Greetings Bantu Kelani,
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. I hope you feel well soon. I have read you for years and I very much appreciate your insight.
I think you are right about whites being more receptive of hearing things from fellow whites, I have been thinking about that a lot lately….as I have seen on this very board. Black people who have said essentially the same thing as I have are called “racist”, etc …
For question one and two,
I feel that all of us whites are racist as long as white supremacy is in place.
For question three,
We can become more aware of the ways of our arrogance and we can learn how white privilege works in our society and work at changing it like you said, by going into our white communities and talking to fellow whites. It is a continual internal work as well as trying to educate other whites. As I talk to fellow whites, I realize there is sometimes only a level to which they comprehend or are open to listening. I feel like it has been said on here many time before, It takes experiences to learn.
I get concerned thinking of white organization to address white supremacy, because I have yet to meet one of us who is arrogant free; I am concerned that within time it would dissolve into yet another feel good missionary trip. Still I have hope that this could maybe be worked towards by talking to fellow whites who are aware of white arrogance and privilege.
I feel that we whites can support reparations, by making aware the history and responsibility, and the current lawsuits to other whites. We also individually need to pay reparations to black organizations that are working towards restoration of the black community. We whites need to support the fair distribution of resources. We need to be conscientious about what we buy. As I reflect on what I feel I know of value, principles of justice,truth and right, I realize that most of these principles or insights I have learned from black people. So again, as it has been said on these series of Trinicenter websites before, we need to support qualified blacks to positions of leadership.
We as whites have to learn that our humanness is about how we carry ourselves. We have to look at ourselves through the context of the world. We have to see the horrific degradation committed world-wide to ensure our comfort, and really feel it!….really feel the whole totality of what “our white freedom” buys, and get Outraged by the reality! It is in a way that us white people are numb, so disconnected.
I definitely don’t know all the answers and look forward to this further discussion.