open letter to white people

Dear white people,

Have you ever realized that most of us don’t even think about racism? In fact, we assume we are not racist at all. And we get very defensive if someone says otherwise. I know, I used to be one of those people. Even now, I work to challenge myself in this area. It is true that we cannot control our thoughts. However, we can analyze why we have them and begin to break down any barriers to progress.

I think the problem is that, as white people, we mostly have no idea what is going on with racism as a systemic, institutional entity. Honestly, we are so ignorant that we don’t even know we are ignorant. In fact, we gain absolutely nothing by acknowledging that racism exists. (And, we all know that American culture is centered around personal gain. It is, after all the heart and soul of our capitalist system.) I believe that, as a white person, it is possible to go our entire lives never analyzing race. I would even go so far as to say, it is possible to live our whole lives never even thinking about it. And, why should we? The system benefits us at every turn. We have no need to question it, or even to admit its existence.

I am curious, what will it take for whites to see the truth? We cannot have a lived Black experience. We will never know existential Blackness. So, how is it possible for us to understand? Can we? Most importantly, I think, is how will we ever evolve if we are delusional about the present reality? I think the answer comes in two parts:

1) The lived experience of the “other”

2) Widespread honesty

I think it is necessary for us, as individuals and community members, to experience oppression or marginalization if some aspect of our lives. If we are white and women, or white and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and/or queer, or white and dis/abled, or white and fat, then we are better able to understand the concept of “otherness”. Please do not misunderstand me, I do not equate racism with any other form of oppression. In fact, I think we spend way too much time trying to make everyone equal, even in oppression, that we lose sight of the importance of our differences.

The experience of “other” allows one to question and analyze the “norm”. This process often starts with something relevant to the individual (there’s that word again). For example, a white gay person cannot marry their partner, he feels slighted by this, and begins to uncover the concept of institutionalized oppression in the form of heterosexism and likely experiences some form of homophobia. This opens the door for white people to to question the current system.

Now, I realize, not every person will experience some form of oppression or marginalization in their lifetime. And if, as white people, we buy into the greater American culture, sometimes we may even dismiss the experiences we do have, so long as we have our race privilege to fall back on. But, if we open ourselves to what is real, I think many, if not most, white people experience some form of marginalization, or as I call it, the experience of “other”. However, if one does not have this lived experience, or denies it, I think it is still possible to move forward. For one of two reasons: 1) someone we know and love experiences “otherness,” therefore we are invested in the struggle or 2) We are open (spiritually and/or emotionally) to what I will call “honest reality”.

Being honest is a very large part of this equation. As white people, we are told numerous lies in order to support the notion that we are, in fact, superior to all other races. This is so incredibly detrimental to us as individuals and as a race. We are not grounded in reality. And the identities we have created for ourselves are false until we change this.

I realize this is not a simple task. But, I think we can start by being honest with ourselves. As white people, we have been taught certain things by a white supremacist and racist society. This is a fact. When we deny this, we deny reality. We are taught that white= normal and superior. By that equation, all peoples of color = abnormal and inferior. Obviously, this is wildly untrue. It is, however, the basis of race relations in our country.

We need to begin to question our thoughts and actions. Who do we sit next to on public transportation? When we hear the phrase “Black man” what first comes to mind? When we think about welfare, teen pregnancy, gang violence, gun violence, prison– who do we envision in our mind’s eye? We need to start by admitting what is real and then, we can begin to challenge it. When we deny our racist thoughts, we become full participants in racism. Just like silence = acceptance, denial = racism.

As white people, we must admit our ignorance and our prejudice. It is only then that we can begin to move forward. As a race, white people have also been harmed by the legacy of enslavement. In that, our ancestors perpetrated heinous crimes on an entire race of people. Just as that story lives on for Blacks, the story also lives on for whites. Our legacy is full of power, rage, and inhumanity. In order to bring our race back to humanity, we must change. We must evolve. We need to find the truth of our history, practice honesty in our current reality, and spread the truth like crazy. We must participate in widespread honesty of what is real. I believe, for white people, it is our only hope.

With hope and in struggle,
Lee

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This is only the jumping off point. In a fit of inspiration, I scribbled the beginning of this letter on some notebook paper between classes today. I think collaboration, conversation, and community discourse is incredibly important in all endeavors, which is why I wish to share it. I do want to give credit where it is due: Kate Anderson, Dr. Anthony Monteiro, Dr. Aimee Glocke, Dr. Tanya Saunders, Mr. Daud Watts, Ms. Rabia Harris, and all of my friends, peers, and classmates who contribute to my growth as a person and an intellectual. I am thankful that you influence my thoughts and hope to become a better white person every minute of every day.