White Ignorance Is Not Bliss: Black Lives Matter
June 11, 2020
White People, we need to stop being so ignorant.
If you’re going, How dare she say that to me, I implore you to keep reading as you are exactly the type of white person I am speaking to.
We’ve all heard the terms over the past few weeks since the murder of George Floyd and the uproar surrounding institutionalized police brutality against black people. White Fragility. White Rage. And the age-old White Supremacy and White Privilege we’ve been privy to all along but conveniently never associated ourselves with because we never really “had to” because we’re “not racist.”
If you’re a white person in the United States of America, you live within a system that has catered to you due to centuries of angry, racist white people that have fought tooth-and-nail to drag black people to the ground and kick them repeatedly while they’re down. That is a bold fact that cannot be argued nor denied.
It’s not a News Flash that the tooth-and-nail fight is still happening today. White Rage (the product of white people hating black people for the ridiculous and inadequate reason of Racism) has hotly and meticulously calculated the racist, pro-white system we live in. As a white person, you live with your White Privilege every waking hour of your life whether or not you accept or realize it. The privilege you’ve been automatically granted by being born as a white person certainly does not make you a White Supremacist or a bad person; however, your denial of your privilege does make you a Fragile White Person, and you need to get over yourself. Indeed, you did not have the option of choosing your skin color when you were born and you inherited the racist governmental, judicial, educational, etc system created by White Rage, but that does not excuse you of your ignorance anymore.
Enough is enough.
I’m going to say it again: White people, we all need to stop being so damn ignorant.
I’ve sat with my own ignorance, in silence, for the past few weeks. I’ll be honest, I have been deeply affected by the Black Lives Matter movement in that it has forced me to open my eyes to the insidious, heinous crimes, lies, hate and pure evil that white people spew for the ridiculous and inadequate “reason” (white invention) of Racism. I am ashamed of my own lack of knowledge and previous lack of initiative to learn and become aware of black suffrage. I am ashamed of the racists that exist in my own family and friend circle, all of whom I love deeply but feel I cannot deeply connect with people that carry seething hatred for others for no reason. I am angry at the public educational system that whitewashed my and everyone else’s U.S. History lessons, conveniently glossing over the majority of our country’s founding history with tactless reenactments of the Underground Railroad (nice white people helping slaves!) and Rosa Parks (who was not an old lady with tired feet, by the way). I am shocked and sickened after learning the actual, uncensored history of the treatment of black people in the United States. Some people might think I’m not allowed to feel these things because black people are worn out and fed up for having to endure white hatred for hundreds of years here, while I’ve been just dandy, living my sweet white life without a worry in the world. I am, however, a human with a heart so I’m giving myself permission to feel these things anyway.
So how can we, white people, stop being so ignorant to the everyday suffering endured by black people and other oppressed people of color that has been evilly crafted by we, white people?
“Don’t be a Racist” just isn’t the answer. Some would say “Become Anti-Racist” is the answer, and I agree; however understanding the “Why” behind Racism is the first step (Spoiler Alert: There is no real reason “Why” but the journey to figuring that out is what matters most). We need to educate ourselves.
We need to accept the fact that Racism takes many shapes and doesn’t come in a pre-packaged box in the form of the KKK or the MAGA-Praising White Trash that slap Confederate Flags on the back of their busted up pickup trucks, or worse, fly them. Most of us would never go that far. But we have been born into a racially-charged world constructed by, and for the benefit of, white people that has affected us all more deeply than we are apt to admit.
I suggest to start by reading this incredible, fact-based history book written by black female author, Carol Anderson: White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of our Racial Divide. I recently finished reading this book and I believe it should be required for every high school child in the United States (in fact, she wrote a Young Adult version called We Are Not Equal Yet that you should absolutely buy for your children). White Rage details the history of black people in the United States from the abolition of Slavery to the inauguration of Donald Trump. Despite what the title implies, the book does not “bash” white people, so you Fragile Whites can untwist your granny panties. White Rage is entirely factual, devoid of any opinion whatsoever. Read it and let it marinate your soul.
