2020 Protests and #BLM
I’m white, how can I help?
One of the worst things about Thanksgiving for me is holding my tongue when my racist, sexist, or homophobic relatives start to get political.
I want them to understand their place of privilege to be able to be political about their bigotry.
They don’t experience prejudice firsthand.
Not to say that my family hasn’t experienced hardaship.
But the fact that human lives are a matter of opinion just shows exactly how protected they are as hetero white Chrstians.
“I don’t have a dog in this fight.”
I’ve heard people say this before.
You might be saying this too.
But I encourage you to reflect on which fights had your dog in the past.
These matter to you because they affect you in some way.
Racial injustice affects you too!
If citizens can be silenced by their government then social movements can’t make a difference.
Here are some things I have never experienced:
- Fear for my life when pulled over
- Losing a friend or family member to police brutality
- Being followed by security in a store
- Had to take the high road and deescalate an interaction with an officer
- Be refused medical care or pain medicine
- Fear others will mistake my phone for a gun
Here are some things I have experienced:
- Fear of going out at night
- Had cops called on me while loitering
- Been stalked
- Been discriminated against for my identity
- Felt more comfortable in a friend group that included a straight white man
But I think it’s important to listen to marginalized voices if I can’t identify with them.
As a white, straight passing American I am afforded more opportunities than almost anyone else in this country.
Identify your privilege
You may not have had an easy life, but here are ways to check yourself.
I can…
- Get a loan
- Get a job
- Get medical benefits
- Get a house
- Be heard
- Have safe spaces
These are some things I take for granted.
What about you?
White folk educating white folk
Anti-racists such as myself can still perpetuate racism unknowingly.
It’s no secret that white people speak the same social “language”.
We communicate differently based on our similarities.
We communicate differently based on our differences.
When a white person confronts the racism in their own community, they become a teacher.
Teaching, in any context, encourages independent research.
As someone who wants to see change, you automatically become an example.
Even if you don’t change minds of the white people in your community…
The other person may have never been directly confronted with their own racism or privilege.
That makes a difference!
Respecting white elders
As young people we know that our voices don’t carry much weight.
We could make a completely valid argument and still be deemed disrespectful.
But it’s also true that the far majority of bigotry comes from the mouths of those who would be considered my elders.
So is it a lose-lose situation when trying to get through to those people?
Especially if they’re family members?
The tough answer is sometimes.
Should we as young, white advocates just step back and give up?
Here’s the way I see it (and this will come off as disrespectful):
Those elders lived through almost all social movements of the 20th century and learned nothing.
Just to name a few.
So, yes.
It’s time to get disrespectful.
Do black lives matter?
It seems like a silly question.
Of course all lives matter, and that includes black folk!
But the grim reality is that the justice system we have in place disagrees.
Black lives don’t matter to the majority of offices of American power.
Black, low-income neighborhoods are over-policed.
This doesn’t happen in gated, high-income communities.
Black people make up 38% of state prisons despite being only 13% of the population.
Black men are more likely to receive longer sentences for the same crimes as white men.
There are so many examples and statistics to pull from that I’m afraid you’ll miss the point.
In most of our systems, black lives don’t matter.
Now what?
If you’re still not convinced to get involved in the protests, here’s how you can still help:
Educate yourself:
Not from news outlets, but from current protest footage.
Fill your feed with footage.
Listen to minority voices:
Those in control will not criticize themselves.
learn how protests turned into riots.
Learn about your protesting rights.
And if you don’t like how people are protesting, ask yourself:
How would you like people to protest?
Really think about it.
Do you get upset when someone kneels during the anthem?
Do you object to Targets being looted?
It’s absurd to get upset about disrespect when lives are being lost daily.
Ask good questions
Are you afraid white Americans will become a minority?
If so, ask yourself why.
If you hear someone imply this, ask them why.
Articulating an answer to this question will reveal a lot.
What happens if we defund the police?
A lot of my white friends are asking this question.
A lot of my white friends have never had a bad interaction with a police officer.
All of my white friends have a shield made of flesh.
The good news is, we have other options.
For starters, no one state- or county-sanctioned law enforcement would be in total control.
Why would this be a good thing?
34 out of the 50 states require no, or little, deescalation training.
At the very best, some states require 6 months of training to deal with any possible situation that could ever, ever happen.
That’s every context and every conflict.
Reallocating funds would allow specifically trained specialists deal with individual cases.
Such as domestic abuse, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
Vote with your wallet.
Complacency did not afford us 40-hour work weeks and labor laws.
Complacency did not afford the ability for women to wear pants or vote.
Complacency did not afford people freedom from ownership.
Complacency does not afford social reform in the Black Lives Matter Movement.
What is A.C.A.B.?
It doesn’t mean “All cops are bad”.
Because not all cops are individually bad people!
There have certainly been officers who unite with the people or take off their badge and join the protests.
There have been officers holding their own coworkers accountable.
ACAB stands for “All cops are bastards”.
Why the distinction?
The roll of an officer is to uphold a system already in place.
What if that system is inherently racist?
Our system isn’t broken.
It’s working as it was intentionally designed: to be racist.
It discriminates.
It unfairly holds political corruption in a place of power.
Would you blame the cops for doing their job?
The answer is YES!
If my job required me to fire at protesters then I would hand in my badge immediately!
I hold others to this same standard.
If you do nothing during this time…
Odds are, if you’re white, nothing will adversely affect you personally at all.
It’s easy and comforting to block out social media and take a break for a while.
Just post a black picture to Instagram and log off for a few days.
But it’s also important to remember that others don’t have that luxury.
How to care for yourself.
It’s important to take breaks productively.
DO conserve your energy.
DON’T stop permanently.
DO listen to black leadership.
DON’T instigate or taunt law enforcement (you are putting others in danger).
DO stay curious about our systems’ cause/effect.
DON’T prioritize storefronts and inventory over human lives.
DO vote in every voting season.
DON’T use just one source for your protest coverage.
DO spread compassion.
DON’T spread information until until you have thoroughly researched your topic from multiple points of view.
DO practice self care for yourself.
DON’T judge how marginalized people respond to their oppression.
DO confront what other people say.
DON’T pretend to be free of racism.
DO work to be anti-racist.
This is a process
And there is rarely instant justice.
Keep in mind that being part of this movement in your own unique way will be a lifetime commitment.
This is a long-term change.
Dealing with shame and guilt
For me, guilt causes an instant trauma response.
My sexuality, autonomy, faith, and future were decided for me in my home.
I felt guilty for deviating.
And I became a victim of religious trauma.
I’ve had an intense, emotional response when dealing with my white guilt.
I’ll say it again:
I have white guilt, and it’s been a traumatic experience being confronted with that.
So what can we do as white Americans to help?
Seek group or individual therapy.
Mental health matters.
Check your privilege
What are you concerned with during this time?
ASK!
Research and engage in the movement.
Look up current bail funds accepting donations.
Invest back into your community by patronizing black-owned businesses.
The best thing you can do as a white American is to engage and learn from your mistakes and help provide a better future for everyone.
Did this help?
Do you have anything to add?
Do you disagree with anything?
How do you intend to contribute?
Let me know in the comments!
You can always message me personally as well.
Thanks for reading!
-Cat
