I feel the same way - if it's harmful, it's harmful. My thoughts on whataboutisms aren't so much about the intent, a whataboutism to me is wrong and harmful, period. When I see that, I'm not trying to figure out the intent. It's clear because they took the time to deflect to a completely different topic. That's a dismissal of the subject at hand and I'm not sure of any other way to take that.

The defense that I speak of is white people taking it personally when we talk about racism. They take our words not as an expression of the pain, violence, discrimination, and cruelty we encounter in America, but that we are singling them out to say they are "bad" people. If white people could view racism as it actually is - a systemic issue - and not make it a personal attack, it would be much easier to objectively discuss it and begin to make changes. The civil rights leaders of the past were able to connect with white people in positions of power who were able to do that. I can't believe that breed of humanity has completed died and only left us with spoiled, entitled, and self-absorbed white supremacists. I certainly hope that's not the case.