So, you’ve blacked out your profile picture, you believe in equality, and you even attended Black Lives Matter protests. What was the point?
When at a dinner party, a person from the dominant group tells a racist joke.
“An Asian person arrives at a huge event educational charity … and we all thought it was the takeaway delivery man …”
“ha ha”
A member of the BAME community points out:
“Excuse me; you understand that is incredibly racist”
At this point, what is the reaction of the room? Who is ostracised and well is supported?
“He is a good person.”
“He didn’t mean any harm.”
“Look at him in this photo with people of colour.”
…
“Why do you have to take everything to heart”
“Why did you ruin the party?”
“Not everything is about race.”
- What has any of the above got to do with the prices of bread?
“He is a good person.” – Good people can uphold white supremacy.
“He didn’t mean any harm.” – Intentions means nothing when melanated bodies are dying as a result of our racist system.
“Look at him in this photo with people of colour.” -If a person murders someone being a character witness to the member of the victims’ family supports the act of murder.
- Silence is violence. We live in a system that leads to a quantifiable trauma route to early death (Yes, I have just spent months researching and writing about this – yes, the book will be out soon). Doing nothing leaves us all there.
- Support, shockingly, puts you in same the bracket as the perpetrator of violence.
- Whether laughing, staying silent or attacking those brave enough to make change at the dinner table or in the cesspool of social media. Live your lives the way you want but understand that we see you. No, those of us of colour feel your actions.
This is essentially white solidarity. If a racist attack occurs, all I ask is for people to judge it on the actions and violence that have been committed.
Before I get back to the chapter – I would like people to reflect on those responses. This person dares to make us all better; as a victim of the system, who are we to question their voice or motives.
“Why do you have to take everything to heart”
“Why did you ruin the party?”
“Not everything is about race.”