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A Teachable Moment: Racism, Sympathy and Empathy
With schools beginning and teachers planning as best they can, it’s again time for me to try my best to help the students understand something that may not appear in a textbook, but this ‘invisible lesson’ is of the utmost importance. So here goes:
Let’s get something straight. For two weeks I have been hearing people speak of empathy. A white announcer turns to a black baseball player and says, “I can empathize with you.” Sorry, pal. Your feelings are legitimate, but you need a dictionary — and with it — an acknowledgment that you have in baseball parlance: made an error.
Far too many folks who are not ‘of color’ claim to have empathy for black and brown Americans.
Face it. I am a white writer and former English teacher. I cannot relate to a black teacher walking into a classroom, or striding to a 7/11, or pining for a beer at a bar, or just minding his/ her own business taking a jog around the neighborhood. My skin is never going to cause a stir. It will not prompt anyone to look over their shoulder and wonder what I am doing here, there or anywhere. I get a free pass. I am presumed innocent. Full stop.
However, what causes me to shake my head in frustration is when someone pretends to (often with no malice) relate to…
