My Racist Friend

Don and Amy discuss the impact of the new HBO series 'Lovecraft Country' (while trying to avoid any spoilers) and how it relates to the local and national stress surrounding race in America. Don shares an experience near his home confronting a group protesting the Bloomington mayor in support of law enforcement, and how his courage to challenge racist narratives online is impacting his business.

NOTE: This is the second episode of the pandemic where these two friends were in the same physical space, this time out amongst tree trimmers, construction, and the prelude to 2021's return of the cicadas. As a result, there is a lot of background noise throughout their discussions.

Additional resources:

• "RallyMayor2" (Facebook, by the Bloomingtonian, August 23, 2020)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Amy and Don talk about a neighborhood petition to rename "Dixie Street" in Bloomington, reflecting on both small meaningful actions and empty gestures. Their conversation covers the presence and suggestion of racism in the songs we sing and the media we watch. 

NOTE: This is the first episode of the pandemic where these two friends were in the same physical space. As a result, there is a lot of background noise throughout their discussions.

Additional resources:

• "Bloomington, Indiana: Rename Dixie Street" (Change.org, by S. Sherry, August 14, 2020)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Prompted by a recent essay calling for an end to using the pejorative 'Karen', Amy wrestles with how sexism interferes and overlaps with anti-racism work. She and Don discuss how they participate in the systems they want to change—even while they are being hurt—and the importance of being authentic in a world that values power.

Additional resources:

• "How That 'Karen' Meme Benefits the Right" (The National Memo, by Nina Burleigh, July 18, 2020)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

After a holiday weekend filled with racist acts and protest drew the world's attention to Bloomington, Don and Amy talk through their reactions to these events and how they are processing the visible violence in their community. Don revisits a childhood incident in a new light, and they discuss the fear that results from acts of terrorism.

Additional resources:

"Arrest at Monroe Lake spurs IU football players to voice concern over racial profiling" (Indiana Daily Student, by Grace Ybarra, June 28, 2020)

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Amy reflects on the childhood memory shared by Don in the previous episode and the difficulty in reconciling racism in someone she loves. Together, they revisit a painful moment for Don at an awards program in which they both participated, and Amy tries to reconcile the racism she carries.

Additional resources:

• "The Violence of white (and non-Black PoC) Apologies" (Medium, by Ciarra Jones, June 9, 2020)
  

"Loving John Hughes Movies While Black" (Medium, by mauludSADIQ, January 23, 2017)

"About Positive Discipline" 

Black Lives Matter Bloomington - Donations

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

In this week's conversation, Don wrestles with what to do with the anger aggregating with each news alert, racist Facebook post, and recalled memory. In processing how that anger has changed over time, Amy talks about our inclination to diminish or dismiss harm done by people we like.

Warning: The cursing was not edited out for this episode, and (spoiler) they don't really talk about the Farmer's Market.

Additional resources:

"The 'Arab Spring': Five Years On" (Amnesty International)

"Philando Castile's Daughter Said To Girlfriend After He Died: I Don't Want You To Get Shooted | TIME" (YouTube, by TIME, June 22, 2017)

"While celebrities partner with NAACP to 'take responsibility' for racism" (The Detroit News, by Christi Carras, June 12, 2020)

"How accurate is 'Mrs. America's' portrayal of Shirley Chisholm? We looked into it." (Los Angeles Times, by Meredith Blake, April 24, 2020)

"A black activist who trained police officers on implicit bias was injured with rubber bullet during protest" (CNN, by Madeline Holcombe and Sarah Moon, June 9, 2020)

“Sir, Can We Talk About Your Knee on My Neck?” (By Maureen Walker, June 15, 2020)

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

Don and Amy discuss the ongoing protests against police brutality, including both the large gathering in Bloomington on June 5 and (briefly) an inflammatory statement by the Broadening Inclusion Group of the local farmer's market that same day. They try to process some of the recent instances of violence against protestors and discuss the role RCT plays in seeking understanding.

