White privilege.
Many as you read those two words together will have emotions well up, likely ones that are not joyful, not full of love or understanding.
You will likely want to lash out, to dismiss such a notion in this land of opportunity we call America.
Go ahead. Feel it.
But I ask you also to then try and reflect differently, once your choppy and angry waters calm.
Put aside all the years of pre-conceived assumptions, of ingrained beliefs, of yeah... prejudices.
Read the rest of this with a blank slate, with a clear mind, free of preconceptions. And when you read the stories, don’t let all those emotions overwhelm you, instead keep your mind in neutral.
Ready?
Derrick Mason, former NFL player, grew up in a good environment, good income but was told by his father, whenever he drove anywhere to wear a lanyard around his neck. And in that lanyard, keep his license, his Proof of insurance and vehicle registration. All in fear of not reaching for this information and being shot.
A friend - a middle-agree white - recently was in Detroit, around 12:30 a.m. and was driving with several young black athletes, who he does financial advising for. A cop pulled them over, and the first thing this young black man did upon pulling over, rolled down his window and showed his hands.
My friend - sitting in the back seat, said, “What the hell are you doing?” The young black male said he always does this as a precaution.
My friend was stunned at the ugly and aggressive tone the police had with the young black male.
Soon, an officer tapped hard on the back window, when it rolled down and saw my white friend, again my white friend was stunned at how the tone changed.
The office said, ‘Oh you’re with them? Ok, y’all slow down and go on.”
A co-worker was in Guatemala, pre-marriage, and was out dancing, and asked a cute girl to dance.
Quickly, a friend jumped in and said, “What are you doing? We don’t dance with girls from that part of town!”
Recently I was discussing racism with a long-time best friend, and I made the comment how whites often can be racist.
Well, my friend, who’s Filipino, said I should say Caucasian, not white. because many Filipinos - who are technically white - don’t want to be lumped into white category.
Stop. Be still. Think. Feel.
This dear friend also had an amazing fact, one that lines up with the entire story that we are all children of God, from the same image, the same blood.
A history professor explained that we all came from an original man, very likely a dark-skinned ala Hebrew/Middle Eastern. But as time passed, many of these peoples spread to other northern regions, ones with less sun and less need for melanin, therefore becoming more.... yes, white.
And the greatest man in history, Jesus, very likely was dark skinned, and faced the ultimate discrimination and hatred, yet walked in love, in humility and forgiveness.
Even upon a cross, his skin and muscles literally falling off his bones from scourging, He looked past all the hatred, the divisiveness, the discrimination, the persecution, and said, “Forgive them Father, for they know what they do.”
Well, as a white man with privilege, I need to feel my brother’s pain and fear. In some ways, I am the Roman soldier, holding the flagrum. I am the Pharisees, standing on my pedestal preaching my truths.
I need to walk with more forgiveness and understanding. I have not one iota of understanding of the systemic fear my fellow brothers of a different skin color have experienced. NONE.
My wise old-soul son, Kyle, profoundly said last night,
“If my brother hurts, I need to hurt with him. If my brother rejoices, I will rejoice with him.”
Lord, I pray these words touched someone, gave them new eyes, new heart and more love.
And as I end this blog, this song comes on, lol, because God always shows up with His wisdom:
I’m learning to trust you, even when I can’t see it.
And even in suffering, I have to believe it.
If you say it’s wrong, then I’ll say no.
If you say release, I’m letting go.
If you say be still, I will wait.
I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me.
- Spirit Lead Me, Influence Music
