One White Man's Perspective on Working on Racism

As a Gay Christian/Unitarian-Universalist White American Male (past the age of 55) I am struggling with this idea of Racism in my community. Some would say I am privileged and to some extent I would agree. Through the lens of other perspectives, not so much. The reason I bring up privilege is because if I don’t it will be pointed out by someone else later on. I don’t want to argue about privilege, I would like to do something constructive to disassemble Racism in this world. To be blunt, I do have some privilege because of being white-skinned, or because of my access to education or my passion make changes in the realm of Social Justice. But there are others who have far more privilege than I have. From a personal perspective, my limitations have a far bigger impact on who I am than my privileges do. But that’s not the point.

The events in Ferguson Missouri in the recent past were tragic for ALL Americans. These events and the media spin on them seem to do more to stoke the animosity between those who are passionate about wanting to reduce racism and those who take offense to the first group’s discourse. I must admit, even though I am with those in the first group I get a little defensive myself. “I’m with you and you’re attacking me,” is often my thought. Today is the first time I have communicated this thought to anyone.

I find myself wanting to work at reducing racism and then when I don’t see things a certain way I am accused of having a privileged opinion. Rarely does a person of color say to me, “Thank you for making an effort.” Maybe this is a feeling of entitlement. Maybe I shouldn’t have this thought, but I do.

This is only My Opinion, but there are white people in this world who feel as disgusted by racism as do people of color. I am finding it difficult to find the right place in this world to work on this issue in a way that works. (I purposely did not say “makes me comfortable.” None of this necessary work ever makes me feel comfortable. Or, “for me” because I don’t want to make this about me.)

Maybe the folks I am talking to about this have learned far more than I have. Maybe they have lived the oppressive experience of racism more than I have. We do all live (as individuals) in different worlds.

I have heard much talk this week about Michael Brown being an innocent young boy with his hands raised. Then I hear the defensive argument, “well if he wasn’t a criminal in the first place…”

Hello White folks: this “criminal” conversation is a diversion tactic. Some organized group is working to change your opinion of this situation. I have seen where organized police enforcement has twisted reality “to get a win”. If they can convince a public opinion or a jury that the “perp” is a “criminal” than we law abiding citizens place ourselves on the other side of the line from that criminal. The law enforcement establishment (in this situation appears) to be trying to put Michael Brown on the other side of that line. When racism is at play racist thinking white people put ALL black folks on the other side of the line because we continue to group ourselves by color. Even those who work against racism. This is what needs to stop.

As an American Citizen I am more afraid of the feeling that law enforcement has that they need to be militarized against us, the citizens of this country.

A night or two after the shooting I heard the Governor of Missouri speaking on a national news program. He was talking about bringing the National Guard to Ferguson “to protect police headquarters.” Why aren’t we as citizens afraid of THIS comment? It is clear to me that the police force in Ferguson are not protecting US or serving US! The Governor should have been talking about protecting everyone in the Ferguson Community. He should have been arresting this officer who shot this UNARMED man 6 times to end the riots and to protect the community! We allow ourselves to be goaded into race-baiting because, “they” know the argument will move the focus of the discussion off of the police practices in this country onto something or someone else.

Now before you get all upset and accuse me of changing the topic, I want to say, ”Its clear to me that this situation in Ferguson is about race.” When was the last time you heard of any neighborhood marching against their police department for shooting an unarmed white man? Can you name even one?

Obviously black folks and white folks react to these kinds of incidents in different ways. Maybe it is a circumstance of feeling protected or feeling threatened. I personally do not think one needs to be a black man to feel threatened by this shooting, but I can understand why black men do feel more threatened and why black women and girls worry for their brothers and fathers. And I understand why some white folks argue “he was a criminal, why should I have pity?” But that doesn’t mean ALL white men hold this point of view, and it certainly doesn’t mean ALL white men would argue this point. I am personally outraged by this idea of this statement being painted as the white perspective! I am admitting here, out loud that I don’t know what to do about it.

Many of us know racism is tearing our communities apart.

I want to work on this problem of racism. I want to have this conversation with other folks, but the only folks I find that want to talk about it are those screaming at white people for not talking about racism and those being screamed at who consequently pull their heads back into their shells because they don’t want to be screamed at. And, possibly there are others who do not want to be seen as someone screaming and they keep silent too.

We can no longer ignore this conversation about racism. We have to WANT to find common ground and work on a common approach before any tremendous positive movement will ever occur?