The U.S. Is Built on Racial Privilege

George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. His last words, “I can’t breathe” has now entered all of our breaths as we try to take in air that he was neglected. His death ignited a slew of protests across the U.S., from major west coast cities, to the east coast, peoples’ cries for justice fill the air. The echoes of state side protests can be heard across the globe as advocates for justice march in the streets of London and Berlin. We can no longer be silent to police brutality against our black brothers and sisters. The system has to be changed, checked and rechecked! We are calling for justice. We are calling for equality. We are calling for equity. We are calling for freedom of oppression.

Despite the fairytale stories, while it is true that all men are created equal, not ALL men are treated equal – because of racial privilege.

To anyone who has been living under a rock, racial tensions are embedded into the very fabric of this country. Despite the fairytale stories, while it is true that all men are created equal, not ALL men are treated equal – because of racial privilege. Let us remember race in the U.S. Let us remember the inhumane treatment of our fellow human beings in the country.

Let us remember the atrocities that have spanned centuries in this country and the consequences which are still unfolding today. Let us remember the battles, the wars, that were a direct result from slavery and oppression. Let us remember privilege. In fact, the very reason black lives matter is because people have forgotten that black lives were neglected this privilege.

Privilege: Largely unearned, social, political and economic benefits given to members of specific social groups based on identity.

They don’t understand the pain of desperate treatment based on the color of their skin.

For those who are not people of color, their privilege can be taken for granted. They may not understand what they have – or even consider their life privileged. They don’t understand the pain of desperate treatment based on the color of their skin. Privilege is second nature, like breathing. They may not understand what they have is so special.

For those people of color who claim that racial injustice is a fabricated mentality, they do not know what it feels like to live with the privilege of a white or white passing person . They do not know what they’re missing so they may believe they aren’t missing anything at all. Maybe they have have internalized racism and justified it so that they may never have to admit they have been treated unfairly.

Think about your privilege:

I have privilege because I can do all of these things without thinking twice about it…

I can go birding (#ChristianCooper).

I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery).

I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson).

I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride).

I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark).

I can leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards).

I can play loud music (#JordanDavis).

I can sell CD’s (#AltonSterling).

I can sleep (#AiyanaJones)

I can walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown).

I can play cops and robbers (#TamirRice).

I can go to church (#Charleston9).

I can walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).

I can hold a hair brush while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell).

I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant).

I can get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland).

I can lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile).

I can break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).

I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) .

I can have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).

I can read a book in my own car (#KeithScott).

I can be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).

I can decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese).

I can ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans).

I can cash a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).

I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo).

I can run (#WalterScott).

I can breathe (#EricGarner).

I can live (#FreddieGray).

I CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED. (#GeorgeFloyd)”