Even as a “white traitor”, I'm still white.

Every now and then, I write an article that really upsets racists. There is an internet law known as Lewis’s law, which states that "the comments on any article about feminism justify feminism".

This law applies to articles condemning racism as well. The comments under any article condemning racism, justify the need to talk about and condemn racism.

I write about a lot of controversial subjects, from feminism (I'm for it) to religion (I'm against it), but nothing generates a reaction quite like my articles pointing out that uncomfortable truth most of white South Africa really doesn't want to face – the fact that we as a culture and group are still very, and unacceptably, racist.

I don't just get swarms of angry comments underneath the article itself – I get hysterical tweets (often from brand-new "egg" accounts), tearful-sounding response articles written on MyNews24, and even private messages sent from strangers on Facebook.

Here’s one that was sent to me after I wrote this article:



(If you’re wondering, I also get enough people seeking me out to thank me for my articles, people who acknowledge that I was able to point out something that hadn't occurred to them before, and positive responses from sources I respect and admire, to keep me going no matter how many angry trolls tell me I'm a cunt.)

Now, the thing about these reactions is I find them hilarious. They don’t bother me in the slightest, and often after a more controversial article of mine goes live, you can find me laughing loudly as each new angry, hateful, or simply missing-the-point response comes rolling in.

It was my article about why blackface is not OK that made me realize how much my ability to laugh at these reactions is a privilege.

While I was chuckling away, friends of mine seemed less amused by the comments. Instead, I could see the angry and antagonistic reactions to a simple request like please don’t insist on insulting black people in one of the most historically awful ways possible, could really upset and get to them.

And this is because, as a white South African, racism doesn't threaten me – unless you believe a loss of privilege is oppression. (It’s not)

I will never personally need to feel too frightened of racists and racism, because my skin colour protects me. Even as a “white traitor”, I'm still white.

At any time, I am able to stop caring about race and racism, and I won’t be bothered by them. I will still have my white privilege backpack on. I still benefit from a world that mostly protects and sympathizes with white people.

And that’s why I can, without any real emotional involvement, tackle these subjects, and laugh it off when I don’t get through to people. I really want to see racism end, but I don’t need it in order to survive. I would like people to stop being prejudice, but I don’t have to fear for my children’s future, even their lives, because of people hating them for their skin colour alone.

It’s an important thing to keep in mind. We may all glorify emotionless debate, but being able to debate a subject without emotion is a privilege.

It’s a lot easier to talk about race without getting emotionally involved when you’re white.

It’s a lot easier to talk about sexism without getting emotionally involved when you’re male.

It’s a lot easier to talk about rape without getting emotionally involved when you've never had to survive it.

It’s just generally easier to discuss and debate issues when you’re not personally threatened by that issue. And this privilege is something those of us enjoy should be mindful of.