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| White Silence |
Come to Lake Merritt this Sunday and join us as we make noise to honor black lives lost to racist violence. Bring an instrument, drum, keys, pots, whatever to break the silence as white and non-black American allies.
Our silence in light of tragedies like Charleston implies we are complicit with this deeply embedded and deadly racism. The time is now to demonstrate that this is not true, you do not need to be black to be outraged at the execution of humans because of the color of their skin.
This event is organized by two lifelong Oakland residents who are white and non-black allies.We believe that white supremacy is a white problem and this is a call for white and non-black allies to think about how to dismantle the system.
WOW, what a statement!
I was proud to see such sentiments among whites in such large numbers. The organizers of this demonstration thought maybe 20 people would show up, but they were surprised to see perhaps 100. Many whites are wary of such movements because they think it means "annihilation of the write race". Some assume it means excluding or marginalizing whites. Others suggests that the slogan indicates that "all whites are racists and responsible for the oppression of everyone else." In fact the slogan, "white silence means violence", recognizes the central role that whites play in the race drama of America and that they have a central role to play in the solutions to that deadly drama. It calls them to speak out against the phenomenon of oppression in all its forms, and especially as it is manifested in the actions of racists in all of their configurations.
People don't make major changes to
their world perspectives, policies and actions unless it benefits them
somehow.
The difficulty in getting whites to participate in anti-oppression movements is that most see no benefit to themselves. And That includes ALL of us. However, when we standby and witness the oppression of "the other" in silence, it can come back to haunt us.
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| Rev. Martin Niemoller |
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me
Later his sentiments were repeated in many variations in speeches, interviews and articles by himself and others. Here is one.
If we know, then we must fight for your life as though it were our own…. For if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night." (James Baldwin, 1971, Open Letter to My Sister Angela Davis).
In the spirit of the original composition by Rev. Niemoller I offer this poem.
I was Silent When You Cried
Marquita L. Byrd
Then an outdoor citizen asked for somewhere to stay. I turned my head, didn't say a word, refused to look into her face.
Baltimore denounced police brutality. I turned off the TV because the police weren't shooting me.
When Queers at Stonewall were beaten in the streets: I said nothing because "I thought I was free".
Disabled people shouted "this is not fair." I held my tongue because I just knew, I was already there.
Then, a mosque burned down to the ground. I was not Muslim, I didn't care.
I heard the elders had to choose, medicine or food. I was quiet because I just wasn't in the mood.
When "the other" pleaded "somebody help" I stood still, I said nothing, I refused to move.
Now, I live from paycheck to paycheck, homelessness knocking at my door. My gay child bullied at the school door. I can't get into my apartment because I can't walk the stairs, found my parents eating cat food because no food stamps were there.
Yesterday I thought, "I'll just let everybody be". Today, I am scared because there is no one to speak for me.*
White silence means violence because whites are the largest segment of the population at about 69%. When the majority remains silent in the face of violence they, in fact, give their consent for it to continue. The social ills facing people of colour and other oppressed groups don't stay in those groups or communities.
- Now millions of Americans are calling for affordable housing.
- About 20 million are fighting hunger and near homelessness while working for minimum wages.
- While the government says the unemployment rate is about 5.6% that is not the lived experience of the people: millions have given up looking for work.
- Based on statistics from Fatal Encounters at Fast Company, there are about 1,110 police homicides per year. African Americans account for about 3 in 10 and whites account for about 5 in 10.
- Drugs were allowed to inundate neighborhoods of colour and now virtually every family has been negatively impacted by drug use.
When Whites remain silent about social ills because they are happening to people of colour, the problems still end up at their doorsteps one way or another. That is why it is important for Whites to participate in movements to fight the "isms": racism, sexism, homonegativity, ageism, religious intolerance, classism and ageism. All of these issues impact Whites more than any other group because numerically and percentage wise they are the majority of Americans.
Whiles Whites are in the majority in 2015, according to the US Census Bureau, by 2050 they will be in the minority. The racial origins of Americans will be from anywhere other than Europe. So when Whites advocate for the rights of others they advocate for themselves.
*Feel free to use with proper citation.
Byrd, M. (2015). I was silent when you cried. Culture chat: living in a multicultural society.
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| Marquita Byrd, Ph.D. |
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