Five things, as a white person, that must be considered when reflecting on Ferguson.
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I am a white guy. I’m writing this to other white folks. Like many of us, I’m watching the poorly reported events of Ferguson, MO, and feeling very troubled about what I am watching. It causes me to reflect and in consideration of what I’ve witnessed the last few days, this is what I know to be true:
“Asking people to trust in a system that has lied to them, enslaved their ancestors, killed them, and gotten away with all of it, is not realistic.” — Shaun King on twitter, @shaunking.
1. In fact, it’s ridiculous. If this is your answer to the angered African American community of Ferguson, MO, please just remain quiet. If you are white, as I am, we should be listening right now and not talking. What we have to say at this time to African Americans about how they should be reacting really is of no consequence.
2. Raising an African American boy to manhood is more difficult than the experience that I have raising my white daughter. In a February 2014 editorial, Sherri Day, an African American columnist for the Tampa Bay Times, wrote about raising her boys. She said,
“We teach them to be respectful of others — especially adults; to share and never take what doesn’t belong to them; to tell an authority figure when someone wrongs them; and to never hit or try to solve disagreements through violence. Will that be enough? Of course not. These are black boys, so we will have to teach them that some people will fear them simply because they breathe. Youthful rebellion — whether real or perceived — has different consequences for them, and they will have to carry themselves with this in mind.”
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When I consider all of the obstacles that I must raise my daughter to navigate as she grows up, one of them is not to fear for her life simply because of the color of her skin and how others will view and react to her as a result regardless of her actions.
3. White people must learn to value the meaning and experience of black lives in the same way we should value all the lives and experiences of humanity. Based on the reactions I’ve read, heard, and seen by whites on television, online, and in the media, the majority of us still do not. Those of us who are learning and do, must have the courage to raise a voice over those that are louder and do not.
4. As a white person, it is very easy and comfortable for us and me to focus on the violent reaction to the killing of an unarmed black teenager. It allows me and other whites to continue the narrative that sticks to the stereotypes we have in our society about African Americans, low income communities, the welfare system, and other lies we continue to teach in our schools and perpetuate in our daily discourse in the media, online, and out of earshot of our African American friends and neighbors. Of course that is not the real issue that we should be focusing our attention on. We need to get uncomfortable and have some honest conversations about a lot of difficult things to talk about such as our racial and class privilege in society, our prejudices, our fear of black men, our color blindness, our racism — just to name a few.
5. As a white person, I do not know what the black experience is like in society today first hand. As a result, I should not be talking about that experience with any since of real understanding unless the conversation I am having is from the white experience of being either the direct oppressor, or an ally living outside that experience. I need to speak up, but not drown out the voices of the African American activists, journalists, and public figures giving a first-hand voice to this experience. When they are speaking, I need to shut up and listen, learn, and add my voice only when asked or when necessary. To talk in any way that would suggest your perspective as a white person can somehow inform African Americans about the black experience, or in a way that is going to misguide whites on what that experience is, is simply to be supporting your own privilege. Even those of us who are well-intended white, anti-racist allies, including myself, need to hold ourselves and each other in check.
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I was told by a Facebook friend yesterday that he is tired of me bringing up the “White/Black thing” in my discussions on Facebook. Funny thing is, I don’t bring up the “Black thing” because I don’t know it. I’m pointing toward the injustice in the “White Thing” that I do recognize. He referred to it as my “white guilt.” It’s not a matter of “guilt” but instead a recognition of our privilege, our prejudice, and our shared perspectives as a result of our shared whiteness.
I do not feel guilty about those things; I just do not believe that having any of them makes the world around me a better place for everyone to live in. If that makes you feel guilty or angry that I point it out, then change it.
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Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
To Anonymous and Cat: I never told anyone to shut up. I was simply pointing out what I believed was a flaw in her argument. As for a solution, I posted one at the top of the page.
Wes. And did you give them any good reason to change their mind, or did you do exactly the same thing to them? Just like white people marginalizing the fear and frustration of that black community from their own fears, and the author then doing the same thing to the white people instead of showing thfem how their fears are unfounded. He said no, your fears are unimportant and you need to shut up. That doesn’t end the fear for anyone it only perpetuates it for everyone. The black people talking peacefully and intelligently in the recordings of the protests… Read more »
I will not give any aid or understanding to white people who are priviliged and prejudiced, I will not attempt to understand their fears, hear their voices or try to hold a conversation with them with dignity and compassion so they can see what’s happening here. They need to just shut up. If you’re objecting to her fear and frustration, marginalizing it by saying what she’s saying doesn’t happen and labeling it a misandry instead of introducing her (him?) to the idea that there ARE black men out there passionately trying to change and make visible what’s happening to black… Read more »
This article erases that fact that all the blacks are not men and all the women are not white. Black girls experience racism, sexism and gendered racism (misogynoir). 66% of black girls will reach the age of 18 having been sexually assaulted. Black women/girls are 8% of the U.S. population but 40% of the sex trafficking victims. They’re 64,000 missing black women/girls & the media is ignoring it It’s difficult raising a black girl because the so called black community has decided to throw black girls under a bus and pretend that only black boys/men are experience bias, bigotry, and… Read more »
“I will not give any aid or support to entitled black men who never reciprocate.” Really? You are saying that all black men (and men by extension) are entitled and deserve no support? That is a perfect example of misandry, or hatred of men which is just as bad as misogyny.
I agree with Wes. This article, this issue, is more specifically about black MEN, and this website, though very aware and appreciative of women and girls, is primarily about men and boys. Of course women, and especially women of color, have significant issues. But they aren’t known for being “feared” like men are, ESPECIALLY black men.
Thank you, for writing this great article. It’s painful to hear that a child can be murdered on our american streets, we have come so far but not near far enough. The idea that a grown man who has been given a gun to protect lives has taken a life that is so young. Everyday we talk about violence, but do nothing to stop it from happening here in our communities, because it’s not happening to you does it mean you should close your eyes or allow it to be? If we are a melting pot, and in valuing our… Read more »
At http://www.jpfo.org is a pamphlet called “Gun Control Is Racist”, showing how laws were used to leave blacks and other minorities unarmed and helpless. The Second Amendment has never been just for whites. Mahatma Ghandi once said, “Injustice must be resisted. No doubt the non-violent way is the best, but when that does not work the violent way is both right and honorable. Inaction here is rank cowardice and unmanly. It must be avoided at all costs.” Cops need to be reminded that people will only be pushed so far before they push back.