Jun 15, 2020
STOP telling Blacks to be receptive to whites
Okay, apparently, this must be repeated over and over and over….
Black people have been told to be receptive to white people for five centuries.
Even while we are enslaved, controlled, raped, and murdered by white people.
The moment white people smiled at Black people, we are told to consider the good intentions of white people.
We are told to accept white explanations.
We are told to accept white apologies.
We are told to accept white discomfort.
We are told to explain to white people and teach white people.
This is centuries of the method to stay alive as Black people.
This is centuries of the method to essentially BEG white people for everything.
This is still happening 2020 and beyond.
Now the excuse is “we need ‘allies’” and “fussing at white people will remove white people”
Well, guess what?!
Black people have every right to want spaces in which white people are neither a requirement nor a central focus.
White people who cannot handle feeling unneeded and unwelcomed by Black people are NOT advocates and supporters with Black people.
The fact that many Black people have to constantly explain this — for centuries — is why I do not believe in a such thing as power majority (white people regarding racial identity and racism) as “allies.”
This is why I never use the word “ally” for power majorities and specifically for white people regarding dismantling racism by increasing racial equity and racial justice.
If that offends you, ask yourself WHY you are offended.
WHY do you want to be considered an “ally.”
WHAT have you (white people) consistently done, on a daily basis, to risk yourself beyond social media posts and beyond marching in protest every few years?
What have you (white people) do to put yourself at-risk in a way that is the least bit comparable to the way Black people are at-risk in personal, professional, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical spaces?
Even the most well-intended and well-meaning white people are quick to feel uncomfortable and perceive threat to their families and careers when their White Activism receives threats from other white people.
As I explain to these well-intended and well-meaning white people, if THEY break a sweat when other white people threaten them, imagine how WE, as Black people, feel to have white people (white liberals, white progressives, white conservatives, white Democrats, white Republicans, white Libertarians, etc.) harassing us and deliberately trying to ruin every aspect of our existence when we do not comply with apparent and disguised white power and white dominance.
So, STOP telling Black people to be receptive to white people.
STOP telling Black people to be explanatory and informative to white people.
Never use a Black-created, Black-owned, and Black-led platform to lecture Black people about accepting non-Black people who have ignored us and harmed us — no matter the excuses and distractions.
White people are 100% accountable for white power and white dominance.
As aggregates with relative few exceptions over centuries, Indigenous people, non-white Hispanic people, non-white Latinx/a/o people, and Asian people are 100% accountable for benefiting from centuries of intellectualism works and social justice works done by Black people — while not consistently caring about Black people — and not consistently being ACTIVE to combat harms to Black people.
It is harmful to Black mental health, Black physical health, Black life circumstances, and Black opportunities to constantly have the finger pointed at Black people to preach to us about accepting and helping non-Black people without expecting and demanding consistent reciprocity.
Consistent reciprocity is measurable and consistent ACTIONS beyond wearing “ally” buttons, beyond posting on social media, beyond a book club, beyond one book added to a course, and beyond marching in convenient protests.
I will continue to be unapologetically challenging and dismantling to all of this rhetoric and jargon forced on Black people for five centuries.
When Black people protest using Black voices and Black money (boycotts), STOP telling Black people to give white people, and overall non-Black people, another chance despite evidence of lack of credibility and accountability.
Racial, socioeconomic, education, health, and other forms of inclusion, equity, and justice are IMPOSSIBLE if Black people locally, nationally, and internationally are expected to be unchallenging to white people and beg non-Black people for “allies”.
Please find podcast recordings and list of services on the 365 Diversity website.
