Silence Is Betrayal

I went back and forth with whether I should post this, but I simply cannot stay silent, the silence is an enabler, my silence would then be part of the problem. You may not be actively prejudiced, but the world around us still is. So when we don’t use our voices to speak out against hate, we become passive on the injustices around the world. It becomes a normality.

We are often taught to see racism only in terms of individual acts of evil. It is only when you study and learn more, that you realise there are invisible systems that favour the dominance of white people. This is not an ‘American’ problem, this is a universal problem. The abuse and subjection of POC has been going on for centuries. It is only now these injustices are being filmed that we seem to be waking up to them. Remember ‘Racism isn’t getting worse, it’s getting filmed’. George Floyd is another name to add to the long list of black men and women who have been murdered at the hands of the police. Justice has not been served for long enough, we have to change this.

White Supremacy, White Privilege.

If these words make you uncomfortable, if your first response is ‘I don’t hold any privilege’. Then I need you to sit down and look at all the ways subconsciously the colour of your white skins has pushed you ahead in life. It doesn’t mean you haven’t had it hard in life, it means the colour of your skin hasn’t contributed to that. As white people we need to start having these uncomfortable conversations, with our friends and family members. I would much rather white people feel uncomfortable than seeing another black life turned into a hashtag on my timeline. It is not okay to be quiet and avoid conversations about what is going on right now. Your silence in situations like this, means you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

However I’m still watching my timeline daily and seeing many of you choosing to stay silent. YOUR SILENCE IS DEAFENING. It is not enough to say ‘I’m not racist’ as the society we live in is racist and the structures we live in everyday favour people with white skin. White people, you and I benefit from those structures and systems. As a white working class woman, I know where my life is riddled with privilege, that is simply a fact. We need to take every step we can to be proactively anti-racist, and we need to take that step today. So white people we have work to do… Do not be offended, this is a call for action not an attack.

There are ways we can become stronger allies, so here are a few courses of action we can start with. First of all know your privilege, part of my privilege means I will get a round of applause for pretty much anything I say. I may even get praise for simply writing this post, when it is the bare minimum. The truth is there will be no quick fix, this is a massive global systemic problem. The conversations we need to start having, they will last a lifetime, but it is imperative that we have them. So start today, buy books from black activists and artists, support their work, educate yourself. Don’t expect any sort of reward for doing any of this, it is required work. As Andrea Ranae said ‘Anti-racism is not an identity or a checklist; it’s a practice’

Remember when carrying out this work, it is not a POC’s place to teach you about racism, is not their place to educate you on the years of suffering they have injured. Before I moved away from Essex, before I attended university, I was quite ignorant to other people’s suffering in the world. I have taught myself over the years more and more about the society we live in and the injustices that lie beneath the surface. How those injustices benefit me, and the ways I can help those who they oppress. Last night I sat up talking with my mum watching some documentaries on segregation in America and the civil rights movement. It is shocking to realise that these events took place only 57 years ago. The ideologies that were in place back then are still very much rife today, and it shouldn’t take a video of a black man being murdered for us to realise this.

This is a small post, because the situation at such leaves me lost for words, the pain is deep and I cannot put myself in their shoes. However I know how important it is even if you can’t find the words, to simply say something. Our words are so powerful, you might be sitting there thinking what can little old me do, A LOT. If we start closer to home, start having these hard conversations with those around us. If every person did this, it is a start. Confronting white privilege and unlearning these systems is an ongoing process, I am still learning everyday. So take it upon yourself to start now, listen, show up, support, and do the work.

“White feelings should not be held in higher regard to Black lives” – Rachel Cargle

Here are some amazing people, whose work is unmatchable. Please start by reading up on their work, buying their work and spreading their truths.

*all work and accounts below are linked*

Books you can read:

‘Me and White supremacy’ – Layla F Saad

‘Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race’ – Reni Eddo-Lodge

‘So You Want to Talk About Race’ – Ijeoma Oluo

‘How to Be an Antiracist’ – Ibram X. Kendi

‘White Rage’ – Carol Anderson

‘Stamped from the Beginning’ – Ibram X. Kendi

‘Blues City’ – Ishmael Reed

White Teachings: