Alright, White People - Listen Up.
If you're anything like me, you are a white person who uses social media, you've seen at least the most recent news coverage in Ferguson (if you haven't followed the story since it made its way to the Internet and news media), and/or you feel the need to say something about it.
I'm sure you want to sound intelligent, rational, sensitive, or even original when you make a *groundbreaking* status update, Facebook comment, or even a blog post like this one.
Here's some food for thought before you use your freedom of speech to weigh in on the death of Michael Brown, the Grand Jury ruling that did not indict his killer Darren Wilson, and the protests going on in the wake of that decision:
If you are not a black person, you do not know what it is like to be a black person.
Sounds obvious, right? However, other persecuted minorities have taken to social media to implicitly or explicitly compare the uprisings in Ferguson to the struggles of queer people (Stonewall!) and non-black racial minorities ( #asianlivesmatter ) , which derails discussion from the systematic dehumanization of black people that has existed in our country since its inception.
If you are a white person, it does not matter what life experiences you have, who you know, or where you grew up - You are not black! You have no right whatsoever to tell black people how to feel or behave, especially in the wake of this tragedy. You need to understand that you can never truly know everything about what it means to be black, even if you are a self-professed ally.
Not to mention, if you are not black, please do not make your commentary about Ferguson centered around you. Don't get me wrong - it is perfectly natural to feel outraged, saddened, disappointed, anxious, frustrated, or otherwise upset.
However, you need to remember that as a person who is not black, you are not a victim here. It is not all about you.
White people - even those of us who try our best not to become bigots - need to listen to and validate the experiences,emotions, and LIVES of black people ALWAYS. If you weren't doing so before, it's time to start.
Darren Wilson wasn't colorblind - You can't be, either.
If you're a white person who wants to talk about Ferguson but want to ignore the obvious racial tension, congratulations: You're trying to cash in on the same white supremacy that allows Darren Wilson to kill a teenager and walk free without even a trial!
Some well-meaning white people love to employ phrases like "I don't see race," but that's only because their white privilege allows them to live without seeing our society's blatant systematic oppression of black people.
If you don't "See race," you are either in denial or sorely misinformed about the history of this country.
Darren Wilson's testimony described Michael Brown as "Demonic" and somehow mystically "Bulking up" to go through gunshots...That isn't rhetoric used to describe someone as a human being.
Whether you like it or not, Officer Wilson's perception of Michael Brown, his view of the altercation, and how he chose to present his experience to the grand jury is dehumanizing to Michael Brown.
Black people have been dehumanized for far too long, especially by white people who have too much power.
It is no coincidence that Wilson is white, the grand jury was predominantly white, and the dead black teenager was described as a monster - and the testimony worked in Wilson's favor.
So, yeah, this is about race. That is why there is an uproar.
See also: If the KKK is getting involved,you know some racist shit is going down.
But "Black-on-Black Crime" is a thing!
Well, sure it is.
But you know what? White people have systematic, societal privilege in this country, so when a white person in power (like a POLICE OFFICER) kills an unarmed black person (for example, a TEENAGER), there is a distinct imbalance of power there, both in the specific altercation and on a grander, historic scale.
When anybody brings up "Black-on-Black Crime," it is a tactic to draw attention away from the racial inequalities still alive and well in our society.
P.S. "Black-on-Black Crime" is not relevant to this situation. A white person in power killed an unarmed black person and didn't even have to undergo a trial.
...When black people commit far lesser crimes, they are punished much more harshly...Like being killed by an officer after a nonviolent offense.
omg the fires the looting whyyyyyy?
Let's put our media-literate thinking caps on for a second:
First of all, the damage to property in Ferguson is not the only form of protest going on. There is a literal fuckload of peaceful protest going on in Ferguson and all over the country...But it isn't snappy enough to make the nighttime news.
News outlets have conveniently chosen on images of fire and looting and "smoke" (TEAR GAS DEPLOYED BY THE POLICE) to avoid focusing on the injustice that caused this unrest to occur.
Did you know that police wound up opening fire on protestors? You didn't see it on the news, because reporters were barred from entering (or covering) the area.
Secondly, It is not a coincidence that the grand jury ruling was announced at night. The court, the police,and the media knew very well what would happen after the announcement that Darren Wilson won't be indicted.
The disrespect for black lives, the ruling, and the subsequent unrest are nothing new. It's history repeating itself, and that is why people are so upset.
So, yeah, some people may want to burn shit down. Complaining about property damage with fake concern isn't going to do anything about the flawed system that created everything that is happening now.
A PERSON WAS KILLED. Shall we not act like inanimate property is more important than a human life? Thanks.
#AllLivesMatter
Well, sure they do. Good for you for letting us know that.
But right now, it's very clear that our police and legal justice system doesn't care so much about BLACK lives.
When you say "All lives matter" as opposed to "Black lives matter," you are missing the point.
Of course all lives matter; therefore, black lives matter, and that is the message that needs to come through loud and clear.
Police brutality against BLACK LIVES that goes unpunished sends a message that those in power believe that BLACK LIVES do not matter. Push back on the racist system by specifically saying that BLACK LIVES MATTER.
What do you have to lose by saying that black lives matter?
If you're afraid to say that black lives matter, maybe you need to unpack why you feel that way. I'll give you a hint: Institutionalized Racism.
Does everybody have to be so angry about it, though?
Short answer: YES.
Longer answer: Don't police other people's feelings, tone, or reactions. Not only is it the Golden Rule to treat others the way you would want to be treated...But as a white person who will never experience oppression based on race, who the hell are you to tell any black person how to feel or behave?
...Take a seat. You sound entitled and holier-than-thou, and it is not cute or productive to undoing outrageous injustice or helping people heal.
*****
By the way, I know I sound angry/snarky/condescending/whatever you'd like to call it. Because I am.
White people, we need to do better. I've been hearing so many white people crying "I'm not racist!" while clearly backing away from actually discussing racism's prominent role in Ferguson.
If you truly are not racist, then you should be vocally supporting black people, especially right now. This means calling out racism. This means educating other white people, who sometimes can be ignorant (and very loud on Facebook). This means LISTENING, learning, and sometimes feeling uncomfortable. This means checking your privilege and supporting other human beings.
White people need to be involved in uprooting systematic white supremacy. That means you.
MORE RESOURCES:
feministajones
Black Girl Dangerous
Crunk Feminist Collective
The Illipsis
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
