#white-privilege

[theorencohen]

'This is For Those Who Believe Rayshard Brooks Deserved It' by Oren Cohen

It’s time for a wake-up call, it seems.

It’s time for a wake-up call, it seems.

[wocwithmentalillness]

Explaining POC issues to my white co-worker

Friday, I actually got into a political debate about race and white priveledge with a white co-worker. I had another co-worker, a black woman also, backing me up. The white co-worker felt "attacked" and "judged" when called out on having white priviledge and why allowing white supremacists to rally or protest is wrong. The conversation did eventually calm down but I do not think the white co-worker learned anything or is really willing to learn anything. On the plus side, I didn't allow my social anxiety silence me. On the negative side, I really don't want to talk at work anymore and would like to go back to being quiet. Not sure if that's a good thing.

[redpoppieseverywhere]

This photo series makes a powerful statement about race and power among women

This is what happens when roles are reversed.

[weirdlyclosesisters]

This photo series makes a powerful statement about race and power among women

This is what happens when roles are reversed.

[miahdunkleberger-blog]

Victim of White-privilege

White-privilege is a very real thing that can take many forms. Just because you benefit from white-privilege does not mean you support it or are even aware of it. As I read the lyrics of Macklemore’s song, I realized that my entire life I benefitted from white privilege. I gladly took all of the “positive” aspects from my black culture and shunned the rest. And just like the millions of American’s who truly believe black lives do matter, I stood back with my white friends and thought that the struggles of black people did not concern me. I was ashamed to be black, like many young girls. Luckily, I had a choice. I could choose to be “white”, and could choose to have the privileges that came along with it. I was living a life where I truly got the best of both worlds, as I turned my back on all the bad.

“Am I in the outside looking in, or am I in the inside looking out?”

“You've exploited and stolen the music, the moment The magic, the passion, the fashion, you toy with The culture was never yours to make better“

“If I'm only in this for my own self-interest, not the culture that gave me a voice to begin with then this isn't authentic, it is just a gimmick.”

As I read these lyrics I realized that Macklemore was expressing my perspective; someone caught between two cultures, both of which I benefit from. I exploited all of the aspects of black culture that were desirable to the culture I choose to identify with. In order to live the American dream, I molded myself into a form that was “worthy” of that dream.

“But the one thing the American dream fails to mention Is I was many steps ahead to begin with My skin matches the hero, likeness, the image America feels safe with my music in their systems And it's suited me perfect, the role, I've fulfilled it And if I'm the hero, you know who gets cast as the villain.”

And now I realize that my life was a gimmick, and I don’t want to be a hero if my brothers and sisters are being casts as villains. Black culture is my culture, but it doesn’t deserve to be toyed with or ignored. Black culture and black lives both matter, and it is now my shared responsibility to help save them both.