The Reckoning For White People Who Don’t Realize Dismantling Racism Is Going To Mean Giving Something Up

Jun 3, 2020

“Our racially violent patterns will not break if white people do not give something up.” – Emily Volz

That sentence cut me like a knife this week when I read it. As I watch White people fumble around trying to grapple with the depth of institutionalized racism in this country, myself included… I’m feeling a lot of emotions.

  • Grief
  • Shame
  • Guilt
  • Outrage
  • Anger
  • Frustration
  • Fear
  • Overwhelm
  • Paralysis

I ask myself, “Why did it take such a horrifying murder to rip the scales off of our eyes to see this level of injustice in this way?” As I scour for books and blogs and people to read and learn from, I can’t help but notice the dates on the posts.

  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019

These people have been laboring for this cause way before the world was paying this level of attention, and how it must feel like a slap in the face that now all of a sudden… when the country is doing everything it can to prove their non-racism… that it’s trendy to be anti-racist. That’s what my sister said to me the other day. It’s trendy and that feels horrifying in and of itself.

She’s right.

That probably is igniting more anger and outrage and trauma among Black people because it feels like when business brand and reputation is at stake, now everyone cares. Fuck off is what I’d say if I were them. That anger is 100% justified.

It’s hard to figure out who’s just saving face and who is really waking up. I’d argue you probably aren’t going to always be able to tell right now, now while emotions are still so hot. It won’t become obvious until the news cycle passes, and the people who are doing the work will continue to, and the ones who weathered the impossibly charged emotional storm – get to go back to being comfortable.

But back to that first quote above.

Dismantling racism will come at a cost. A cost of power, of wealth, of opportunity. As long as there is a hierarchy designed to keep White people at the top, there will be a fight to redistribute that equity.  It demands it. And the ones who will fight the hardest to stay at the top are White people. Which means the only way it changes is if enough White people get disgusted enough at the injustice to dismantle it.

The realization is that in order to move against that tide, the individual work each of us must do will be costly, uncomfortable, and will change our way of seeing the world forever.

For those of you who paralyzed with what to say and do, I offer you this.

Fear is paralyzing you. The fear of being wrong. The fear of being racist. The fear of appearing racist. The fear of hurting people unintentionally.

That fear is driving you to:

  1. Hurry up and add Black people to your lineup on your summit
  2. Hurry up and make a statement before your silence is seen as complicit
  3. Hurry up and attack other White people for getting it wrong because then it distracts from your work
  4. Hurry up and do anything and everything to avoid facing the truth… White people are born into a privileged society where White Supremacy is at work, and we are all racist

And no matter how you choose to respond, you’re not going to get it right. But if you’re okay with that, then facing that fear head on might actually bring you the real freedom you need. I’ve learned that when I am in pain, I have to be careful not to solve the problem because I simply want the pain to go away. Sit with your pain, and see what it teaches you.

That’s what I’m doing.

I’m grieving my ignorance. I’m angry that it took so much for me to see it.

White people are going to have to give something up. It’s true.

The first thing is your moral high ground. And when you do, when you stop fighting against the fear of being misunderstood or labeled, you’ll actually be able to get to work.

I gave up the fear of being racist + privileged because I am. And trying to avoid it only distracts me from the work God is asking me to do.

Last thing…

The amount of grace and compassion shown to me this week by Black people can only be described as a God experience. I feel Jesus in their responses. Helpful. Generous. Patient. Even in the midst of their own pain. I thank you for showing me something you didn’t have to show me. Something that wasn’t your responsibility to do but you did anyway.

Thank you Kevin Laylor, Michelle Hughes, Michelle Perry, Myown Holmes Carin Clark, LaToya Russell, Erica Johnson, Chido Samantha, Titilayo Tinubu,  Shereese Floyd-Thompson, Rose Guthrie, Traci Green, Sue Denis, Aurora Gregory, Lakshmia Marie, Na’Kole Watson, Paulette Harper, Isi Aladejobi Shola Abidoye. I’m sure I’m forgetting people so I will most likely (and certainly) add to this list, but every single one of these people have either reached out to me privately or took time to share their perspective and I’m so appreciative.

There is freedom from fear when you stop running from the truth. Give up the fear. The moral high ground. The worry that you’ll get it wrong. That’s not the point. You’ll get it wrong and when you’re really free, you’ll be okay because you know that’s part of the work.

Grace and peace. This song is on repeat in my office as I pray for this broken country that Jesus would bring righteous redemption, justice, and healing in our land. We need it so badly. I pray it over every man, woman, and child standing for justice. May His favor be upon you.

xx

 

Julie Chenell initials

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Get in touch! I teach strategic business growth tacticss for everyday people.

2 Comments

  1. Samantha Gooden

    Julie; thank you for this message – you brought me time tears again! Just hearing your clarion call is a wake up call for me – I try to put the shoe on the other foot and wonder, what much white privilege feel like? If you’ve grown up with it just being “life” for you and been isolated from acts of racism – what is that like? Thank you for sharing your journey or enlightenment with us and sharing the beautiful song

  2. Paulette

    Julie,

    Thank you for speaking truth in a time when some can’t handle it. Yes, the lessons are hard, the conversations are needed but true change comes when white people see us out of the same eyes that see them…. God’s. You’re so right you have to give something up. It’s required in order to move ahead. White people we are no threat to you. White people we don’t want to take anything away from you. God has created enough $$$, resources, opportunities for everyone to enjoy without feeling that we’re going to take yours. After all, it really does belong to God. Fear keeps you from embracing me, fear keeps you from loving me, fear keeps you from giving me a chance, fear keeps you for speaking up for me, fear keeps you from change. True change comes from inside. A heart that God can touch, is one that lays it all down and admits some ugly truths. Until there is true transformation from the inside out, we’ll be addressing these same issues over and over again. Because they will not go away. Julie, it’s easy to love when I don’t see you as my enemy but as a human. I love you for being bold and strong and leading the way by your open transparency. I truly hope other white people do the same.

    Amos 3:3 Living Bible For how can we walk together with your sins between us?

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