“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Desmond Tutu
I am uniquely unqualified to write anything about racism as it is something I have never had to deal with at all, much less on a daily basis. But feeling guilty is not a strategy for doing better. It serves no one and it does not serve me or my black brothers and sisters out there. I want to be and do better. I want to stand in solidarity with the black community. I want to stand with people of color (POC) so that they can watch their children grow up and POC’s children can have their parents present in their lives. I feel guilt, shame, sadness and anger. I know I have turned a blind eye more than I would like to think. So in my typical fashion, I have listened and I have read until I finally feel compelled to try to break this down some so that more people can stop sitting with their guilt and commit to doing and being better.
I was specifically looking for information about what is offensive, even if I am not meaning to offend. I feel like this information will resonant with my audience. I found a primer on Instagram @schwarkattack and have modified it somewhat for you.
Why is it wrong to counter “Black Lives Matter” with “All Lives Matter”? All lives do matter; that is a fact. But saying “all lives matter” diminishes the unique struggle of blacks in America. POC are not treated equally and their struggle is real. Jesus talks about this exact scenario in Luke 15. Jesus has a 100 sheep and one goes missing. Jesus leaves the 99 and goes after the one. Of course the 99 matter, but they were not the ones in danger. The 99 is protected by the flock. The 1 is in danger.
And what about “Blue Lives Matter?” Police officers do a really tough job and the majority of them do it well. But when they go home at night, they can take off their blue uniform and put on whatever they would like. And their blue uniform does protect them. Black people cannot shed their skin and their skin is a target in the United States.
And what about people who say “I don’t see color.” It is nice in theory but in practice it negates inclusivity and diversity. “I see no color” is not the goal. “I see your color and honor you. I value your input and experiences” is the goal. Recognizing diversity is important both for the different perspective it brings and to help us work against the inherent biases we hold. By appreciating diversity we recognize and embrace different struggles.
So you say “I am not a racist.” As a white person we benefit from a racist society. It is not enough to not be racist. We need to work to be actively anti-racist and work against the racism that is deeply imbedded in our country.
What about when you mention black-on-black crime? Crime is generally committed where the perpetrator lives. White-on-white crime happens at roughly the same rate as black-on-black crime. High crime rates are a complex issue. It is dismissive to assume black-on-black crime is an issue of which blacks do not care deeply.
How about when you hear “Murder is bad but rioting and the destruction of property is too”? No doubt, property damage is bad but the loss of property should never be equated as being equal to the loss of a human life. Yolanda Renteria says it beautifully, “If it’s difficult for you to understand why people resort to violence, it probably means your privilege has protected you from being put in a situation where you feel you have no other choice.” And Martin Luther King Jr really helped me understand better when he said, “A riot is the language of the unheard.”
So what about “why don’t they peacefully protest?” POC have peacefully protested for decades and things have not gotten dramatically better. Peaceful protests are easy for the establishment to dismiss and they have largely fallen on deaf ears.
And when your friend says “Police kill twice as many white people as black people every year.” Technically, that is true. The militarization of the police harms us all. But there are six times as many white people in the US as black people, so proportionally black people are far more likely to be killed by the police than white people.
I am not pretending to be perfect, I realize that I am far from it. Going forward, not just for a day or a week, I plan on educating myself on the struggles and injustices that POC across the country are facing. I want to be better as well as make those around me better. I know that I might be a small piece to the puzzle, but I will do my part in trying to create a better and safer community and country for everyone.
I have also added the link to this very good post from themanacho. He addresses several things I have wondered about. I think you will find him enlightening; I did.