“I can’t breathe.”
Some of the last words uttered by George Floyd, a black man murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
“I can’t breathe.”
The feeling of suffocation and disgust by many of us around the world who continue to witness racism in action on a daily basis.
“I can’t breathe.”
The way I felt all day while trying to make sense of this all, trying to figure out what I can do, trying to check my privilege and stand up for the anti-racism movement.
White privilege is something. If you’ve never been afraid of the police, you have it. If you’ve never been disadvantaged by the mere colour of your skin, you have it. If you can’t see it, you definitely have it. I have it, you have it if you’re white, and every other white person has it.
We have been the oppressors. We have been the perpetrators. We have been the colonizers. We have been the assaulters, the traumatizers, the murderers. Sure, maybe not you and I specifically, but us: our ancestors, our people. If we can’t acknowledge that, then we are part of the problem.
It’s time to stop saying “this is disgusting,” then going back to our lives like nothing happened, or “thank goodness I don’t live in America,” as if racism doesn’t exist in Canada or anywhere else, because it happens all over the world. I’m guilty of both of these things. It’s uncomfortable, but discomfort equals growth. It’s time to rise up and be part of the solution.
Ahmaud Arbery. Murdered in Georgia while being chased and gunned down by two rednecks. WHILE HE WAS GOING FOR A RUN.
Breonna Taylor. Murdered in Kentucky by police in the middle of the night. IN HER OWN DAMN HOME.
George Floyd. Murdered in Minnesota by police after PLEADING FOR HIS LIFE.
And then there’s this.
Christian Cooper. Asked a white woman to follow the rules by leashing her dog in central park. Central Park Karen called the police saying she’s being threatened by an African American man. She tried to use police as her weapon, knowing full well that being white was her privilege.
Antonio Braswell & Felinzay Lundy. Out there doing their jobs and were verbally attacked by a white man. They recorded the incident. Then they were reportedly fired because of it.
This is not “America’s problem.” This is OUR problem. It’s a human race problem that white people created.
So, how do we fix it?
As a white person, I can’t tell you that. I choose to pass the mic to those who are qualified to speak about what needs to happen and have lived experience. Do the work, investigate your biases. Seek out resources. Start here: https://www.rachelricketts.com/
I can tell you what I plan to do:
Check my privilege. Abandon white fragility. Recognize my biases. Know that I’m not perfect. Keep trying to do better - it’s an ever-evolving thing. Pass the mic to allow others to share their story. Learn from POC’s and follow their lead. Learn from people like Rachel Ricketts. ESPECIALLY when it makes me feel uncomfortable, because that’s where the most work is needed.
Do the work people. Black lives matter. Let’s stop feigning disgust then going back to our lives like we’ve done our part. This is worth the effort. We all need to do the work.
And so it is.