I Am Privileged
I live a life of constant privilege. I am seen as a white, straight, cisgender man, so my entire intersectionality is privileged. I feel responsible for the power that comes with this, so I try to use my voice for love, hope, and peace, because I’m able to, and because I feel the world needs more of this.
The world also needs allies to speak out for those who have been silenced throughout history. I could never understand how it feels to live in a system that so clearly devalues your life, and to feel this every single day. I can only listen, learn, and try to use my voice to help others be heard. I can’t keep avoiding these issues so many are facing for the sake of only spreading positivity. I have to start speaking out for others on how I really feel.
A Revolution Needs to Come
The revolts that we’re seeing shouldn’t be a surprise. So much injustice has led to this moment. This is what happens when peaceful protests have continually failed against hostile powers. Now, in a pandemic, with so many underpaid now unemployed, after years of corporations/politicians blatantly lying and ignoring the needs of so many, aggressive law enforcers attacking instead of protecting, and media working everyday to build panic and anger, don’t expect things to go “back to normal.” I pray that we move forward. I feel a revolution coming.
I have hope that future generations will see more justice than we’ve ever seen, just as we’ve seen more justice than generations before us. Systemic prejudice, police brutality, corporate greed and corrupt politicians; none of this is new, yet with cameras in our pockets and new connections to share our perspectives, we’re seeing it like never before.
More lives die than the ones in front of the camera or on the news, but seeing unjustified, slow, painful murder directly in front of our eyes is so powerful. It’s symbolic for how over-privileged powers have treated the under-privileged for far too long. Law enforcement isn’t providing peace, it’s protecting a prejudiced, unjust system. Imagine what a more peaceful system for all would look like. In this moment of history, with so many tired of those in power and desperate for change, I feel a revolution needs to come.
Peacefully Create Powerful Changes
A violent system is pushing people into acts of violence. Insulting victims doesn’t help change the harmful system. If we’re trying to live peacefully, how can we help influence powerful changes?
What’s deemed most powerful in our society? Money. Wherever it goes, support follows. Know that environmental justice and social justice are entirely interconnected. Cheap food, products and services force costs onto others, and communities of color are most affected by this. If you can afford it, support responsible businesses and the work of marginalized groups. If not, try to avoid supporting what is cheap and you don’t need. The government may take our money without us having a say in how it’s spent, but what’s most important now is that we focus on what we can control.
Thank you to everyone who is supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. We need to keep this going. How will we achieve systemic change? How will the under-privileged be able to share their perspectives with the over-privileged? How will over-privileged people like myself support the under-privileged? I don’t know the answers, I can only use what I’ve learned to try to help create a future with more equality and justice for all.
In these difficult times, while there are so many reasons to feel enraged, there are also reasons to feel thankful for the many humans showing humanity. No matter what you look like or what you believe, try to feel hope for a better future for all, share encouragement for helping others, and be the change that we need to see.
