Dear White People

Dear White People,

I love you. I know… That was not what some of you were expecting to read coming from a pro-Black woman, but I do. I do not hate you. I write to you from my heart out of love and not out of hate. You see, many of you and I have much in common. I think many of you have a lot more in common with many of us (Blacks, Browns, etc.) than you think or than people realize. 

We are both human, that is the most obvious, but sadly, it gets overlooked. All of us have a heart that pumps blood into our veins. We all have the same needs such as food, water, sleep, peace, etc. We need love, and believe it or not, a significant amount of us, many of you and those like me, grew up exactly the same. 

How We Grew Up 

Many of us grew up being told lies. 

Black and Brown people, were taught:

1. You and I are not the same or equal. 
2. We are less valuable
3. We have to mimic you to be accepted or successful

Many of you grew up being taught:

1. You are better than us. 
2. People like me are unintelligent, lazy, criminals, and the biggest problem in this world. 
3. You are entitled to everything before us because it is your birthright. 

These are all lies.

More Lies

Society had a major way in how I viewed the world and how I viewed myself. Many times, I used to think “I am too fat for this,” or “I am too Black for that.” I have been told many times I have to take out my braids or my twists if I want to be successful and get a good job. My natural hair is not good enough. Never mind my character, talents, etc. But I know many of you have heard many stories like this, so there is no need for you to sit there and read another one. But what lies have you been told? 

What has society lied to you about? I could only imagine society has told many of you-you do not have to worry about issues like these because your natural hair and skin is perfectly fine. Society has told you-you are superior, but really, you defecate and need water just like the rest of us. I can only imagine society, and maybe even your own family and friends, have told some of you many lies about us, and I can only imagine what it is like being in some of your shoes. 

Being In Your Shoes

If I were in your shoes, I can imagine it would be easy for me to become proud and entitled. If I were in your shoes, I can imagine how easily hatred could grow into my heart. In your shoes, I can only imagine how easy it would be to love Black and Brown people, but choose to hate only to fit in with those that do. 

I could only imagine myself, if I were White, wanting to speak up for someone who does not look like me but allowing the fear of rejection from my family and peers to silence me. If I were you, I imagine feeling like a coward every time I suppress the idea that Blacks deserve better as I sit there and watch another one being treated less. I can only imagine. Society has told you many lies about us as it has told us many lies about you, but I do not blame you. I am not mad at you.

Denouncing The Lies

White people, my beautiful White people, you too have a challenge just as I do. While I must continue to denounce the lies your racist peers have said about my skin color, hair, character, how I should be treated, and what I deserve, you too must do the same, or at least you should. 

White Privilege 

Many of you have it easier compared to most of us. Perhaps you received the finest education your parents’ money could buy. You went to the most prestigious schools and got a tremendous job after college. And now you can afford a nice car and home with a low-interest rate. While many of us are not able to. 

And even if you did not grow up this way, perhaps your family was poor, you did not graduate, etc., let’s face it, your skin color still gives you a higher advantage over me and everyone like me. Is that your fault? Absolutely not. Should I be mad at someone with such privilege? Absolutely not.

Accept Your Privilege

White Privilege… I know that is a phrase some of you deny and hate to hear which I do not understand. I think you all should accept your privilege. Why deny it? Let’s say my dad is a professor at an elite university. I got accepted, and since he works there, I get free tuition. Let’s say I have a classmate that does not have free tuition. She and I are having a conversation about how she is struggling to pay. 

Should I deny my privilege because she is struggling just to appear I am struggling too? Should I deny my privilege and tell her how hard I worked, and she needs to stop complaining and work hard too? Or should I try to understand where she is coming from while being humble to the fact I do not have to struggle as she does? I think the latter is better. 

Everyone has a privilege someone else does not have. I had the privilege of growing up with a caring mom. There is someone else who did not. I cannot relate to someone who grew up without a mom because I did, but I can try to understand where they are coming from. 

You should not be ashamed of your privileges, especially when you are born with them, because life gives you what life gives you, but it is up to you to do the most with what you are given. I think you should try to understand where others who do not have your privileges are coming from instead of denying it, pretending it does not exist, and saying we all have equal opportunities, and or attempting to relate to something you do not understand or have never experienced merely to appear to struggle as we do. It is ok. Society lied to us too.

Use Your Privilege For Good

My beautiful White people, although it is not fair, you have a privilege that is based on your skin. Maybe some of you perceive it as a curse, but it is what it is. However you see it, privilege is power and that power can be shared. Many white people have used their privilege to speak up about injustices or to protect someone that does not look like them from their white counterparts. 

Just the other day I watched a video of a cop yanking the neck of a young Black boy. He had to have been no older than 13. His friend, who was White, protected him and spoke up to the police officer. He, too, was probably no older than 13. 

There was another video of a Black man speaking up about injustices and White people surrounded him to protect him because guards and/or police tried to attack him. A few years ago, the police pulled over a Black woman and a White woman stopped and said she was going to sit and watch until the police officer was done. When the police asked her why, she told the officer, “You have a young Black female in the parking lot with no cameras.” The White woman told the young Black woman she was tired of witnessing police treat Black people unfairly. Your privilege can make a difference and it is time to speak up and do the right thing.

Whether You’re For Us or Against Us, We Gon’ Be Alright

I know some of you will read this and shake your head and maybe roll your eyes. Maybe some of you will even refuse to accept your privilege because you refuse to believe you have been lied to. Maybe some of you will even presume this is a cry for help, and we are in desperate need of you. Do not get it twisted. It is not. This is more of a wake-up call and warning given to you out of love because at the end of the day it is about what is right and what is wrong. 

This message is for a specific type of White person, and you will know if it is you because HIS sheep know HIS voice. And it is your responsibility to be the voice and light in the places we have no voice. Evil will not prevail. There is a shift taking place. God is in this shift. Which side will you be on when things fall into place? 

Whether you choose to use your privilege for good or evil, as the great poet Kendrick Lamar once said, “We gon’ be alright.” Whether you sit back and watch people who look like me being treated unfairly, or whether you speak up, “We gon’ be alright.” Either you choose to accept the lie and be a part of the problem or choose to denounce everything you have been taught. Either way, “We gon’ be alright.” 

Things are about to change. It may take time, but things will fall into place and Blacks will not allow themselves to be treated any less than how we should be treated. If you were in our shoes, I know you would feel the same. Let us all get on the same page because I know all of you are not the problem. To some of you that are, I believe some of you suppress the love in your heart out of fear of being rejected by your hateful White peers. Either you want to undergo the rejection of your peers or the wrath of God. You choose.

It is time to rise above the hate. You are better. If you choose to do evil or watch as others treat us with contempt, you are going to wish you had chosen the other side. But the choice is yours. Which side will you be on? May your heart be convicted.

Love Jaz