Despite the fact that I choose colorful, glittery, princess themed band-aids for my own "boo boos," there is no flesh tone band-aid available for someone of color. But that is a rather simple example. How about not ever being followed in a store? Or by a police officer as I drive? Stereotypes benefit assumptions about me, they don't work against me. And really, they shouldn't, I don't actually deserve that. I work on a team at work of 4 women. I am the only one that is white. I am also the only one with a criminal record. And the only one who smoked crack. And I am the least educated. But given the facts, I am probably not the first one who would be assumed to be any of those things. And that is pretty sad. No, very wrong!
Jesus looks like me. Santa Claus looks like me. Angels and elves and historical heroes look like me. If Black History Month hadn't come around every February I wouldn't know about the contributions of Blacks to life as I know it (where would our bodies and lives be without the contributions of Drs. Drew and Williams?). But that isn't as easily spewed from the mouths of elementary school students as Thomas Edison's achievements. And it seems the only Black we learned about faithfully, Martin Luther King, Jr, had to go so far as dying to make it into history books.
I am not discounting all that White authors, crusaders, and inventors have given us. I am not arguing that Blacks are more important than Whites. That they are brighter, more talented, more deserving of recognition or thanks in any way. I am merely stating that they are no less bright, no less talented, no less deserving because they have more (beautiful!) melanin in their skin. And being white shouldn't mean I am safer, more trustworthy, or chosen in any way. Being white should only mean I need a higher SPF sunscreen!
* special thanks to the fabulous Substantia Jones whose comments about White Privilege got me thinking and writing.
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