Imagine, if you will, that you’re back in high school. Maybe this was you, maybe it wasn’t, but for the sake of this, you’re bullied regularly by the popular kids. Sometimes, it’s obvious, and sometimes it’s done in little, seemingly-harmless-but-equally damaging ways. (1)

One day, you’ve had enough. You turn to a friend who is in with the popular kids, and you tell them all about the bullying. You tell them it’s affecting your grades. You beg them to tell the other popular kids to lay off.

To your surprise, your friend gets pissed. (2)

“Why’re you assuming things are any easier for me?” They ask. “My parents divorced, I’m failing math and I WORK to stay on the football team.”

You try to tell them this has nothing to do with anything, that they still hold more clout than you. They puff up. (3)

“I have problems, too!” They say. “And anyway, where is this bullying you’re talking about? I haven’t seen it. And I saw you’re getting an A in English, so obviously your grades aren’t really suffering. Stop trying to be the victim.” (4)

You try to explain that one good grade doesn’t erase your failing ones, but at this point, your friend is enraged.

“You’re trying to make me feel guilty for being popular. Why should I feel guilty? I didn’t bully you.” (5)

You’re shocked. Your friend keeps going.

“Did it ever occur to you that maybe you wouldn’t be bullied if you just tried to do what the other popular kids tell you to do? I’ve heard that you and the other losers are always making people feel weird. Maybe stop that.” (6)

Now you’re pissed. You snap back that they have a voice others are more likely to listen to, that they could use their stupid popular voice to change things if they bothered.

“EXCUSE ME?” They roar. “If you’re going to be rude, why should I listen to you? Try being nice.” (7)

At this point, you’ve realized you’re not getting any help. You breeze past your yelling friend, more pissed than you’ve ever been. As you go to sit down for lunch, one of the popular kids starts humiliating you again. You stand and punch the kid so hard you break his nose. (8)

As the principal comes to drag you to the office, you see your “friend” shaking their head.

“If only you’d handled it peacefully.” They say. “No one’s going to listen to you if you’re being violent.” (9)

So no one can play stupid, yes this is about White privilege. It’s time that those of you with it acknowledge it, use it to help, and stop deflecting.

This shit isn’t cute anymore. We’re not in high school.

Time to be grown ups.