I mean, I am white, so I’ve been taught how to do this by example my entire life.
“Why are you assuming the sign writer meant BLACK crack dealers? Is it because you are racist and assume that all crack dealers are Black?”
Well, allow me to add to this, then, with some popular code phrases that we know about already.
“You’re so well-spoken!”
This is used in two ways I’ve personally seen. Either in reference to “foreign looking people” (like East/Southeast/South Asians, brown Middle Easterners, the list can go on) who “surprisingly” know how to speak English, or black people who “surprisingly” don’t speak AAVE.
“You’re so EDUCATED!”/“You sound so EDUCATED!”
Occasionally this is used as an even deeper code of the “you speak so well” line, but it can also refer to “oh my goodness you’re brown and you said something INTELLIGENT! I didn’t know you people could DO that. WOW.”
”You look like [enter some colored people you don’t look even vaguely like from TV/movies here].”
This is the deepest level of code I have ever heard to tell a black person they sound very white/educated. But white people can’t hide it. We seent you motherfuckers. We seent that shit. It might also be a crappy reference to you being cute for a [your race here], or that all people of your race look alike. It depends on your exact race, of course.
“You are pretty for a [your race person here].”
Plain and simple: You WOULD be pretty, if you were white. But you’re not. So you’ve reached the hotness ceiling. Tooooooo baaaaaaaad for youuuuuuuuuu.
“Do you play basketball/football/run track?”Because you’re black. And all black people do those things.
“White men can’t jump, so don’t ask me to try when I’m against you!”Once again, you’re black. Your athleticism is built into the slaves you’re descended from. US PO WHITE FOLK CAIN’T DO NOTHIN AGAINST THAT!
“There are some very suspicious people here…”Often used when observing black/latin teenagers existing in a space where white people don’t think they belong.
“Oh god, I thought you were going to mug/shoot/hurt me!”You can guess this one.
“I don’t want to go to your house, I’d rather you come exceptionally far out of your way to come to mine.”Since you, being of a non-white race, probably live around scary non-white people. Have not seen this used to refer to races other than black/latin races.
“You’re getting very emotional and I’m worried.”Wow so like, racism is a HUGE deal to you or something.
“This is a class issue.” [This includes numerous mentions of poor white people existing.]“I’m ignorant of how race intersects with class, but you damn PoC really need to remember that it’s all about white people!”
“The police need to go to [that neighborhood] and arrest some real criminals.”
How dare the police arrest white people! There are BLACK PEOPLE who need arresting!
I know there are a million more, so feel free to add ones you know of!You’ve covered a lot that came to my mind. I can add a few:
- “They look like thugs”/”A lot thugs in that area…” Of course, “thug” means “black.”
- “They just act so hostile!” “Hostility” is a reaction usually used to describe PoC not acting submissive or nice. We don’t even have to be angry — they can just be assertive and establish healthy boundaries to be labeled “hostile.”
- “Grow up and get over yourself already!” PoC showing any signs of distress over the way we’re being treated and refusing to accept/reacting to/questioning white people’s abuse, foul behavior, manipulation, etc. is dismissed as a sign of immaturity and claims that we just can’t be “rational.” Feeds to the idea that PoC are inherently irrational and are beasts who can’t control their emotions. So, white people patronize and try to show the poor PoC the way of life.
- “What? Do you think you’re better than me?!” “Why can’t you just stay in your place, brown person? How DARE you not act submissive and act the way I want you to act!” That’s really what white people mean when they say this or make claims that you think you’re “superior” to them.
Oh look! It’s like when my sociology teacher said that in the next few years racism would be wiped out by classism and that anyone can be racist against anyone.
That sociology teacher is an idiot.
