“Privilege” is something, if I’m being honest, I never really associated with myself growing up. I solely associated the word with negative connotations and the image of the members of society that acquired abundant levels of wealth and entitled behavior. Now, I never considered myself or my family to be poor. I grew up middle class, and both my parents and myself worked and continue to work hard for everything we own and every opportunity we’ve earned. Because I did not see the world through a racist lens and because I did not see people of color as unequal, I did not believe we were still living in a world were racism and inequality were as prevalent as they are. Only now do I realize that I was privileged and am still privileged due to the unchangeable physical characteristic of my skin color. The sad truth is that in this country, being a White American, gives me a special right, a social advantage, and immunity that many other races do not have access to. The worst part, I acted oblivious to it, and possibly subconsciously wanted to avoid that truth. I yearn so badly for the world to be a fair place and to believe I have earned everything the same way that everyone else has, but that is only a fantasy. Due to my coloring, I dodged a number of obstacles that many of my friends are unable to avoid regardless of their wealth, work ethic, education, or personality. It seems our country has been able to overcome all other differences in physical appearance or background, such as birth defects, special needs, skin diseases etc., yet we can not dismiss ethnicity. It is a question on every single application. It is a deciding factor, whether we admit it or not, in every single aspect of life. Unless you’ve gone on a social media, internet, electronic device, and news detox (which kudos to you, it’s probably been really great for your mental health), you’ve most likely seen some of the horrifying displays of racism and just inhumane behavior. Seeing the visuals of the deaths of these innocent men has never made me feel more sick, but what made me feel even more sick was a quote someone posted on their Instagram story explaining how as a Black person, even if they were having a good day, when they see a death due to racism their day immediately turns bad and they can’t shake the thoughts. I sat with that for a while, realizing I will NEVER have to suffer that pain, because when a White man dies in this country it is NEVER due to racism. And that realization made me feel sick and guilty pretending I was an ally but truthfully I was just a bystander. I would see and hear of racist acts on social media, and I would feel sad and disgusted by what was taking place, but then I would move on. I thought I was doing my part by simply not being racist and by practicing tolerance and kindness, but as you can tell that isn’t enough anymore. The Black community can speak out against racism until they're out of breath, but if the White community (the privileged community) doesn’t speak out against racism it won’t stop. The racist White Americans have diminished the value of any other race, therefore they are uninterested and unaffected in what they have to say. These people still believe they are the majority and that they obtain dominance in society. But if those of us in the White community who would prefer not to be associated with the heartless and revolting racist community that shares our skin color, then it is our obligation to speak out against them. It is our obligation to make them realize how small minded they are and the fact that they are living in twenty-first century America. This is a country that is a melting pot of all ethnicities and should embrace them all as assets not hindrances. If we can prove that the community of White Americans that embraces all races outnumbers the community of racist White Americans, if we can make them feel shame, embarrassment, and guilt for their actions, if we can help them understand that racism will no longer be tolerated, then maybe we can make a difference. If you are reading this as a White American, understand that this is your responsibility. Silence makes you as guilty as the White officer who forcefully pushed his knee into George Floyd’s neck until he took his last breath. Racism is not the fight of one race, it is the fight of all races. The sooner we recruit ourselves in the army against the dreadful disease that is racism, the sooner we can win the battle. I am privileged and I am not sorry about it, because it isn’t something that I am in control of. But I am sorry that until this point I have not used my privilege nearly enough to speak out and act as an ally for those who aren’t as fortunate. This public apology serves as my promise to be a better ally, and to use my privilege for the greater good. Ps. use this link to see how you can help https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co Love Always, Jenavieve
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Jenavieve Anna Capri
Hi guys, I just wanted to pop in and let you know a few things about me. I'm a Commercial Dance major at Pace University. I nanny on the side to help me afford living in this beautiful city. I live by the three Ts - Trader Joes, TJ Max, and Target. If it's salted caramel anything, I will gladly put it in my mouth. In my eyes Disneyland is the OG and Disney World will never compare. Hopefully, you'll choose to continue to get to know me more through these blog posts and my social media. Connect With Me:
Instagram: @jenannacapri25 |