Letter for Change

           I am writing this to express my concern for my children.  That when they read this, if they do not listen to what I say when I am around, that they will have a better understanding of what it means to be black in the United States of America.  A country that immigrants run to in search of equality and freedom but in reality is a brewing pot of inequalities and privileges created for races to be unofficially superior over these races we identify as “minorities.” As it is today, people are naïve to this ideal of white privilege.  Either they wish to acknowledge because they themselves are afraid to admit to this unethical structure of society or they are ignorant to the issue and wish to remain blind, neither aggravating nor benefiting the issue. Hopefully their generation has inspirational activist like Time Wise and Peggy McIntosh that are confident enough in their stance to go against the privileged race to speak for us who would most often find our-selves voiceless on these issues.  White privilege is an ongoing problem that resembles the controversy surrounding the original ideals for the United States, being the American Creed vs. the American Dilemma.  Without addressing the struggle directly, it will be impossible to propose any solutions that will be effective in ensuring that blacks can live out their traditional principals and live up to the expectations of all those oppressed before them. 

            Much like Peggy McIntosh and her thoughts in her article Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege.”  My children have a understanding of their history and the history of the races needs to be brought out into the light.  If they were more willing to the history around them, they might have grasped why it was so easy whites to have this privilege with no second thought to it.  For years other races have been placed under them while they created the criteria for how to become white.  If only they had read “The Common Elements of Oppression” maybe they would see how the black race is not capable of becoming the dominant race until they gain economic power and begin to work together as an entire race.  “In order for these institutions to be controlled by a single group of people, there must be economic power.”    These children but realize that white privilege allows the white race to accomplish, gain, and receive “treats” socially and economically within society.  They are “more qualified for jobs”, not viewed as a “treat” to police and are not judged due to pre-conceived notions of what whites should be.   I guess my children should be happy that they can participate in privileges like Affirmative action and have a greater eligibility for welfare.  Who wouldn’t want those benefits right?  Why is it so difficult for the African American race to be viewed as superior force when they only make up 13% of the United States population? Is it really possible for us to take over every institution completely?

            Maybe if we allowed ourselves to use the Afrocentric and Empowerment theories , the African American race could stop sitting idly by while they reinforce the acceptability of white privilege.  African Americans need to see themselves as competent, valuable as individuals and members of the white race.  They are just as smart, ambitious, and social as whites and it’s time they realize that the only thing that is determining where they stand socially and economically is the color of their skin.  There is no reason blacks should feel as if they can’t reach a spot in society because of economic or social factors.  So you have to use government assistance to get ahead in live…isn’t that what the government expects you to do anyways.  We need these children of our future generation to adapt the Nguzo Saba principals, & particularly focus on collective work and responsibility, purpose and especially faith. Although blacks are an oppressed race, they somehow have always been able to look within themselves as a whole to find something great about them as a community and build rituals that positively demonstrate their ability to step over adversity just a little for the next generation to carry on the race. 

            I am speaking directly to the future generation now.  Rhetorically expressing my desire for them to take these principals and build on them.  Continue to further your education, so that you may gain access to these high institutions and open the doors for others of your race to follow after.  Join forces with your community to ensure stability within before you attempt to tackle the outside.  Lastly, getting more people to acknowledge and think about white privilege will maybe lead them to re-evaluate their situation and maybe make a conscious effort to adjust this system in small various ways.  The needs of the black race are great, but the efforts of an educated, driven, and united race, with the goal to destroy white privilege can be much greater.