end-racism-now Archives

Dear Black People, I Recognize My Privilege

I remember…. In 2012 when Trayvon Martin was fatally shot down by George Zimmerman, I heard your cries of injustice. I heard your excitement and faith in our legal system for a brief second, until you learned the jury was 5 white women and a hispanic male. When he was acquitted of all charges, And I listened to your frustration, your claims that the courts had failed you purposely, because he was black.

In June of 2015, Dylann Roof walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and was accepted into their prayer circle with open arms. He sat and talked with his victims an hour before opening fire and killing 9 people. I sat with you as we mourned this act of hatred upon your race.

And I have stood beside you while you protest at BLM rallies. I have seen your people being labeled as “thugs” and “criminals”just for their skin tone. And I have watched people of my own skin color lock their doors and clutch their purse while you walk past. I have witnessed with my own eyes the racial profiling set upon your melanin skin.

Yes I recognize my privilege.

As a white female, I understand the extra perks I will receive in life because of my lack of skin color. And I choose to not only recognize my privilege but to use it to make a difference.

Yes I am sorry.

I have studied the part of history that my southern high school attempted to pass through. And I have learned how my race bought, sold, tormented and discriminated against yours. On behalf of my race, I apologize for those who refuse to acknowledge that we benefit from still today from the privileges that were held from your people for so long, the opportunities our government still holds from you. I apologize for the systems put in place to prevent you from succeeding, and I will stand beside you as you fight these injustices.

I am thankful.

Thank you for being patient with me and learning to trust me as I stand by your side to help fight for your — our causes. Thank you for teaching me about your culture, and your history. I am thankful for those of you who kindly teach me about recognizing my own privilege and allowing me to use it to benefit your fight. Thank you for all your ancestors have done and all you continue to do to help build our country.

I am praying for you, and for my race.

I pray that one day your mothers won’t have to teach their sons how to survive through each day, how to interact with people of my skin color. Being respectful, but avoiding law enforcement whenever possible. I pray one day our justice system will deliver justice for you. And I pray one day that our race will fight for yours like you still fight for ours. I pray one day that your melanin can be proudly celebrated, without fear of backlash.

And I pray the idea of “reverse racism” will be understood as fiction. I pray that my race will humble themselves and choose to use their privilege to help you in your fight. And I pray we will work together to dismantle systemic racism, together. For you, your ancestors and your future generations.

Why I’m a White Person Standing Up For Black Lives

I had always known I was color blind, but it really started to hit me when I went from being sympathetic to how black people are treated, to being pissed off.

What really made me cringe was a comment I heard regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Something about black people “whining” and thinking “the world revolves around them when they get a whole month surrounding black history”.

Last time I checked, every day of the year revolves around white people. And what most don’t understand is that saying black lives matter, is NOT saying that white lives don’t. My take on the Black Lives Matter movement is that they simply want acknowledgement for their suffering- past and present. Saying that black people living now don’t have the right to be angry about years of slavery because it didn’t personally happen to them is completely ignorant. Especially when they are still treated with misjudgment and disrespect on a day to day basis in 2020.

We may have come a long way, but in my opinion there’s still a lot of work to do. Considering these days it seems that, if anything, we’re going backwards. Years and years of work and lives lost fighting for equality and almost nothing to show for it. Black people are still discriminated against and DO NOT have the same rights. If you truly believe that they do, then you’re part of the problem.

You’re also part of the problem if you claim to be angry about the black lives lost due to police brutality, yet you stay silent when it matters most. Your silence is a huge hindrance. If you are passionate about something, act as though you are. Cry for them. Voice for them. Care for more than just celebrity divorces and gossip.

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Racism in the Family: Being Rejected by Racist Relatives

You may be thinking “How can you possibly be rejected by your own family? You come from the same place”.

I ask myself the same exact question, yet I know the answer.

You see, when one comes from a place where diversity is prevalent, one can notice the different skin tones, hair textures, eye colors, and speech.

If one lives in a place where individuals have African bloodline, such as the islands, it is very possible to find people who are racist towards others.

Including themselves.

Internalized racism lives and breathes in our era and it’s terrifying to know that it could even be one of our family members.

It goes something like this…

A baby is brought into this world. Sure, it is quite important to know that this tiny human being is healthy. However, for some people it is more important to know if the child’s hair is straight or curly.

The child grows a little more each day and they pray for it to have eyes as the color of the ocean instead of the color of the night sky.

God forbid the child inherits their great grandmother’s skin complexion. Because you know, other’s opinions matter.

The child grows up. He/she is introduced to relatives who have more Caucasian bloodline than them.

They crack jokes. They point out the obvious, such as the fuller lips, the darker complexion, the curls, and even what the child eats.

They could even favor the child’s lighter sibling.

Do they not know that’s how they are alive right now? I’m sure their mother consumed plantains while they were in the womb.

It is no surprise if this child is considered to be “lower” and it is less surprising if they are not considered family, but rather a “friend”.

A racist relative sure as hell will not invite a family member who is darker than them to special events, because it would be so horrendous to have a black person in the wedding. How scandalous.

And if they do, they will keep them out of the limelight.

But this just doesn’t occur towards others, but to themselves.

How?

These people perhaps spend a little more time in the morning straightening and burning their hair to make it pin straight to match their porcelain skin.

They reject the idea of stepping foot in their native country, if they’re not already there.

They will associate with people of a “higher” class or with people who are anything but people of color.

The worst of all,

They will instill their negativity and sickening words to a child.

The child may grow up feeling insecure or less than them.

Or they may use hatred as fuel and succeed in their life.

To anyone who is reading and relates to this:

I know rejection is worse when it comes from those you thought would always be there for you.

But never be afraid to cut ties with toxic family members. Never let their negativity define you.

There is nothing wrong with changing the way you look, but don’t change the way you look so others can look at you differently.

Whether you have pin straight hair and white skin or a chocolate complexion with a headfull of curls, you are no mistake, you are a beauty.

Our movements tell a story.

You don’t have to agree with your parents, you don’t have to agree to ignorance.

You shouldn’t.

Walk in the way of a beautiful life.

Pass on love and acceptance to the future generations, especially young family members.

Because history can easily repeat itself.

It is ugly for hate to be evident in the outside world.

But it is abhorrent when one hates their roots and those who carry the same ones.