The White Girl's Take on Being Black

“...one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

for all.”

     It is possible that as a nation, we have reached the point where “indivisible” is no longer an accurate component of our pledge.  The recent responses to the Trayvon Martin shooting and subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman have made that clear.  Why is it that decades after the victories of the Civil Rights movement, race remains one of the most divisive issues in our country? And is there hope for change?  

     In my 40 years on this earth as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white girl, I’ve seen and heard a few things that have shaped my perception of race.  We all have.  But since I’m writing this post, you get to hear mine.

1.  When I was in high school, my grandmother (who is West Indian) came to stay with us.  One day, some friends dropped me off after school, and saw her sitting on the deck.  One of the boys I was with said, “What?!  I didn’t know your grandmother was a nigger!” 

*People see color.

2.  My white girlfriend had a baby with her black boyfriend.  When they decided to part ways, she wanted to raise the baby with her family in a predominantly white community.  The baby’s father was worried the child would not know how to “be black.” 

*Cultural expectations shape who we are; expectations vary an awful lot.

3.  A couple I know has raised two sons to adulthood.  Their dad always insisted they wear polo shirts and dress “respectably.”  Their mom thought this would get them beat up in high school, because they’re black.  She now appreciates that the boys have jobs that require them to wear a dress shirt and tie to work every day, as it might just make them a little safer. 

*Fear and respect can easily be interchanged.

4.  When my son was 8, we lived in Northern Idaho.  It was cold.  We went into Walmart and he had his hood up.  He was by my side the entire time, and as we left the store, an employee came running over accusing him of shoplifting.  He had not taken anything. I’ll never know if it was my biracial child or his hooded head that aroused suspicion.  We no longer wear hoods up in public buildings. 

*How you present yourself matters.

People have decried the legal system in light of the Zimmerman verdict.  This case, however, reaches far deeper than just our legal system. It demands we address the blatantly subtle issue of institutionalized racism in our country. If you’re black in this country, there are already many preconceived notions of who you are as a person.  I took my kids to see Rio the other day. Guess who were the good guys and who were the bad guys? Even the animal characters fit the mold... the good ones were voiced by white actors, the bad guys and street savvy thugs were voiced by black and Hispanic actors. This is just one small example of a huge problem that needs awareness.   

“Institutionalized racism is a form of racism which is structured into political and social institutions. It occurs when institutions, including corporations, governments and universities, discriminate either deliberately or indirectly, against certain groups of people to limit their rights. Race-based discrimination in housing, education, employment and health for example are forms of institutional racism. It reflects the cultural assumptions of the dominant group, so that the practices of that group are seen as the norm to which other cultural practices should conform (Anderson and Taylor, 2006). Institutional racism is more subtle, less visible, and less identifiable than individual acts of racism, but no less destructive to human life and human dignity. The people who manage our institutions may not be racists as individuals, but they may well discriminate as part of simply carrying out their job, often without being aware that their role in an institution is contributing to a discriminatory outcome.”

               Reference: http://institutionalracism.net/default.aspx

The problem is, when there is a majority enjoying the privilege of being the majority, change is an uphill battle.

     A point worth making, however, is that institutionalized racism is not just effectuated by the white majority. Yes I get furious at the ignorance of white people, and the willingness to embrace something that feels so wrong. But you know who else I get mad at?  Members of the black community who perpetuate so many of the stereotypes that shape white ignorance.  There's a difference between rapping about "where you're from" in an attempt to expose injustice; it's a whole other story when your multi-million dollar career is based on exploiting that same injustice. When I see a black child in a suburban community "thuggin" like he knows the streets, I see a major identity issue perpetuated by our society as a whole. And it makes me angry. Do you know how many famous black athletes or performers I can count in my close circle of friends?  Zero.  That’s how many.  (Well...maybe the Taj Mahal Trio...but that’s just me bragging).  But guess how many black lawyers, teachers, police officers, coaches, soldiers, accountants, doctors, nurses, government employees, and other every day professionals I know who are black?  An awful lot.  We need more face time for positive role models who AREN'T athletes or rappers, so that young minorities feel a sense of identity in regards to things that matter, and things that are achievable.  And white people who live in predominantly white communities need to see successful blacks so that their opinions aren’t just formed by the media’s coverage of black celebrities. 
     I guess the bottom line here is that racism is real.  And it’s very personal and very painful.  There are many underlying factors sustaining the issue, but before we can progress collectively as a nation, we have to understand our own personal perceptions.  What do we think we know?  Are our beliefs accurate and fair?  Do our actions support our claims? I think if you examine your gut reactions to the Zimmerman/Martin case, you will be able to answer some of those questions, and decide how you can perhaps do just a little bit more to improve.