I am a student of Anti-Racism and don’t consider myself any sort of expert on the subject; however, I believe what white people need to start doing is sit with our White Privilege and break it down. Ask yourself, If I was a black person, would I have ended up in the same position I am now — how different would my education, my home, my employment, my health, my support circle look? Would I have had all the same opportunities and life experiences? How might people treat me differently if I had black skin? How would my immediate community react to my black skin? What would I necessarily be afraid of that I’m not afraid of now as a white person? If I could choose to be black instead of white, would I choose to be black instead? (You should further ask yourself,“Why Not?” to that last question, assuming your answer is most obviously, No)
Last week I asked myself, “If I was a black woman and, hypothetically, I ended up in the same place I am today, would my business be thriving?” I answered my own question with an immediate, Hard No. I cannot entirely deny the hard work I’ve put into starting my business, but I realize how much easier my white skin has made starting a flower farm in rural Western New York and selling wedding flowers to my resume of white brides. If I was a black woman, I cannot say I would be anywhere near the level I am at in this industry and community. This truth about my privilege has made me realize the importance of supporting small businesses owned by black people. Why I never realized the importance of buying from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) businesses before is entirely due to my white ignorance.
It isn’t until we can become entirely self-aware that we can start to have truthful, real, raw conversations with other white people about White Privilege and Racism. We have to do the work. We have to put in the hours of learning and unlearning. We have to revisit racist experiences from our past and pick them apart. We have to know and understand the history behind White Rage. We have to stand up to people we love and talk to them about their Racism and educate them to try to get them to understand from where their unjust biases stem. Most importantly, we need to teach our children the bold truths of skin color and Racism — that white and black do exist instead of defaulting into colorblindness (the safe, apathetic “I don’t see color, I love everyone” thing some white people cling to), the horrors that have transpired and continue to reign true for black people throughout history, and that, painfully, sometimes Love just isn’t enough. That sometimes we have to stand up and fight for other people and work to lift them up rather than turning a blind eye and simply exclaiming, “But I’m not racist.”
Our white ignorance is not bliss. We cannot keep living in a comfortable white bubble, refusing to acknowledge racism that occurs because it’s uncomfortable or disruptive to our personal lives. We cannot let racism continue to be the norm because we feel the whole issue is “too big” for us as individuals. If every single white person did their part and fought against the racist institutions we live with everyday, the world would be a better place for black people. In fact, the world would be a better place for everyone… Isn’t that what you white people want, anyway?
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In addition to learning the TRUE history of black suffrage in this country to help formulate my understanding of the overall picture, I am also doing these things and I encourage you to do them as well:
Give your support to black organizations by making a monetary donation. I’ve it said before; Dollars speak volumes. I’ve donated to Black Visions Collective, an on-the-ground organization working to liberate all black lives, including the ever-marginalized black LGBTQ+ community.
Listen to black voices to hear their side of the story. When you read something, please consider the source. I’ve rambled on here in my blog about Racism and White Privilege, but I am a white person that has admittedly never been at the ass-end of any racial bias in my entire life. To truly understand the suffering, we need to listen to more black voices. Don’t expect them to teach you. It is your responsibility to research on your own. There are many wonderful, educational TED talks regarding racial issues given by black speakers on YouTube which are free and accessible to everyone with an internet connection.
Share knowledge with your circle of white people. Share books, articles, podcasts, Youtube videos, Instagram & Twitter accounts to follow, and powerful things you’ve learned to help create a safe, effective dialogue around Anti-Racism.
Tame your social media posting and sharing. If you’re a white person, before you post anything on social media regarding black issues, ask yourself Why you’re posting it. Is it serving your own ego or are you truly being helpful? Admittedly, two weeks ago, I felt the need to repost information in my Instagram Stories that I later realized was information mostly crafted by white people. Was it truly helpful? In retrospect, probably not. So then, despite ever-truthful ‘White Silence is Violence,’ I decided to shut the hell up until I had a better idea of what I was saying.
Also, please, consider a trend before immediately bandwagoning it. #BlackOutTuesday was utter, meaningless garbage. It was nothing but a super easy way for white people (frankly most of whom had nothing to say before Tuesday, June 2nd) to make a “statement” by posting a black box to show they were “listening” and in supposed “solidarity” with the black community. Really, guys? Do you want a cookie? Literally nothing on Instagram has been more enraging to me than Black Out Tuesday. Black lives mattering and them having a voice is not a trend.
Teach your white children the hard truths about Racism. The future of black lives depend on it. You can start by following @theconsciouskid on Instagram and sign up for Embrace Race’s free webinars.
I would love if you would please share in a comment the ways you are learning about and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement so we can all work together on this.
In love, respect and support for the black community,
Fran