Still today, white people in America have a difficult time affirming that racism exists because they’re not willing to examine it. It still works for their benefit and ignoring it is as much a part of American culture as is violent acts of hate. Racism is systemic. It is about cultural dominance and controlling resources, hence the competition in the word “race.” The goal is to control the world’s resources and since it started European culture is “winning.” Yet in a world where controlling the narrative is such a priority, denying racism is a powerful tool for making sure our behaviors go unchallenged.
To the naked eye, racism doesn’t directly affect white folks. Given the goal for many is to keep the status quo, there’s no incentive to solve problems associated with the effects of discrimination and inequities. As in any cycle, recurrence happens. With technology giving us access to incidents and access to information that prove racism is alive and well, the mission to deny is a twist that has regained momentum. Denial in one form was burning books written in cultures after they were colonized. Recently, with an increased number of white folks engaging in work to dismantle racism, more books are being written. And in response, for those whose goal is to maintain racism, denying the learning of such truths is being weaponized.
We no longer see denial for what it is, part of the grieving stage. Grieving is often viewed as a sign of weakness, especially when it comes with admitting harm of our actions. Our façade of strength maintains something that is very important to us. That is the feeling of superiority. Using tactics of denial, as opposed to practicing overt hostility towards those different from ourselves is passive aggressive and easier to defend; it is also challenging to defeat because it adds the extra burden to prove.
America’s Tragic and Deadly Denial of Systemic Racism is a sickness unlike any other. I like to think of it as “deadly” because violent or discriminatory racism can be lurking anywhere, and you will never know when or where it’ll strike. One example of denial is standing still while an innocent black person gets beaten to death or wrongfully arrested without saying a word – or doing anything at all! A greater form of denial is thinking and saying that black communities that struggle with economic challenges are created by their own cultural practices. Rather than acknowledge how much of the economic system we control and how we continue to discriminate in how we share our resources, we act as if their priorities are mixed up and they could do better if They made better decisions.
Another attribute to maintaining racism is denying white privilege. Whether it be in the job market or academia, whites are at an advantage due to the systemic advantages that comfortably support our skin color. The excuses given for this phenomenon range from “unavoidable” circumstance(s) to lack of qualifications. While there are some circumstances which give a person preference over other candidates, the systemic design and history of continuous inequities make the chances greater to maintain the privileged status.
In a society where people don’t like to get involved in other’s business, it can be difficult for those who are white and want change. In the case of racism they might feel that this issue doesn’t concern them because “they’re not part.” Or we often do not know what to do so we are afraid of making things worse. However, if we deny systemic racism exists then we are part of the problem. I have found that when I acknowledge the racism and harmful practices of our culture, it creates opportunities to build trust.
Beyond denying racism as a system, the challenging part that brings forth the greatest opportunity for healing is to examine our own lives. The two key parts for me in self examination are analyzing my participation and how I benefit. The deeper step of self analysis examines what part of my participation is based on my values and what is subconsciously participating in the system itself? The next step is to review the harm to others that result in my benefits and ask myself would I benefit more from better relationships with people from other cultures and how my level of peace and enjoyment will increase when they are able to share access to the same resources and opportunities.
If freedom is what we desire, and the truth is what sets us free, are we willing to face our truth? Being willing to examine the harms of systemic racism and how we all will benefit from the healing process will help us towards the “freedom” we desire.
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