Tuesday night, I attended “I Can’t Breathe”: An Open Forum on Black Pain, Racial Justice and Healing. A breadth of speakers spoke about their experiences, specifically in our town and our university. I am writing in response to that great meeting, and as a challenge to my readers, particularly my white, Charlottesville-dwelling readers to Do More, and Be Better.
Privilege
It took me a long time to understand my own privilege, and I continue to gain further understanding. It’s sometimes hard to see privilege because it just seems “right”, or the natural order of things. For people who are uncomfortable with the idea of losing their own privilege, maybe instead fight for everyone to share that privilege. Here are a very partial list of privileges I enjoy, that I deeply, sincerely want everyone to have:
- I am likely to get a loan from a bank or credit union.
- I have the confidence to ask for an above average rate of pay or a raise, and probably will get it.
- I feel comfortable occupying most spaces in Charlottesville, and do not fear being asked to move along. If I am asked to move along, I can refuse in most cases without penalty.
- I was a vocal advocate for my own education, and I never doubted that I was entitled to it.
- Even though I don’t care for the police, I am not afraid that they will stop me if I walk past them.
- I can quit my job and feel certain that I will be able to get another one, even in an uncertain economy.
- I can dress in a diverse range of outfits and will not suffer few, if any, consequences.
- I know, and am in the social circles, of many of the affluent and/or high-powered people in town, including funders, lawyers, politicians, government employees, and community leaders, who act as safety net. Using that safety net doesn’t feel like a political act.
- If I end up missing, many resources, including money, paid and unpaid people hours, and community goodwill, will be marshaled towards the recovery of my person.
- It is not assumed that if I am carrying a large bag, that I might be a criminal or a terrorist.
- Despite having little money growing up, my family had resources that provided stability and security that was not at risk of swindling or brute force seizure.*
- During my childhood of truancy, a non-heated house, failing classes, a lack of reliable transportation, and many other inconvenient and unconventional circumstances, my mother was never accused by the school or by social services, to be an unfit mother.
I don’t post these as some weird bragging, as some of the CrimingWhileWhite tweets seemed to devolve to; I post these as a challenge to realize your own privilege. Certain obstacles you didn’t even see were insurmountable barriers to others. People of Color likely don’t have these privileges, through no fault of their own.
What Can You Do
- Read, read, read and read some more.
- Listen to people’s experiences without the need to correct, undermine, or diminish.
- Reflect on your own values, and modify your actions to better support them.
- Speak up when you see injustice. Post about race and discrimination on social media. Challenge racist speech and views.
- Join community events and organizations:
- Attend the City Council meeting this Monday evening at Monday to stand in solidarity with NAACP proposal
- Attend Protest/Song: An Open Mic Celebrating Arts-Based Activism and Community Building Thursday at 5pm
- Attend the Ta-Nehisi Coates talk on January 22.
- Support the Living Wage Campaign at UVA.
- Get involved with the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice.
- Support Books Behinds Bars.
- Mentor a child.
- Be an Advocate for a child.
- Support the Minority Business Council.
- Get involved with Virginia Organizing or one of its community partners.
- Attend a BE community dinner on Monday nights in December at the Blue Moon Diner, and other local restaurants throughout the year.
- Find your own passion for justice, and act on it.
Do something, please. Our future relies on all of us doing better.
*It does not escape my attention that these resources, in part, were provided from a legacy of owning plantations and slaves, particularly in the Southeastern North Carolina.
