 Go ahead, tell me one more time how hard your life is as a white person. You grew up poor, you didn't live in an all white neighborhood, you're NOT racist. I get it, you're a good person and you don't discriminate. All of these circumstances apply to me as well. At the same time, I'm not naive enough to think I don't have every advantage over a person of color in the same situation.
Why am I writing this today? Because i recently came across this article from Ijeoma Oluo speaking about white privilege and she hits the nail on the head. I've never been forced to figure out white culture and not because I live it - it's because MY survival does not depend on it. Unfortunately, even in today's world, I can't say the same for minorities in this country. Because I can't articulate these points nearly as well as Ijeoma, I suggest you stop what you're doing immediately (including reading this little blog) and check out her thoughts. You can read the full article here: https://theestablishment.co/white-people-i-dont-want-you-to-understand-me-better-i-want-you-to-understand-yourselves-a6fbedd42ddf What are you going to do to help create a cultural shift? I'm asking you because I'm not even sure what I can do. I'd love to hear your ideas - let me know in the comments below.
3 Comments
Jeannie
8/13/2017 06:51:12 pm
Thanks for sharing this Megan. I don't know what to say. The circumstances over the last days make me want to weep. I feel in some ways like we are back in the civil rights era of the '60's. But the people who came out for equal rights then were young, white and educated. So many of the "white right" marching now seem to be young and white. But no amount of education can erase their hatred and bigotry. God help us.
Megan A. Dutta
8/13/2017 07:13:44 pm
Thanks for reading and commenting! I also don't know what to say or what the answer is. I'm angry that people are still fighting for equality after hundreds and hundreds of years struggling. We're all the same on the inside so why does the outside matter so much to some?
Margot
2/13/2018 02:13:16 pm
YES. I love this. "What are you going to do to help create a cultural shift?" Yes! Whether it is checking privilege, mentoring, supporting inclusion, creating dialogue, asking questions, or actively listening, every day we all have a role to play to dismantle oppression. Leave a Reply. |
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