I've been avoiding writing this for awhile now because I don't want to be farmed as "The Angry Black Woman". That narrative is old an ugly and I'm tired of it quite frankly. But, I can't not write this any longer.
If you are my white friend and you haven't had the time to check up on me during this long and exhausting and horrifying year but have had time to post about how not all cops are bad, or how BLM is just a socialist or marxist movement - we are simply no longer friends. I say that in the most loving way possible too. Not because I don't want well for you but because you have totally missed the point of what your black family and friends have been experiencing. IF you can shout about how racism isn't real - but refuse to listen to anyones experience about racism, we are not friends. I have always stood by the "We can still be friends even if we don't agree politically" but to be honest, I can be friends with a lot of people who disagree with me on a lot of topics - but if you are opposing my stance on my community being murdered in cold blood - we cannot be friends. I am a biracial black woman. I grew up in an all white home on the white side of town and I did not experience true diversity until I transferred schools. I am used to being the only POC in a room, but dont be mistaken, I am still black. I played on volleyball teams that were all white and experienced racism. I have been followed around stores - as if I've already committed a crime based solely on the color of my skin. I tried to water down my blackness just so I could fit in. I stopped getting my hair braided, I did Brazilian blowouts, I straightened my hair everyday, I refused to wear Jordans, I adopted the basic "Valley Girl" accent, I listened to country music I hated and I tried to hide from myself. Dont tell me you dont have privilege just because you're white. You do have privilege. and stop quoting MLK demanding that we be peaceful and quiet - MLK was murdered by a white man for speaking up about his injustices. Stop using Candace Owens as your only black source. Listen to black people when they speak about their experiences before arguing the other side. I have been mistaken as others children. I have been called slurs and I have EVEN been scared for my life on a couple of encounters with police - newsflash, it wasn't because I broke any laws. If you are willing to throw around stats and pretend like none of this is real - its real. Its painful. Its hurtful. It is not for fun. People are not protesting for fun. I am tired of fighting people on my right to be heard. I am so sorry that I can no longer stay. silent and I'm so upset that anger Is what my feelings have resorted to but I cannot participate in conversations where you forget that before I am your friend - I am black.
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AuthorHi there, just your not so average 20-something-year- old Journalism major living life on the sunny side and documenting it! Archives
April 2020
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