Dear White People
By: Floris Koot
Tags: BlackLivesMatter, White Privilege, Racism, Spoken Word, Entitlement

What is it, we don’t get? It can’t be us, can it?

Dear White People

Let’s reveal the rot in our white privilege logic..

While many of us protest with the people of color, others frame the protests as riots and mayhem, because hey, ‘we’ can’t be blamed for ‘them’ being wild on the streets. Many of us, white people, seem to deny our own role in this systemic racism. BLM activists have asked us to speak out. I’ve tried to add my contribution here, exposing the self justification within our privilege. This is what we’re up against, within ourselves: its inner logic is disgusting… (sorry)… And while this seems written towards people of color, it’s actually many of us who should look into this mirror..

Dear People of Color

Comfortable entitlement is best enjoyed tone deaf.

Why do you ask me to look into the mirror? That hurts. Comfortable entitlement is best enjoyed tone deaf.

(this is not an actual person, but an AI created white person, to be many of us)

I’m a white male. We have no violent ideology, we just protect what is ours and keep all threats in their place. Though, I’d rather not talk about that openly. I’m not a racist am I? But when Colin kneels what traitor is he? Where’s his apology? How can we then discuss his return on equal footing?

I’m a white male. I know danger when I see it. It’s every time I see a person who might not be like me. White beggars I ignore. Black beggars I avoid. Big Blacks are a mortal danger. Latino’s I hire to prune the garden. I’m entitled, and that’s how it works. Because, hey, comfortable entitlement is best enjoyed tone deaf.

I’m a white male. I don’t feel sorry. I did nothing wrong. That is absurd. I get your pain, but that’s about times gone by. And see, we arrested some dirty cops, so you all can get back to work. Let go, you people. When you protest, you start looting. See how unruly you are? No wonder the police must teach you lessons. It seems you forgot all the previous ones.

I’m a white male. And yes, I know, we spinned the news a bit on our channels. We zoom in on black looters, let Trumpists in hoodies slip by. They poor like you but no criminals. Yes, some cops agitated, but hey, see how we edited screaming people of color. What a chaos they create. Let’s talk about that!

I’m a white male. I don’t get all the aggression. You tell me, why should I listen to disruptors of the peace? How am I tone deaf? Man, you shout! Look, we can’t talk, when you don’t behave as I expect you should. Look, emotions are not the facts. And your facts, are a fuzzy overload. Can you please stick to warm emotions, you know, for a good connection. Then we can talk.

I’m a white male. When a muslim kills someone, he’s a terrorist and all muslims vile. When a white shooter shoots up a school, he’s a lone wolf, never discuss affiliation with ideology. Like each time a white guy goes wrong, we all go: “It wasn’t me.” When a black man says the same thing: “Hey, it wasn’t me.” We think he’ll probably belong to a gang, all the same.

I’m a white male. I’m very strong. And I’m very smart. My one black friend tells me so. I have the American winners mentality. I score 6 digits a year. I’m a winner, baby, and if you ain’t get that number, that means you’re weak. Did you even finish school? How’s that my fault? Poverty is laziness. And to be strong you must dominate. Sorry you didn’t get that job, I gave it to a friend.

I’m a white male. My voice counts. I’m the apex of this civilization. I put on a suit and tie. I talk in a reasonable tone, explaining the world why we have to bomb the shit out of colored kids far away. Only our idiot president will slip, “It’s for the oil.” But hey, he’s our president and this is how it goes. I profit from the advantages and the dead stay nicely out of sight.

I’m a white male. You think these protests leave me cold. I.. okay.. yeah, that’s bad. Are the police that racist? Why did no one tell me before? Deaf? Me? I can handle the truth. I’m not a snowflake.. no I’m not.

I’m a white male. Are you aware what you really ask of me? Being humble enough to really listen, is quite uncomfortable. I see. You’re telling me humbleness is true strength. But man, to do that, I’d have to look in the mirror and see a racist, who consciously lied to himself for years. That will hurt!

I’m a white male. Most of us whites ain’t strong enough to handle our own face in the mirror. It hurts, beauty products, trimmed hair and all. And yes, with me not facing the truth I make matters worse. But what do you expect? It’s easy for you. You’ve been aware for years. I just found out.

I’m a white male who hears you saying it’s been hard. You think this is easy for me? I have to face my shame, the embarrassment, all these years putting fingers in my ears. I must drop arrogance and accept you might be much smarter. I must accept violence will not restore the order. I have the guns and I must let go of that safe easy resort.

I still don’t know how utterly entitled I am.

But please stop the screaming.

Comfortable entitlement is best enjoyed tone deaf.

And of course some women actually help push this ‘White’ Agenda logic. Is she an actual person? OMG, that might be the same thinking as racism, not?

Note: if not clear by now, I wrote this of what I sense on the ‘white’ side. The things we don’t talk about, will never admit to. I think it needs to be out in the open. And I think, in many cases it’s even worse. I never learned to hate, but I sense all these little tricks, bullies also use with their wives. We always expect the other to be the adult in the room. Perhaps that’s why Donny is still such a toddler.

So many little tricks, learned behavior, mentally labyrinths all to avoid this conversation that needs to be had. If you’re white and you deny this work, well, perhaps read it again, as if it was about you. Or read it again as a Nazi, and replace the people of color with Jews, or as Modi Hindu, replace people of Color with Muslims, etc. If you find that, at the least, some parts make sense, or make you uneasy, then yes, we’re not there yet, but it would be a start. On a personal level, and a collective. And this is not even the white supremacy stuff. This is only as disgusting as I’ve felt it in many little ways, and what I personally could muster.

The discussion should also not be, to the letter how true this is. The true discussion, dare we, racist white people, look at our own role and face the shadows, and from there, find ways to help? If so, here’s how to begin:

Link to change: https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234