I could bemoan the injustice of the Trayvon Martin case, but just as easy as it is to blast off a post or tweet saying “I am ashamed of the US legal system” or snark on how easy it is NOT to shoot someone, it is equally as easy for everyone to ignore or quickly forget that — and anyone who doesn’t already agree with it anyway certainly won’t be changed.
But here’s what I as a white male can do to work towards a future where all people are treated equally, and truly have equal protection, opportunity, and access to power.
1) I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND SPEAK ABOUT MY PRIVILEGE
I am an American white male born able-bodied, cisgendered and on the heterosexual end of the scale.
This means Western society is currently defaulted to my self-perception. That when I think about myself, I don’t have to think of myself as a White-American, or a White Man, or Cisgendered Hetero-Male, I just think of me as me, I’m “just” a guy. Because society and the media have given me no reason to think of myself otherwise.
- I have never been pulled over for driving while white.
- I don’t worry about being raped if I’m walking out to my car at night alone.
- I have never had someone give me or my wife “looks” or make racist assumptions and comments because my wife is (for all practical purposes) white and I am also white.
- When I have been pulled over for speeding, or in a car accident, I did not have any fears or tensions as the cop arrived beyond those specific to the costs of the ticket or liability.
- When I go into a job interview, I don’t worry about how the unconscious assumptions and stereotypes embedded in my interviewers will affect my chances, I don’t have to try and “prove” myself beyond what is on my resume.
- If I get a promotion I don’t worry someone will assume it is because of my good looks or how I dress.
- I have never faced a steep set of stairs and realized I can’t proceed to my destination because there is no ramp.
- When I watch a movie, I am not yet again painfully aware of the single stereotyped Token White Guy there just for laughs or a sex object.
- When people refer to me as “he” or “him”, when they see my wedding ring and ask about my wife, I don’t have that moment when I must decide whether to correct their pronouns or their assumptions about my sexual orientation and alignment, and then deal with possible awkwardness or prejudice afterwards.
In a million ways that are invisible to me and outside my awareness most times, I am privileged.
Yes, like plenty of other white males I was raised poor by a single mother — the gathering cans and bottles to scrape together enough deposits to buy a single egg or stick of butter at the corner market when the food stamps ran out kind of poor. And yet I was still privileged that when I went into the corner mart, the owner didn’t follow me around afraid I was going to steal something because of my skin color. I was privileged in the network of friends and family that allowed me access to jobs I might not have otherwise gotten. I was privileged in many ways that had nothing to do with wealth.
I will also not assume that the fact I recognize I have privilege will instantly make me aware of all the ways in which I am privileged. That is the insidious nature of privilege, it is invisible to those who have it. And I will not assume that my recognition of my privilege means others do not have a right to point it out and be angry about it, or say things that make me uncomfortable.
I have privilege — unasked for, but granted all the same, and it is my ongoing work to recognize where such privilege exists, and be vocal about it.
2) I WILL ASSUME NO RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT IS A VALID ISSUE OR WHAT IS A VALID REACTION
I recognize that only those who are on the receiving end of discrimination and prejudice, inequality and intolerance, have the knowledge and authority to say whether something related to such negatives is a valid issue or not, and whether their anger over it is valid or not, and when or whether the issue has been adequately addressed.
I also recognize that I do not have the authority to judge their reaction to any such issue, to declare it too hot or too cold or even just right.
My authority and rights begin and end with how I, being who I am, can help to address the root cause of the issue through my own choices, words and actions.
3) I WILL BE AN ALLY WITHOUT EXPECTING SPECIAL TREATMENT, INCLUSION OR UNDERSTANDING
I recognize that just because I have decided to try and be an ally to People of Color (and other gender, sexual orientation, and ability) that does not mean I am in any way included in their group, or have earned any rights to special treatment or inclusion.
I recognize that no matter how much I read or research or hear or learn, I will never understand on a personal level the full truth and extent of how the inequality, exclusion, discrimination, lack of self-determination or lack of access to power feels or affects those I attempt to ally with.
I will also not expect comfort or easing of my “white male guilt” by anyone. If comments or criticism resulting from anger over an issue of inequality or discrimination or injustice make me uncomfortable or for some reason feel guilty on behalf of, I will not express that fact to those who are commenting or criticizing as I do not want to put them in a position of choosing between censoring themselves and apologizing to me (which they should not have to) or ignoring my feelings (and appearing uncaring though they are clearly passionate individuals).
In fact, I fully expect to make mistakes, and for the very persons I was attempting to ally with to call me on it and even throw angry words my way. Because they have a right to their anger, and that is part of what my alliance supports. And I will simply apologize, evaluate their comments, and implement whatever changes I can to not repeat the offense.
