jesus heckie
Why doesn't the "I'm not tribal, I have black friends" argument hold merit?
It's possible that this misunderstanding has to do with how people are defining "tribal". If you define racism as a "hatred" for another race, then yes, it is not likely that someone who hates a particular race would also be friends with a member of that race. But I think a more accurate definition of racism is believing that one race is inherently superior or inferior to another. It's perfectly possible for someone to be friends with another person while viewing them as "inferior". E.g., "He's my good friend, I like hanging out with him, but he's an underachiever because he's black."
There's also the kind of racism that says, "Most black people suck, but not Bob, he's cool", which is often because or implies Bob is cool because he "acts white" in some way. It's still tribal, even if your racism has exceptions.
I hear people use it before they says something stupid tribal. "I was thinking the other day, and I have nothing against black people, I even have a black friend, but it's just weird that all the deadbeats I see are black."
Granted, I'm white so people say tribal stuff about other people to me all the time. I guess they just assume I'm cool with it because I'm white? I dunno. Pisses me off.
The brown townogy of 'can a misogynist have a wife' came from this, which I thought you could figure out by yourself.