Additional resources:

"Racism Is Surging in Germany. Tens of Thousands Are Taking to the Streets to Call for Justice" (Time, by Billy Perrigo and Melissa Godin, June 11, 2020)

"The NFL's backtracking apology forgot one thing: Colin Kaepernick" (Mashable, by Adam Rosenberg, June 7, 2020)

"Why Romney Marched" (The Atlantic, McKay Coppins, June 8, 2020)

"Austin police fired at a crowd transporting a protester injured by an officer" (CNN, by Christina Maxouris and Raja Razek, June 7, 2020)

"Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market releases apology after controversial statement" (Indiana Daily Student, by Lauren McLaughlin, June 11, 2020)

"Radio Raheem's death in Spike Lee's 'Do The Right Thing' still haunts America" (liveMint, by Uday Bhatia, June 3, 2020)

"15 Years Later, Tawana Brawley Has Paid 1 Percent Of Penalty" (NPR, by Mark Memmott, August 5, 2013)

"Trump 'How to Black People/How to Bible" (YouTube, uploaded by Jeff Hill, June 3, 2020)

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

The last week of May was draining. The murder of George Floyd under the knee of the Minneapolis police was set up by Amy Cooper's 911 call and stalled justice for Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others. Don and Amy reflect on the barrage of events since their previous conversation, including the resulting protests of police brutality around the world and the outcome of policing tactics on display. They also revisit the continued presence of white supremacists in the local farmers market, a year after protests began, and explore a possible solution for institutionalize racism: reparations.

Additional resources:

"David Clarke says Michelle Obama said she was proud of U.S. only after Barack Obama became president" (Politifact, by Tom Kertscher, February 23, 2017)

"Trump risks potential backlash from evangelicals with 'tone-deaf' Bible photo-op" (CNN, by Michael Warren, June 3, 2020)

"Louisville police shoot reporter with pepper bullets during protest on live TV" (CBS News, by Li Cohen, May 30, 2020)

"This one image explains what’s happening at the anti-racism protests" (Fast Company, by David Lidsky, June 2, 2020)

"Youth pastor claims he was kidnapped by black men to avoid admitting why he was in a hotel room" (LGBTQ Nation, by Bil Browning, May 25, 2020)

"Florida mother who claimed her son was kidnapped by 2 Black men is seen on surveillance video trying to drown him before later killing him." (Black Enterprise, by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton, May 27, 2020)

"Amy Cooper’s 911 call is part of an all-too-familiar pattern" (Vox, by Anna North May 26, 2020)

"All four former officers involved in George Floyd's killing now face charges" (CNN, by Josh Campbell, Sara Sidner and Eric Levenson, June 4, 2020)

"Minnesota governor personally apologizes to CNN reporter arrested while covering protests" (CNN, by Veronica Stracqualursi, June 3, 2020)

"6 Atlanta Officers Charged After Body Cam Footage Shows Them Using Tasers on Black College Students" (People, by Gabrielle Chung, June 2, 2020)

"Louisville fires its police chief over handling of fatal shooting during protest" (CNN, by Evan McMorris-Santoro, Kevin Brunelli and Theresa Waldrop, June 2, 2020)

"A white bar owner in Omaha shot and killed a black protester. He won't face charges." (CBS News, by Sophie Lewis, June 3, 2020)

"George Floyd protests in Pa. being hijacked by white supremacists, state official says" (York Daily Record, by Candy Woodall, June 2, 2020)

"France not racist state, Macron spokesperson says after Paris protest" (The Guardian, by Kim Willsher, June 3, 2020)

"Cause of death: COVID-19, police violence or racism?" (Los Angeles Times, by Melissa Healy, June 2, 2020)

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

After over two weeks of fever, Amy reunites with Don online for a catch-up discussion that covers opening the state before we're ready, the value of local response to helping each other, and the role of connection when someone is being bullied. The two friends also talk about raising the bar on expectations for political leaders and our shared desire to make things appear less messy.

This conversation was recorded one day before the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and a week of visible horrors instigated by a range of authoritarians. Unpacking everything will certainly be the topic of the next recorded episode.

Additional resources:

• "Joe Biden Apologizes for 'You Ain't Black' Comments | NowThis" (YouTube, by NowThisNews, May 26, 2020)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes

With the inclusion of psychiatrist Dr. Amy Banks on the weekly Zoom call, Don talks with two Amys this week about racism at work when discussing police shootings and gun control. Dr. Banks explains the neuroscience that bakes our prejudices into our minds and body, and they talk about the value of recalling positive relational moments to help your body feel calm.

Additional resources:

• "Indianapolis Police Officer Shoots Man in Livestreamed Killing. Here's What to Know" (Time, by Josiah Bates, May 7, 2020)
  

Buy "Your Racist Friend" by They Might Be Giants on iTunes