White Privilege
White privilege noun • 1.inherent advantages possessed by a white person on the basis of their race in a society characterized by racial inequality and injustice:
I know that this won’t be as impactful coming from me because I am white, and that I risk being called a racist for some of my ways of expressing my disgust and utter heart sickness at such hate and intolerance; how racism makes me heartsick. But I’m going to say what I want to say, how I want to say it anyway. Not because it’s about me or how I feel about the world’s brokenness; it’s NOT about me. But because I think others need to hear these things, from a white woman’s perspective. And, because I am tired of seeing statements like, “what is white privilege, really?”, or, “don’t they know all lives matter?”.
As a Christian, and as a human being, I agree; all lives do matter. But the problem with this statement, is that you’re assuming that saying, “black lives matter”, means that their lives matter more than yours. On the contrary. What this statement is saying, is that, for centuries, black lives DIDN’T matter to white people. For centuries; in Europe and Britain, first and then in the New World; the Americas, black people were literally victims of HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
When we hear of human trafficking today, we feel deep sadness and disgust; sadness for the victims, and outrage and disgust at their captors and traffickers. It’s outside our comprehension; unless you are law enforcement or crisis responders, to think about human beings being bought and sold, and trafficked. Trafficked for sex or labour; or both. Kidnapped, beaten, drugged, forcibly confined, and forced to give up their freedom, and autonomy. Forced to become the property of their traffickers and used as slaves by those who bought them. Disgusting, isn’t it? Mind blowing, that this could happen to human beings, isn’t it?
Sorry for my crude explanation of black history but I’m hoping you get the point from the following:
Well, the Americas were built by African people who came over with the Europeans, and British (English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh) as slaves. It was built by human traffickers'; white people's, trafficked victims. Human beings, kidnapped, bought and sold to be owned as property. No different to their white “owners” than cattle. They farmed the land they didn’t own, built the railways they couldn’t travel on and cleaned the houses they couldn’t live in. They could be (and often were) accused of, charged with and convicted of crime(s) (most often, that they didn’t commit), and killed/hung all without any kind of due process. Oftentimes, they were used as scapegoats for white people who didn’t want to pay the price for a crime they committed. Their lives didn’t matter to their captors. No different than human trafficking today.
All types of human trafficking, regardless of when, where or how it takes place, or the colour of the trafficked victim is; criminal, violent, dehumanizing, and wrong. All traffickers see their victims as ‘less than’ or ‘not human’. Trafficked victim’s lives don’t matter to their traffickers, except for when it comes the their ‘replacement cost’, if and when they 'lose one'. So, saying that, “all lives matter”, in response to, “black lives matter”, is like saying that you know what it is like to feel this kind of dehumanization; as a race. If you’re white, you don’t.
Earlier, I said, I wanted to give a white woman’s perspective on racism. I said, “woman”, because women have more of an understanding of what it is to be dehumanized. To be treated as, ‘less than’, or ‘unworthy’. I’m not degrading men. It’s not the fault of (most of) today’s men in North America or similarly free, democratic societies. However; historically, women have had to fight to be seen as more than just wives and mothers. We’ve had to fight to have our voice heard, and to have fair and equal treatment. We’ve had to fight to be seen in the same light as men; in our homes, in the workforce, and in society, as a whole. And yet, even though we have somewhat of an understanding of what it is like to be treated inequitably, our lives still always mattered. Even if it was only to be a wife and a mother (not that being a wife and mother isn't enough, because it is. But it's nice to have a choice), and keep the house and home running for the men, our lives mattered. We were considered human beings and we were loved. Which was not always the case for black lives.
As I said, my explanation of history is very crude and somewhat lacking so, if you’re interested in learning more about why it’s important to acknowledge that black lives matter. That, it doesn’t diminish how important ALL lives are, but serves to highlight systemic racism and a deep need for change. If you’re interested in learning, and discovering why, do some research. Even just visiting a museum in the southern states of the US will serve as a real eye opener; even to those with education and understanding of history. It will give you an honest, real and brutal understanding and an historical perspective on why this is so. When we can travel again, do so. And when you do, spend some time with a local or two, and get a tour and a history lesson; like I did in North Carolina. Of the “black” and the “white” colleges, public schools, restaurants, shops, or sections of town. It’s quite an education.
It’s like the division between catholic nationalists and protestant unionists in Northern Ireland. Except, these people were literally stolen, trafficked and used as property, and treated like savages. Similarly, to what we did here, to our indigenous people, here in Canada. Stole them right out of their homes, for our own use. Found people, living their lives, peacefully and raped and pillaged them and their villages. Took ownership of human beings and robbed them of every aspect of life in which they had once found joy. We determined them to be 'less than', and 'undeserving' of being treated as human beings.
We were human traffickers. And, we treated them as if their lives didn't matter.
So, yes; white privilege is a thing. And, it’s important for us to own it, and to understand it. It doesn’t mean that you had everything you ever wanted throughout your life. It doesn’t mean you were rich or that you didn’t struggle. It doesn’t mean that you didn’t experience trauma, abuse, bullying, poverty, or weren’t victim of some other crime(s). It means, despite everything you went through, you were still given opportunities that others didn’t have; because of the colour of your skin.
White privilege is never having had to fight for the right to use a water fountain, get an education, enter through the front door or sit on the same bus/same seats on the bus. It’s never having to worry, like my nephews, nieces, cousins and friends do, whether or not they will be accused of stealing in a shop, or being treated like a criminal in ordinary, everyday living. It’s never having had to justify themselves or flight for something because of the colour of their skin. White privilege is being able to ask the question, “is white privilege really a thing?”.
**And, I know that by highlighting that some of my family and friends are affected by racism, I risk being called a racist, or risk having someone say, “it’s not about you”; but because I KNOW it’s NOT ABOUT ME, it’s a risk I’m willing to take because I own my white privilege. And, I KNOW why BLACK LIVES MATTER, needs to be said!