Written by Latesha Allen
Lucy is one of my best friends and has always supported me in everything and so there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to write a piece for her blog when she asked me - especially about a topic that is so important to me and that as a friendship group, we’ve been able to discuss freely but the conversations aren’t always easy for everyone.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death in America, the treatment of black Americans and black people globally, has become harder for people to ignore. Many black Americans have taken to the streets, to protest and it’s been great to see some of their non-black peers in their communities join them. I’ve heard a lot of people saying that black people need to leave the past in the past or not let history define our futures. It’s outrageous that anybody can really think that the things that black people have been enduring for hundreds of years up to present day, can really be called history or the past, when we still bear the weight of racism, injustice and are bound by social structures designed to ensure that we can only get so far. It’s too current to be called history and has been for a very long time.
There have been peaceful protests across America, here in the UK and many other countries, to show solidarity with black communities across the globe. There have been those with a different approach, one that I’ll admit, I’m divided on and I’m not afraid or ashamed to say that. This approach seems to be, to cause as much chaos and disruption as possible to the systemic and institutionally racist, social structures that oppress them. My issue with this is that I still believe in law and order and some of what I’ve seen, is just people carrying out criminal acts - surprisingly to some, no, they weren’t all black people. On the flip side, America was built up upon the backs of black people and yet they’ve never been allowed to have their slice of the pie, whenever they try, they’re ‘put back in their place’ as we’ve seen and heard so many times and that angers me.
It may sting a little to hear me speak on this but try to understand that we’ve lived with this for so long. I’m 32 years old, my mother 50 years old, my grandmother 82 years old and none of us have known a world that’s not racist or prejudiced against us, where we’re not treated differently because of the colour of our skin.
The ripples of what is happening in America is very much felt here in the UK, amongst the British black community. There’s a real buzz in the air and for the first time in my life, my mother’s life and grandmother’s life, we feel like maybe we’re starting to be seen and heard. When people can see you and hear you, they actually might listen and that kind of hope hasn’t been felt in our communities for some time. It’s bittersweet though and maybe we’re still not being seen or heard at all. I don’t have an answer to this yet, but I can’t help but think that the only reason we’re being seen or heard is because it’s through the faces and voices of our white peers who have shown up for us. We’ve protested for years and not had the same impact as we have had in the last week or so. We’re saying the same things we’ve always said. The only difference is that our white peers are saying it too. Why were our cries of pain and the racial abuse we endured, not enough for change before? Despite our protests and the number of videos shared of black people being murdered or mistreated by white people, we’ve seen more people get behind saving endangered animals than saving the lives of black people. Both are important and yet only one will receive significant attention and support around the world. If you’re white and reading this, I hope you can see how important your voice is and has always been in our struggle. I really want this moment to mean something and be more than a trend for people to follow.
I’m very fortunate to have come across people in my life who naturally have a thirst for knowledge and will ask me upfront questions about racism, what my own experiences have been, what theirs have been, in an open and honest way. Not to shame each other but to learn.
So many of them finally feel that this is something that they can also speak up about now and can do something about. I want you to understand that you’ve always had the power to do that. Always. Change is uncomfortable and nobody desires to be uncomfortable. However I ask you all to start questioning what it is that has stopped you from speaking out before? Whatever that something is, you can’t afford to allow it to return. Lives are literally dependent on it and that is not an exaggeration.
This is about more than just police brutality and it is certainly not black people versus everyone else. We just want people to see us and how we’re treated and call it what it is - racism. Don’t try to make excuses for it, because there’s never a good enough reason to treat another human being, in the way we have all witnessed in the video of George Floyd’s death. We as people should be together against anything that we know to be wrong and harmful to our societies, regardless of what it is, the same as we stand together against child abuse or animal abuse. This really shouldn’t feel so difficult to get behind but for some people, simply not being a racist feels like enough.
My grandparents have always told me, my siblings and cousins, to be careful of the company we keep. What they meant was not to associate ourselves with anything or anyone that made us compromise the values we were taught, our belief system or who we are in terms of our character. You wouldn’t hang out with murderers or rapists and then say but it’s not me that’s murdering or raping people. You wouldn’t want anything to do with that individual/s because it would compromise your values and your character. So why would you feel any different when it comes to racism but still feel that you’re not racist and shouldn’t be put in the same basket as a racist? It doesn’t work. It’s not enough and it’s not right. That is privilege, for those that don’t understand. You go about your daily business knowing that it’s there and that others are being treated appallingly because of it but as you’re not the person doing it, you don’t feel that it really concerns you.
I’ve had many friendships that have had to come to an end because of this mentality. I’d often be told that I was being too sensitive, that the racist remark wasn’t about me directly so why did I care, or you know what so and so is like, or they’re my family and I can’t force them to like black people just because I don’t have a problem with them. You honestly wouldn’t believe the excuses I’ve heard and that’s just so called friends - imagine how difficult it is to date someone who’s friends all make racist jokes openly and not only does he not say anything but he laughs too. Imagine being told, ‘I really like you but my dad is a bit funny about black people, so I don’t think it would work’.
It’s truly heartbreaking to know that someone could feel so negatively about me, just at hearing that I’m black. That it’s enough to stir up feelings of hatred in someone’s heart towards me and they know nothing about me, not even met me.
As a black woman born in the UK, I personally feel that it’s not always helpful to look at the UK in comparison to the USA, when speaking on the topic of racism as we don’t share the exact same history and this is the same in relation to the history of black people, although we clearly have shared experiences living amongst our white peers.
However I do feel that it’s extremely important to acknowledge that racism exists everywhere, including in the UK and you can be a part of the conversation. You can be a part of change but what you can’t do is sit back and do nothing, enabling racists to hide in plain sight among you in our societies and simply say, it wasn’t me, I’m not a racist.
Many people are making contact with their black friends or family members and asking what more they can do. Educate yourself. We’re already tasked with educating our younger generation on how to not only stay alive but how to try and thrive in societies that are created to inhibit them from prospering. I’d recommend watching The 13th on Netflix if you can, for starters if you’re interested in understanding more about the systemic and institutional racism of the economic structures in America. If you want to understand black history in the UK, I’d say have a read of Natives, Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala.
I hope reading this hasn’t felt too much like a bashing because I sometimes feel the message gets lost when that happens and it’s just lots of noise. However I do hope that my perspective brings further insight into the issue we’re all facing and the importance of your role in the change we so badly need.
Add comment
Comments