Internalized Whiteness; Regardless of Color

With all that is presently happening I have been trying to grasp how to discuss such things, specifically white supremacy and its culture, when it is so deeply interwoven to what we experience and perceive, what we act out explicitly but even more so implicitly from having been in an environment in which it is our fuel. 

White supremacy culture is the gas, with capitalism pushing at the pedal as the patriarchy steers.

This set up leads to our demise.

The work we as a society will be doing to move forward involves each of us. It is quite interwoven, meaning as we get to the root of one social justice issue we find it is interwoven with the roots of other social justice issues. That when it comes to understanding the inhumane treatment of immigrants, the destruction and deadly acts towards people of color, and the mistreatment of people based on their gender or sexuality, to name a few, we find that the same industrial complexes and hierarchical ruling structures maintain a system of oppression through distributed dismantling of communities that are different from, or threaten, the powers that be.

In this we find each of us holding an intersectional identity, compiled of race, gender, sexuality, and ability among the top discriminators.

It’s also important to recognize how deeply the social justice issues are connected to climate change, and how its impacts are felt stronger in marginalized communities because of unequal access to resources, healthy spaces to live (with clean air, land, and water), education, healthcare, time, and sustainable food systems.

Institutionalized oppression often targets groups based on race, gender, and sexuality. Within this culture that mismanages power systems we find the oppression itself is a hierarchy too, with constant demonstrations of which groups get hit hardest. Some even call it the oppression olympics.

Empowering those hit hardest to rise out of depletion, we must look at where we lie in terms of our privileges. Recognizing our privileges within the array of societies networks to best see where we can expand our awareness and support others in doing so. How we can redistribute resources where redistribution is needed. How we can choose to vote for people and consume products that directly support the most marginalized communities rather than pushing them to further shores. How we can show up as true allies. 

Asking ourselves constantly: How have I benefited from this system as it harmed others? How have I been harmed by this system as it benefited others? Noticing when, where, why, and how institutionally enforced oppression exists and how we unconsciously partake in it through our everyday lives. 

Privileges aren’t meant to be a competition, which is deeply seated in white supremacy, but instead an awareness one holds around their identity and culture. This awareness allows us to better understand the complexities of experiences and how our privileges may or may not have aided us in getting to where we are. Allowing us to identify the support many have had that others haven’t. Allowing us to understand why one would be in the mental, emotional, and physical state they are in given how society has reacted to them.

When privilege comes up, it’s common for people to get defensive. I feel this comes from the experiences of also being oppressed by white supremacy culture. Feeling attacked or as if you are also a victim, so how could you be part of the problem? 

Or the good/bad racist dichotomy where one can only be a racist if bad, therefore most would deem themselves as non racist and good despite perpetuating these injustices. “I’m separate and different from the oppressor.” The thing is, as we dissect this beast it becomes more and more apparent – implicit bias is one of the main vehicles in which racism and sexism, along with heteronormative thinking, move along infiltrating our culture. It’s moving through all of us, until it is at the very least named.

White supremacy culture maintains and reinforces its superiority by oppressing various groups at once using similar tactics. Being raised in a white supremacy culture means that we will have played both the oppressor and the oppressed.

To what degree, depends deeply on the individual. And so, we must find where we perpetuate this knowingly or unknowingly, highlighting our personal identity within the culture and collective. 

The work we must do is recognizing where we stand without getting defensive or taking it personally. Without judging and condemning ourselves or others, instead having our eyes and hearts set on building a future together while acknowledging our role in either the promotion or dismantling of these underlying systemic beliefs and values.

Only together can the work be done, for the home of white supremacy is in each of us who was taught this is the way. It starts from within. All around, working quietly and loud to ring in change.

Let us illuminate intersectionality, joining forces as One. Understanding our identity so we can become whole.

We were never separate, let us come home to one another.

The time has always been now.