White Privilege is a Problem

This is heavy post and different than most of my content. No cute pictures of my kids and family on this one because no image can capture the weight of this topic. White privilege is a topic most white people are uncomfortable with, deny, or nieve about. I want to break that barrier and bring it up because I am so tired of it. I'm deep diving into the white/black privlige and lack of because it's heavy on my heart; but this truly extends to all races. I'm grossly aware and saddened that my skin color allows privilege that my husband doesn't receive. I don't want that privilege, and I like to point it out whenever I have the chance. For those of you who don't understand the term, it is the racism that anyone other than white people receive simply because of their race, a societal privilege given soley based on the color of your skin. You don't have to feel privilege, it automatic based on the pigment of your skin. It's walking next to someone on a crowded street without them griping their bag a little tighter. It's thousands of white armed Americans protesting in a state Capitol building and viewed as Patriots, but armed black men protesting are deemed hostile and aggressive. It's not being asked what sport you played in to attend your private university. It's never needing to defend the car you drive for being stolen or the $100 in your pocket being “drug money”. You know what I mean? White privilege is sadly accepted by society even when people swear it's not real. It infuriates me.

Week after week media shows examples how white privilege is poisoning our society. A man (Ahmaud Arbery) being shot for jogging in a neighborhood, a man (George Floyd) begging for his life as an officer holds a knee into his neck for 9 minutes restricting his airflow and murdering him (while on video), having the police called on a man (Christian Cooper) for watching birds in Central Park because he seemed like a threat, mothers being held to the ground forcefully in a humiliating nature because they were thought to be shoplifting (they weren't); those are just the stories that made the media THIS week. I'm conciously aware that I never have to be concerned that I made too much eye contact, or not enough with an officer to be deemed a threat. That I won't be followed around a store for fear of theft. That neighbors dont wave good morning but hustle to their car in fear or disgust that I live next door. That I will never know the feeling of the "token black person" joke in a room full of white people. That no one will question how I obtained my assets and possessions. That sadly our society has permitted placing my race above that of my husband and if he spoke freely on it, he'd be told he's complaining. Let's be real, slavery was never abolished, it evolved into complete censorship and targeting.

The examples I give are all realities we've experienced. After living in our home for 2.5 years a neighbor and I were chatting about recent vehicle break ins. She felt it necessary to inform me that "one of them live in that house (pointing to mine, having no idea that she was talking to the owner of that home) and what's worse is he's married to a white woman AND they have kids *gasp*". I overheard a woman tell her child on the playground to stay away from "the big black man, he could be dangerous" referring to Jamari, and not realizing we were together. He's followed around stores as if he may steal something. People CONSTANTLY ask me if I need something, but ignore his presence before addressing me. And the worst, is the uncomfortable, "I have black friends" conversation people awkwardly feel obligated to have to make themselves comfortable around him. These simple situations show that It is a sad reality that my babies will also have to defend themselves in a way I have not because they are interracial. White privilege extends down to children. It serves as an entitlement that trickles down to the youngest generation and allows the behaviors that occur. It's injustice.

I am saddened by the pattern continuing. Prejudice, privilege, and injustice being taught to children as a way of life. This needs to stop. Mother's need to not fear for their black sons to be targeted, parents need to feel safe that their kids won't be the next example, families need to live freely and comfortable without fake waves and silent concerns of those living closest to them. When you say, “I hate what happened but…” you too are part of the problem.

I often read on social media that, "black people are angry.” They aren't angry; they're tired of the bullshit that America has allowed to become acceptable, and white people should be mad about it too! You'd be mad as hell too if society allowed your entire race to be treated inferior and the rest of America sat back to watch, or even worse, hit the ‘like’ button on a photo of the latest high profile scenario of white privilege being brought to the world's attention but do nothing after that. If you hold your phone to record an example of injustice rather than get involved, you're part of that problem. This is proving to be an epidemic within our country more concerning than wearing a face mask in the grocery store. I want to know that my husband can get from point A to point B without being stopped by an officer and be concerned he may have moved to grab his wallet too quickly. That if he had his weapon on him (as a law enforcement officer) that he may be considered a threat in a store. That random people stop and ask Audrey if she's ok while he changes her diaper in the back of the car as if he couldn't possibly be her Dad. I want equality and I'm disgusted that I carry a privilege he doesn't because I have less pigment to my skin and blonde hair. I feel strongly that if you are silent in examples of injustice you've chosen with the side of the oppressor. It is a cycle that can be broken, if we stop getting mad then forgetting, and start getting serious about doing something. The first step is acknowledgement that this is real and white privilege/racism is pathetically thriving in American culture and NEEDS to be stopped. If this conversation makes you uncomfortable, it should. If you see the social media posts of the faces of men and women who have been persecuted against and have no idea who they are, then you need a more diverse circle. If your offended by any race other than white standing up for equality and their human rights, then you are part of the problem. If photos of my family make you feel uncomfortable then we shouldn't be friends. I stand with equality.