Dear “White Allies”
Your hesitation could be hindering the fight against injustice. Be better, please.
The following story is no award-winning original screenplay. As sickening as it sounds, it is a narrative that is rather common in our American society. A black person loses their job because a white person mutters the words, “I am now uncomfortable working with __________.” This narrative is truly a disease, a bubonic plague. And yet it is unbearably common with no cure in immediate sight. But first, let’s backtrack shall we?
A black person loses their job because a white person mutters the words, “I am now uncomfortable working with __________.”
Side note, I will be leaving out names, for protective reasons of course.
I recently worked for a bookstore in San Francisco where the majority of employees were white (Hah! I just physically chuckled because I pretty much just described every single bookstore in San Francisco). Now, one would assume that a workplace that contained some of the most well-read, intelligent, poetic and eloquent people that one can encounter would also be a work environment that knows how to treat employees of marginalized communities with the respect and the dignity that we are so often denied in this country.
But oh, how the book from the top shelf fell right on my innocent lil AZN face. That is not to say that all of my former coworkers were horrendous. In fact, a majority of them I love very dearly. “White allies”, they were and still are.
Fast forward to an email thread. An email thread where my coworker (who was black) and I were debating with the owners, manager and other coworkers (one of which who had a history of being both racially insensitive and misogynistic to other workers) about the decision of giving a white-passing ex-border patrol agent author a platform over the families and individuals that were actually being affected by the everyday actions of the U.S. border patrol.
The debate at hand was also about how the bookstore and its management had proven time and time again that they prioritized white voices over those of color. Yet another white-passing murderer gets to be heard, over the non white-passing family and friends of the murdered.
“But hey, the murderer’s grandmother is Latina! And he wrote a book and has a cool hipster mustache. He is going to provide important and new insight to why the Latinx community is being hunted!”
This is the white response. This is the white response to a black worker, who’s people are targeted and murdered by a systemically flawed policing institution, who dares to stand up and criticize the decisions of white management. This is the white response that directly reinforces the idea that killing is acceptable so long as the killer is employed by the U.S. government. This is the white response that proves that some white people, no matter what their supposed good intentions may be, still do not understand the bigger picture and the plight of people of color.
Now comes the zinger because who doesn’t love some ridiculousness thrown into every day life. The racist and misogynistic white coworker viewed the black worker’s words as an attack and singles them out, files a complaint, leading to the black worker to be written up (even though I also backed up my coworker, was just as vocal and used foul language, I was not written up. They saw me, an Asian, as a model minority that will just fall back in line).
That’s all it took. Disregard all of the reports and notes inside said white coworker’s file about his involvement in multiple accounts of racial harassment and the negligence of management to properly deal with such an employee. Disregard that the other white coworkers that were involved in the debate did not feel threatened. But all it takes is one.
One white voice. A white worker feels threatened by a black worker’s presence, so the trigger is pulled without hesitation. That’s all it takes, a white perceived threat. One has to ask why the trigger isn’t pulled on a white worker even when multiple workers of color feel threatened?
My black coworker quits (I mean, who can blame them).
Now, you may be countering with, “Well, they quit out of their own volition. They did not ‘lose their job’.” No. Why must a person of color, who works at a place that has shown itself repeatedly to be racially biased against POC, be faulted for choosing to leave such a work environment, especially given the circumstances listed above? Why is it never the company that is faulted? They must know this type of bias is unethical, yet they get a free pass. Food for thought.
The following 2 days, another coworker and I also quit in solidarity. My reasoning being that I was not going to work for a bookstore that continued to reinforce the sick narratives and the dreadful stereotypes that this country forces onto people of color. I was not going to let them do what they did to my coworker, and not bear any consequence. I mean, can you imagine? A bookstore in “progressive” San Francisco, who’ve thunk?
But what was even more disappointing than all of this, was the fact that many of our other white coworkers, “white allies”, had agreed with and supported our stance on the debate and ultimately failed to act. Emails were drafted with great intention as the initial email thread was transpiring. Emails that could’ve balanced this battle. They could’ve even saved a black person’s job.
“White allies”, who have voiced their opinions before on a separate occasion, had written these long and well thought out emails. Emails of support drafted, none sent. The reinforcements never came. I have learned that one must have courage to hit that send button. Why waste time pouring out your voice with the intent to support and proofreading and stirring over an email that will never see the light of digital day.
Emails of support drafted, none sent.
These “white allies” were hesitant. Allies, seeing two individuals surrounded and battered, unsure to advance. Because they felt, “I support you, but this is a racial issue and I’m not really an expert on this.” Hesitation. “I support you, but it seems more personal for you guys.” Hesitation. “I support you, but my white ally voice might hijack the conversation.” Hesitation. “I support you, but my email and argument need to be proofread.” Hesitation. Doubt. Unsuredness. Excuses. Hesitation.
Let me be completely frank, “white allies.” You have a voice. You have used your voice multiple times, I have seen it. I have heard it. Yes, your white voice has the power to hurt people of color, with and without intention. Your white voice is unfortunately louder in this country than those of color. Your white voice is a curse, but it can also be a blessing.
If you use your white voice to support, then it will be heard. If you use your white voice to fight for people of color and other marginalized groups, it will be heard.
Your white silence only contributes towards and reinforces oppression, that is your curse.
I then advise you, do not hesitate to use your voice when you know you are using it to combat evil. If your fellow white people say something racially insensitive, do not hesitate. If your fellow white people say something sexually insensitive, do not hesitate. If your fellow white people are using their words to hurt, objectify, dehumanize, do not hesitate.
Hesitation is your white privilege and I am taking that away. Yes, one needs to muster up the courage to use one’s voice. But, if we people of color, who have much more at stake and are much more in risk of danger, are courageous enough to use our voices, then you must follow our lead.
Let the story above be a lesson. It is ok if you screw it up the first time, just promise to do better next time. This is a battle that people of color cannot afford to lose. We do not have the privilege to take ourselves out of this battle. So if you are going to be an ally, then be an active and daring one. Be a better ally.
Thank you so much for reading my feels! I would love to listen to your thoughts and please, feel free to tell me your story in the comments. Let’s all vibe on another level shall we?
