And she is going to be a doctor. And we are very proud of her. We come from a long line of brown people. (pregnant pause) This is my son. My son. (hugs son) And he makes the 6th generation, the 6th generation of my family in this country.
And we have, we have all thought about your offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father earned it brick by brick. Now, we don’t intend to cause no trouble or fight no causes. We’re going to try to be good neighbors. (hugs son tight)
That’s all. That’s all we have to say. We…Don’t…Want…Your…Money.