How a Southerner shed his racism

Franklin McCallie, 75, grew up in the segregated South as an admittedly ignorant bigot. Today, McCallie dedicates much of his time to promoting strong relationships between whites and blacks. So what caused McCallie's views to change? As he tells it, it was a conversation he had in 1961 that forever changed him.

[henriverbrugghen]

He wasn’t racist, he just was too scared to challenge his parents beliefs

[vipermad]

It takes a strong man to admit he is wrong.

[ZenkaiGamingZ]

The part he said his stomach got tight, he knew it was wrong. That's the conscience inside of you. He wasn't racist, he was taught to believe that he was

[oneshotman]

It's actually insane what having an actual conversation with someone and really LISTENING to what they say can do for you.

[dwiletteatterberry]

I am a black women who knows Mr. Franklin personally and I have attended gatherings at his home. He is genuine and wise. He is passionate about bridging the gap between blacks and whites.

[ElChuyonWiwi]

Imagine if at the end he was like, “still can’t stand Mexicans tho” 😂

[aterriblesliceoftoast]

The fact he feels the way he does, feels so remorseful, brought to tears, due to societal failure toward people just because of where their parents or grandparents might’ve been born.
What a man.

[LeedleLee]

This guy isn't really a bigot, he was just raised in a bad environment. That's why he was able to shed it. Trust me there are plenty of people who are truly ignorant bigots that are beyond shedding their racism.

[m_b]

I can barely hear his story because of the damn piano.

[SkyjackGames]

I don’t think he was ever racist, just living by his parents beliefs until he was old enough to think for himself and realized how wrong that is.

[jwilcox]

My daddy was a racist cop that beat us regularly. So we never liked him when kids, afraid of him really. So when he didn't like dark brown people we made sure we did. Momma was so afraid when I brought my girlfriend home and she sat in Dad's living room chair. She was so afraid he could smell a dark brown person like he said that she sprayed his chair with Llysol. OMG. So we had dark brown friends over when both not home and no daddy never could tell that they had come over. Daddy got educated in college and by me and he changed realizing how disgusting and stupid it was/is to feel this way about anybody ever. We are all just different shades of brown. That's how I raised my children and how I told my grandchildren and now how I will teach my great grandchildren. Every body is a child of God. Satan can't have children. So we are all potential bros and sis' for Christ. Praise God for this man's change and now God has given him a heart

[wmckain]

This is really inspiring. That young black student invested 3 hours of patience and calm and look, it changed this man's life and countless others. And he had ears to listen too.

[danielbloomfield]

This is a guy who wouldn’t say the N word even if I gave him a pass.

[suptim]

Proof that just because you’re raised racist, doesn’t mean you can’t shed it.

[llwone]

This is so touching. I’m glad he cared enough to find things out for himself and it made him a better person.

[LegionIvory]

2:32 This part is VERY important. It is the key to understanding why, ironically, systemic racism still exists.

Many white Americans refuse to even hear about what people of color go through, not because they don't think it's real, but because it's too painful for them to listen to. The amount of shame and guilt that surfaces upon hearing you got it better than others because of something as trivial as pigmentation is too much for them to bare. So, they tune it out.

They ignore it, and they let the injustices continue, because it's easier to pretend like it's not happening than admit so many people suffer from it.

[akashsuresh]

The regret in the man's voice is painfully obvious. If only humans learned.

[sayetazonen]

the greatest difference is that he listened to a black man. racists are quick to regurgitate what they learned without hearing the other side. he was brought up racist but was gifted with the ability to listen.

[mistersippi]

I LOVE stories like these! As a southerner with family history these guys are role models not just for us, but for anyone whose challenged themselves with self reflection. I think if a lot of people just sat down with someone they respected and said “maybe it’s me?” there’d be a lot less problems.

Not only just for changing ideals mind you, but it also allows you to see where others are coming from. I’m sure everyone will/should have things that they don’t really need to change, but the experience means you take your ideas seriously enough to question. That’s very hard for some people to get, and even people who do, fall into it unknowingly.

[joshuahamby]

Something similar I went through. Grew up, and still live in Alabama. Grew up with a racist father, and other racist family members.

Racism is definitely taught, you’re not born with it.

I was very fortunate enough to learn and catch on to it when I was young, and when I was out of that house, I never spoke to them again. My own flesh and blood, but racism, I will disown anyone in my family or friend group for acting it and believing in it.

As a white man, I’ve been humbled numerous of times about race and African American culture, and it’s made me a better person, but as a white person, learning and advocating for better change, never stops.

We white men and women, need to stop ignoring the everyday systematic racism and be better human beings.

It may be very well uncomfortable for you as a white person, to have a conversation about race, but it’s necessary. You will feel small, embarrassed, ashamed, but if you experience those feelings, that means your listening.

Most importantly about those conversations, shut up and listen. Don’t down play someone’s testimony based off of your experience as a white person, because you will never learn anything that way trying to refute someone’s feelings/testimony that is not the same race as you.

White men and women have privilege. That’s a fact. Know it and remember it. Be the change and seek change white people. We have the ability to make a difference, so let’s do it.