I don’t know if I have ever blogged about this before. One of the main reasons is because I am white. I have close relatives that are Asian, Hispanic, Native American and African American. People I love, not because of their heritage but because they are FAMILY.
Does their color matter? Nope.
I may have shared this a few times, but I lived with my father for a few years in a working class suburb of Seattle when I was in 10th and 11th grade in High School. We lived a few miles from the largest Boeing plant in the company and the largest manufacturing plant in the world at the time. The doors on this place were the size of football fields. FOOTBALL FIELDS!
The school I attended was Mariner High. One of the most diverse schools in the region.
Being a small town white farm boy who never saw a ‘colored’ person in my life, except on TV, was eye opening. I had African American friends, Native friends, Asian friends, but it never occurred to me they were any different. They had the same goals, love of life and interests as me. It never was a revelation, it was reality. I also had gay and transgender friends (this was the late 80’s). I also hung out with metal heads, preps, jocks and punk rockers (I actually made a little coin finishing art projects for the football players).
I guess I never understood hatred based on identity. Sure I dislike certain people, but it was never based on their color, religion or sexual preference.
Some people would accuse me of being a liberal because of my beliefs towards others, I’m not a liberal, I’m a human being. Everyone should believe in equality, it is just being a decent and compassionate person.
And while you struggle with your white privilege, never apologize for it, use it to make other lives better. Speak out against injustice. Don’t apologize or be embarrassed, use your privilege to privilege others. We all need to get along and love each other, it is of the highest importance. We are all in this together. Jesus said it best (or someone who claimed to know Jesus);
“Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.†– Psalm 41:1
And don’t just think police violence and domination is towards minorities. Over the past year I saw a drunk WHITE man get mauled by a dog while a SFPO kicked him, I saw another WHITE guy get tackled for flipping the bird and yet another WHITE jailed for weeks because he used hyperbole towards the mayor concerning 5G. None of us are immune folks. George Floyd is any of us, remember that.
These injustices affect us all as Americans. The police have become the judge, jury and to often the executioner. This is not their duty, their duty is to maintain peace, and arrest suspects and let a court and jury of peers decide if they are guilty of a crime.
I could point my finger at a lot of people, but today I will only point my finger at you as a citizen. Freedom is FREE, Speak OUT! It is one freedom they will never take from you unless you allow it!
Thanks for sharing. I went to school in a neighborhood that was Hispanic. Whites and blacks were automaticly allied so that we wouldn’t get cut. My dad was a narc who was killed. Bad became worse. I entered the military and ended up in combat at 19. Again, my friends were mostly black because we looked out for one another. Whites were brain dead potheads. Blacks are good soldiers. They got me home alive. My roommate when I served in the US was a black boxer. Nobody messed with me. I bailed him out a few times but he got himself into big trouble and ended up in prison. I’ve had black girlfriends. I’m freckled Irish and their skin and curves are exciting. Once I paid attention otherwise, their personality appealed to me more than for most white women. I didn’t marry a black and ended up divorced from an Italian. One of my best friends was a black Vice President for a power company in the northeast. It angered me when we got prejudicial treatment in public places. He died from cancer and not street violence.
My point is we are all human and most blacks make good friends. Blacks do not have the same opportunity as whites. Much of the discord is because whites abuse their undeserved privilege. Drug dealers are black business men. Their customers are Meth head whites.
I suggest people watch Shawshank Redemption again. It’s how blacks and whites bond. Some police are bullies. They beat up on all races. I’ve observed good police who smile when they’re disrespected. It turns it around and the offending party recognizes they’re wrong.
When Lee surrendered to Grant at the end of the civil war, he stated to a black union officer present that he was now an American. To which the black man returned with “sir we are all Americansâ€.