[Susan MD]

Ok I have always wanted to discuss this but was too scared. I am a white female professional and have discussed this with some of my friends and we all have the same problem. I think I am too P.C. I was raised not to be racist and I do not believe I am racist. I grew up rural and had little exposure to any race until I started college. I have had mostly positive interactions with African/Americans, but the few bad ones have scarred me. I have felt intentionally intimidated because I was white. For example I was verbally assaulted(with my race mentioned) on the street, simply because I was silently admiring a gorgeous dress a black woman was wearing as she passed me by. I am so afraid of offending a black person and of being perceived as racist. I am afraid to look at them or make eye contact for any reason(even if it is to admire their shoes or coat) if I am passing them on the street. I am overly polite with them in professional situations. I always let them on and off the elevator first, and hold the door for them. I am terribly uncomfortable if they do anything for me such as even push an elevator button. I am so scared that if a person comes up and says I am looking for Mr. X and Mr. X was standing in a crowd of 50 people and he was the only non-white person, I would try hard to find some other charateristic to describe him by such as he is the one with the blue tie, even though the obvious anwer would be to say he is the African/American Man in the blue tie. I am scared I would offend them by recognizing their race. Is there a term for this…do other people experience this. I don’t fear blacks, I fear offending blacks.

User Detail :  

Name : Susan MD, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Lupus, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 37, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : Physician, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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