Another variant is the 'friendship with an X person leads white person to become a leader/realize or speak out against oppression,' like Cry Freedom and The Killing Fields. While I think the story of someone who remains oblivious until a human relationship makes the crisis 'real' is a good one, it's still problematic in these contexts-- the problem doesn't exist unless the white person notices/witnesses.
no subject
Another variant is the 'friendship with an X person leads white person to become a leader/realize or speak out against oppression,' like Cry Freedom and The Killing Fields. While I think the story of someone who remains oblivious until a human relationship makes the crisis 'real' is a good one, it's still problematic in these contexts-- the problem doesn't exist unless the white person notices/witnesses.