Dear fellow white people,
You do not get to play the "I'm not racist card" just because you aren't out in the streets lynching people of color. This is the minimum bar to clear for not being a complete waste of life. Do better, I know you can. I have the faiths in you, you got this. Go do the thing.
You do not get to invalidate the experiences and feelings of people of color. You are not a person of color, therefor you do not know what it is like to be a person of color. Please keep your "but I've been oppressed, etc" talk to the conversations where that information is relevant. (Pro tip: this is not the conversation for "but I've been oppressed because of; weight, gender, sexuality, dress style, disability, etc. People of color are all of those things as well and experience those types of aggressions and issues on top of the racist undertone that permeates our entire society}.
Making the world "colorblind" does not fix racism and invalidates the experiences of people who's lives have been, are and are currently affected by the very real racism in this county (Speaking of the USA here}.
"But educate me!!!" is something you have the power to do. You have any of the following resources at your disposal:
But EroticWetatomic, how can I be a better ally? I don't want to piss off persons of color. I want to help!
First of all, GREAT. Great on you. Let's talk about positive ways we can be the change we want to see.
First of all, acknowledge that white privilege is a thing and that as a white person you have benefitted from it at some point. (It's ok, say it with me, I'll hold your hand if you want}.
Second of all, when a black person, or other person of color says something about their experience with racism, don't be the first to jump into the conversation, and absolutely do NOT tell people how to act or feel. Do not mansplain to them. Do not go "but don't let words hurt you." Do not pass go, do not collect $2oo.
Third of all, let people of color have space where they feel comfortable. White people, we have LOTS of places to feel safe and accepted. When people of color make POC-only spaces, respect that. Don't ask why you're not included. Don't bitch at them for having a "secret club." Keep your bullshit on your person at all times.
Fourth of all, if people you know say shitty racist things, call them out on their behavior. The reason racism is so in in our society is because its everywhere. People get away with saying and doing shitty racist things because that's the default. We need to change it. I get that sometimes we can't, our families are the way they are sometimes, but there are places you can make a point. If a group of people are ogling and cat calling and using racial terms on the street, that's shitty behavior. Point it out. Publicly, if it's public. Go do the thing.
There are more things. I'm missing something I'm sure.
I'm EXTREMELY lucky that I have a lot of amazing friends of color who take time out of their day to talk about race and racism as an issue with me. They don't have to. I'm trying to spread some knowledge and use my white privilege for something good.
Really shitty comments will get mocked beyond reason.
You do not get to play the "I'm not racist card" just because you aren't out in the streets lynching people of color. This is the minimum bar to clear for not being a complete waste of life. Do better, I know you can. I have the faiths in you, you got this. Go do the thing.
You do not get to invalidate the experiences and feelings of people of color. You are not a person of color, therefor you do not know what it is like to be a person of color. Please keep your "but I've been oppressed, etc" talk to the conversations where that information is relevant. (Pro tip: this is not the conversation for "but I've been oppressed because of; weight, gender, sexuality, dress style, disability, etc. People of color are all of those things as well and experience those types of aggressions and issues on top of the racist undertone that permeates our entire society}.
Making the world "colorblind" does not fix racism and invalidates the experiences of people who's lives have been, are and are currently affected by the very real racism in this county (Speaking of the USA here}.
"But educate me!!!" is something you have the power to do. You have any of the following resources at your disposal:
- Google and other internets.
- Patient friends of color who will answer your possibly-offensive-but-I-mean-well questions. Don't fault them if they don't have the spoons. See the two other options I've given you.
- Great, informative posts from people of color who have taken the time out of their lives to educate people even though they don't have to. I will link these later, I'm late for a thing right now.
But EroticWetatomic, how can I be a better ally? I don't want to piss off persons of color. I want to help!
First of all, GREAT. Great on you. Let's talk about positive ways we can be the change we want to see.
First of all, acknowledge that white privilege is a thing and that as a white person you have benefitted from it at some point. (It's ok, say it with me, I'll hold your hand if you want}.
Second of all, when a black person, or other person of color says something about their experience with racism, don't be the first to jump into the conversation, and absolutely do NOT tell people how to act or feel. Do not mansplain to them. Do not go "but don't let words hurt you." Do not pass go, do not collect $2oo.
Third of all, let people of color have space where they feel comfortable. White people, we have LOTS of places to feel safe and accepted. When people of color make POC-only spaces, respect that. Don't ask why you're not included. Don't bitch at them for having a "secret club." Keep your bullshit on your person at all times.
Fourth of all, if people you know say shitty racist things, call them out on their behavior. The reason racism is so in in our society is because its everywhere. People get away with saying and doing shitty racist things because that's the default. We need to change it. I get that sometimes we can't, our families are the way they are sometimes, but there are places you can make a point. If a group of people are ogling and cat calling and using racial terms on the street, that's shitty behavior. Point it out. Publicly, if it's public. Go do the thing.
There are more things. I'm missing something I'm sure.
I'm EXTREMELY lucky that I have a lot of amazing friends of color who take time out of their day to talk about race and racism as an issue with me. They don't have to. I'm trying to spread some knowledge and use my white privilege for something good.
Really shitty comments will get mocked beyond reason.
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