A white proverb (2013) is an Internet meme on Tumblr where you quote something White Americans say to people of colour all the time and then call it a proverb. For example:

“I’m not racist! In fact, calling me racist is racist!” — Ancient White Proverb

It is a joke: white people say these things so much and with such straight faces that it is almost like they were repeating ancient, wise sayings they learned somewhere. But instead of being wise they are being clueless!

White proverbs centre whiteness by:

denying white privilege (“The police are here to protect you.”) and by

(“The police are here to protect you.”) and by marginalizing people of colour as strange creatures (“Oh, your hair is just so interesting! Can I touch it?”).

What sounds “innocent” to a white privilege mindset is in fact racist microagression – the small little racist acts people of colour put up with every day because no single one is worth making a big deal of.

The top white proverbs of the 141 I gathered, ranked by the number of users who liked each:

3701 “I’m 32% Irish, 12% German, 17% Swedish, 25% French, 10% Polish and 1/17 Cherokee princess” 3549 “Where are you from? …No, I mean where’s your family from?” 1628 “The police are here to protect you.” 1410 “I don’t care if you’re black, white, brown, yellow, green or purple…” 1268 “Its not like YOU were ever a slave. I don’t understand why race is even an issue for you.” 850 “You’re not like those other Black people. In fact, I don’t see you as Black at all.” 819 “Wow, you are very attractive for a [insert ethnicity/race].” 652 “You’re so pretty. You don’t even look [non-white ethnicity]!” 649 “I took a class on this” 634 “You’re racist for saying I’m racist” 629 “I don’t know how to pronounce that, do you have an English name?” 619 “But the movement is about women’s issues, not racial issues!” 610 “You should be more like Martin Luther King and less like Malcolm X.” 498 “Oh, your hair is just so interesting! Can I touch it?” 468 “White people experience racism too. A Black person was mean to me once.” 464 “It’s not racist. It was a joke…” 459 “you just don’t understand how oppressed you are by your own culture” 458 “Calling me cracker is just as bad as me calling you the n-word.” 453 “I’m not racist, I hate everyone equally.” 452 “But my black friend wasn’t offended” 437 “I love Latinas. CALIENTE.” 428 “Do you mean forehead dot Indian or teepee Indian?” 415 “I’m not white; I’m human.” 407 “Two wrongs don’t make a right. If you react in violent self defense when someone’s violently attacking you, you’re just as bad.” 403 “You’re so lucky, you don’t have to tan!” 394 “Exotic” 346 “Slavery was 400 years ago. Get over it.” 346 “I’m not white, I’m Italian.”

Some whites say the white proverb meme is racist. Because – how do you say it? Right:

White Proverb # 10: “You’re racist for saying I’m racist”

No one is saying that ALL white people talk like this, that ALL white people are racist. But those who do need to stop and wonder why.

See also: