currently reading: me and white supremacy by layla saad

“What you receive for your whiteness comes at a steep cost for those who are not white.” THIS is why being not-racist isn’t enough... we must speak up and actively work to dismantle the system that prioritises White people, for the very existence of that hurts BIPOC

LETS talk about this book!!!!!! I’ve barely started but I feel like this is what I and so many white people need, if you actually want to make a difference what better way to start than analysing your own white supremacy through 28 days of journal prompts???

So this actually started as an instagram challenge, so I thought I’d write a little bit each day... ps I’m terrible at sticking with challenges but I will try my best

DAY 1: the first day was all about white privilege. the book references and encourages u to read Peggy McKintosh’s fifty examples of white privilege... I took for granted how I can avoid talking to people who dislike me and I can expect managers to look like me... for example!

Obviously there are FIFTY examples like this and not only did I relate to all of them, I’m fairly sure that’s not even the half of it??? I’m glad day 1 started here bc it really gave me the scope of how hugely impactful white supremacy is every day

One thought I had was... ive probably had white privilege since I was a BABY. Like it’s one thing to face the privilege I have now, but looking back at how much I was granted/ how much BIPOC were discriminated in my whole life because of skin colour has opened my eyes

Day 2: was on white fragility and it’s something I’ve never really thought about, but it explains so much. White people avoid discussions on racism bc it makes them feel like “bad people” and it’s hard to acknowledge your part in the system, but until you do there is no change

My white privilege allowed me to avoid discussions on racism for too long, or simply saying a murder had made me sad or something, rather than doing the real work of educating myself and spreading information and protesting. This nurtured my white fragility

Day 3: wow did you guys know the term “gaslighting” comes from a play where the husband would dim the gas lights and then persuade his wife that she was imagining it??

“Recall or imagine, if you will, experiencing an act of violence and then being asked to talk about what you experienced without expressing any strong emotions. This is clearly inhumane.”

Day 4: tackled “white silence,” I never realised the impact our words and support can have. Neutrality is violence and is support of our white supremist society.

Made me think of all the people who posted “just bc someone isn’t posting, you don’t know what they’re doing behind closed doors” ofc I don’t but to me, reposting & raising awareness on social media is so much easier than calling racism out irl so I personally struggle believing

Also hit me that at times when I have been shocked and felt sick to my stomach at seeing racism... my silence might have been seen as abandonment or worse, agreement of the racist sentiments by BIPOC colleagues. White people - we can’t support our BIPOC friends with silence

Just on the topic of today anyway... I’ve been really conflicted about this thread. I LOVE the premise of this book and so wanted to share it and advocate for it as much as possible, but I’m not sure if Twitter is the right platform for me sharing my lessons - even with good

intentions, I don’t think that should be the focus ever in this conversation. This is obviously learning I am doing privately when journaling, and I thought sharing bits on twitter would serve other White people well - perhaps they’d be interested and go and purchase the book

However, today’s topic was the topic of white silence and how damaging it can be... im trying to figure out how I can best use my voice to encourage white people to learn about their privilege, whilst not shouting over BIPOC. But then is my fear & white fragility stopping me from

Educating if I stop this thread? Again, not sure if Twitter is the right platform for this just wanted to document what I have been thinking about a lot over the last few days