In recent weeks, I've been reading more than ever before about the history of how America has treated Black people. I wondered why Black people were singled out; it made no sense. Now I see why it made no sense. It wasn't accurate. I'm realizing that our country has so much white supremacy built into it. I find it disgusting, though I don't know what to do about it. The rhetoric I was raised on - just live a good life, be a good person - doesn't seem like enough anymore. Talking to my kids this morning, we agreed that America has never been great from a human rights perspective. Only by capitalist standards, and then only if you're a white man. Oh, it holds the promise of greatness and doesn't let on that the promise was never intended to be for everyone. I'm so disappointed.
I agree. When you come from white priviledge, you learn to make good choices. No one explains that you have good choices in front of you to make because you are white!
It's such good wording, I'd like to copy it to my Facebook if that's okay with you. To whom should I attribute it? If you have no preference, or I don't see an answer, I'll just use your forum username.
I agreement with this sentiment. Though perhaps I might add/reframe: those of us who have a competent caregiver/mentor in our lives (and preferably early in our lives), regardless of our skin color, learn to make the best choice available to us. It's important not to lump together those without white/passing privilege as not learning to make good choices.
The difference lies in the choices made available to different populations/groups; those of us with white/passing privilege are, in many contexts, *given* better choices. a la Kerry Washington's character (Mia Warren) in the TV adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere:
"You didn't *make* good choices, you *had* good choices."
That is such an excellent way to phrase it - thank you!
What struck me during this module is the irony of this country. The USA wanted to "avoid" plagues and pests to enter the country yet when we look at history, we can see that first, Mexicans crossing the border, "crossed" what was once Mexican territory and second, the colonizers were the ones that brought many diseases and pests we now have. It just amazes me how much history repeats itself in many similar ways in a country that plays the "referee" in many other countries and claims to be "correct".
PS. I am Mexican so this hit home and it is always sad to see anyone be mistreated.