I will also not expect anyone to educate me except myself (which is, ironically, one of the things I had to be educated on). Yes, it is wonderful when someone who is Other shares their experiences and insights by their own initiative and desire, so that I can better understand the ways in which their life is different from mine, and ways in which I can avoid perpetuating the inequalities and injustices. But I will not assume anyone is obligated or sees it as in their interest to do so, especially in response to a question that I ask.
The information is out there for anyone who takes the time to search for it. Such as here: http://theangryblackwoman.com/required-reading/
And finally, I recognize that Persons of Color and other groups I ally with need to have access to their own spaces of safety and comfort, be it a conversational circle, or an online space, and when I recognize that such a space has formed I will not assume I am “okay” to join that space or conversation just because I am an ally.
4) I WILL WORK TOWARDS EQUALITY NOT A MELTING POT OR “COLOR-BLIND” SOCIETY
I recognize that different races and ethnicities, colors, genders, orientations and alignments, and disabilities have cultural identities that are all equally valid to my own. I will not work towards a society where people are “blind” to such differences, because that holds the danger of trying to move the Other towards the American white male hetero “norm”.
I will instead seek opportunities to ensure equal access to power for all, to address problems of powerlessness or dependency — to help white males yield preferential access to power, and all cultures to be equally respected and capable of self-determination.
5) I WILL TAKE ACTON ON THESE DECLARATIONS
Here are some of the concrete actions I will take in order to support my declarations:
As a Consumer:
I will do my best to purchase products, and support media, from companies that support diversity and equality (and by not spending money on those that very clearly discriminate). I will do so by seeking out and maintaining a list of companies that discriminate, as well as companies that promote and support diversity and equality, and determining in advance viable positive options in my area. For example:
Example Lists of Companies that Discriminate:
http://www.equalityforum.com/fortune500
http://pinkpanthers.tumblr.com/post/618605551/boycott-these-anti-gay-companies-do-not-give-them-your
And I will ensure a portion of my money goes to causes that further the principles stated above, for example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_rights_organizations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_rights_organisations
As a Citizen:
I will use voting records on issues of equality and civil rights to help determine my vote, including:
http://www.naacp.org/pages/report-cards
http://www.civilrights.org/advocacy/voting/
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/congressional-scorecard-for-the-111th-congress
I will also support initiatives and “contact your representative” drives for laws that promote equality, and against laws that erode or remove it.
As a Writer and Reader of Speculative Fiction
I will consciously work to make my writing inclusive, to ensure the worlds I create reflect the rich diversity of our world. I will do so by challenging my first choices for cultural settings, and the race, gender, orientation and alignment, and ability of the characters, understanding such first choices may be conditioned and derivative based on the works I have read or viewed before that lacked diversity or promoted stereotypes.
I will seek out and purchase books by Authors of Color, by LBGT authors, and female authors when those books are of genuine interest to me (e.g. of a genre or topic I enjoy). For a starting list, see the Carl Brandon Society resources page.
I will use whatever “platform” I have to help promote the works of such professional authors if the work is of good quality even if the works are not of interest to me personally.
I will support organizations such as the Carl Brandon Society: http://www.carlbrandon.org/index.html
And when I have opportunities to educate or speak on the craft of writing (e.g. as a workshop speaker, on convention panels, etc.) I will encourage other writers to do the same, and encourage them to use resources such as “Writing the Other” by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward: http://www.cynthiaward.com/Writing_The_Other.html
In My Societal Roles
I will speak out against and confront discrimination or prejudice, whether it come from strangers, coworkers, friends, or family. I will do so directly, and immediately.
On Social Media:
I will share and promote information that supports awareness of these issues, and of opportunities to address them, and encourage others to be allies.
And I will friend/ follow/ accept the same from people of other beliefs and viewpoints, and engage in civil discussions with them. Because posting about injustice and discrimination to a circle of friends who largely all feel exactly the same does little to educate or enlighten anyone. And closing out dissenting or misinformed voices would only make it easy for me to forget the degree of ignorance, misinformation, and hatred that truly exists.
IN CONCLUSION:
This is my attempt to go beyond saying “inequality sucks” to clearly stating how someone in my position can actually do something about it. I know I will stumble and sometimes fail to follow all of these. But I will also continue to try, and strive to be and do better.
It is possible I’ve made one or more mistakes of exclusion or terminology; phrased something from a position of privilege and ignorance (since it is the very nature of such things that I’m not always aware of how it shapes my thoughts and words); and overlooked obvious actions I could and should take, obvious resources I should have listed, etc. I welcome all feedback, recommendations, and corrections (preferably in a civil manner). I’m sure as I receive feedback, and continue to grow in my understanding and experience, that I will make changes to this post.
Love,
Randy Henderson
