I STRUGGLE TO PAY MY BILLS.
HOW CAN I HAVE “WHITE PRIVILEGE?”
White privilege doesn’t mean you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. It means if you’re a White person walking around with one in your hand, a police officer is likely to assume it’s yours, while if you’re Black, you might be asked to prove you didn’t steal it. That’s White privilege and it’s unfair. We often speak of White privilege in terms of police interactions far more serious than this, but it can be an element in all aspects of life, from education to job promotions and pretty much everything else. White people can be treated unfairly, too, sure. But more often than not, it’s People of Color who are victims of injustice simply because of their skin color. We’re working to fix that. Nobody loses when all people are equally privileged. That is at the heart of the American Dream.
Frequently Asked Questions
DON’T ALL LIVES MATTER? Yes, absolutely — and that’s our whole point in continuing this vigil. But too often, Black people are not treated as if they matter as fully and fairly as Whites, and that is sadly true in almost every aspect of American life. That’s what our vigil is about, so when people respond to our presence by saying “All lives matter,” we say “All lives can’t matter until Black lives matter, too.”
DO YOU SUPPORT THOSE VIOLENT BLM PROTESTS I’VE SEEN? We do not. We embrace the powerful slogan “Black Lives Matter,” but we are not affiliated with any other group using it. Our vigils are peaceful and family-friendly. We have no connection to Marxism or any other political ideology other than equal justice under law — a signature concept on which our nation was founded, as outlined in our Constitution.
BUT YOU’RE ANTI-POLICE! Not at all. Every community needs good law enforcement. Funding should be available to give our police better support in aspects of their work that too often end in tragedy, with People of Color more harshly affected than other citizens. A record of racism should disqualify any applicant for any level of service in our criminal justice system, including police work. Better training in cultural sensitivity, de-escalation of potentially dangerous situations, and support from skilled mental health professionals are only a few life-saving resources for which police departments should receive funding, for their own safety and that of the public they serve.
WHAT DO YOU DO BESIDES HOLD UP SIGNS? We advocate for racial equity and justice, as all American citizens should. We encourage personal growth in our awareness of racial disparity and challenge it with love whenever we encounter it. We end every vigil with a pledge to do one thing in the coming week to bring forth needed change. Our sponsoring organizations offer many avenues for this social and personal action. Click the ACTION banner below.
