I'm confused as to what he wants us (white people) to do. Just acknowledge we're racist? That we can't do anything that reverses our racism? Yancy spends so much time saying the letter is a 'gift' but also says people are going to be mad about getting it. Then says we shouldn't be mad, but we're going to be. I don't get why spend all the time doing that. It makes it about individuals, when he seems to be urging instead recognition of inherent societal racism that all whites benefit from. I like that he titled it "Dear White America" but he then seems to take it to a personal level that I don't see helping his point or his cause. Honestly, he kinda turns me off to it. If I'm racist, and nothing I can do or say gets rid of that racism, why shouldn't I try to benefit from that racism? I think there is a clear answer of rights, but Yancy never goes there. I believe in an end to racism, and am involved in the movement to a limited extent because I believe in rights and human dignity. But Yancy comes across to me as saying not "You're part of the problem," but "You are the problem." That makes me, irrationally or not, not really want to fix it. At least not until I can benefit from the current system.

I also don't get why he seems to dismiss many of the questions and arguments against him as a result of whiteness and discomfort. I, for one, want better reasons than that, especially from a philosopher. The man asks and answers questions for a living! I've been told I'm racist countless times, for legitimate and in my view illegitimate reasons, that I'm racist. What I've never been told is why really. Why I can't ask certain questions, questions certain motives, or judge certain actions. Why can't I be persecuted, for example? I only read this now because so learned that:

Yancy is a professor in one of the top 20 philosophy departments in the country, and a well-respected scholar on race.

I'm on a philosophy kick right now, and I thought maybe he'd answer some of my questions in a rational and non-emotion based way. But instead, I hear what is another "You're racist." And quite honestly, for me at this point, hearing that doesn't fucking help anybody at all.