BEIGE Lives Matter. But why?
Ok, I’ll admit it, it may seem preposterous or even crazy to pitch this idea of Beige Lives Matter. Why am I, a guy who has been told he has “white privilege”, “white supremacy”, and other terms, wanting to abandon the racial slur of being called “white”?
Well, if we are to honestly unify and be inclusive, the inherent attachment of negative implications that certain segments of society have attached to “white” are BARRIERS to communication, reconciliation, and inclusive balance.
I’m actually willing to see how I can be a better steward of life and how connections that can be made that supersede color, religion or politics. I’m willing to admit that my upbringing (Independent Fundamental Baptist) was not a place of racial diversity, nor did it welcome racial diversity.
My parents displayed a level of racism to me, and when this affected and interfered with a bi-racial friendship I had, I was too inexperienced and unprepared to deal with it effectively. It crushed me. My deaf friend Walter was one of the kindest souls I had ever met. I enjoyed talking with him using sign language. And the only reason my Dad told me that “I shouldn’t hang around with him” was because of his skin color. My dad perceived implicit negative qualities in Walter. These perceptions of my father were wrong, but they were based on his experiential entrainment. The perceptions were not because my father was “white”.
This is where the term “implicit bias” and “white supremacy” rub me the wrong way, because to assign that to an entire race based on their skin color is no different than the obverse application of implicit negative qualities to other races.
The difference between implicit and entrained, in my observation, is that there are influences that perpetuate heuristics in a culture or creed, and these influences are what needs to be questioned, rather than hurling accusations of “you people”….. (fill in the blank).
No one responds well to this type of generalized accusation.
So, if you really want inclusion, and if you really want healing, STOP using the term of “white” as a racist slur.
Otherwise, you’re just wanting to paint things in a way that creates another “superiority". I will not submit. I will walk alongside you, I will communicate, collaborate, and even partner with you, if you make a place for that. But I will NOT come in with a “guilty until proven innocent” set of standards that even you refuse.
If you don’t want to be accused as a baseline for “inclusion”, then neither do I.
What’s the goal? There is inclusion, and there is inversion. If you’re wanting to invert what you perceive as “implicit white racism” and “white superiority”, then my request to use inclusive language of calling me a Beige Person of Color will chap your ass.
IF, however, you want me and others to come to the table and create a tapestry of multi-influenced magic, you can give us a place at the table first, by eliminating the implicit accusations that “white” has been socially engineered with, by those claiming to want racial equality.
BEIGE LIVES MATTER.
If you want to get on with the healing, let’s have equal footing at the table. You’re saying you want equal footing, while using “white” as the “N” word.
If you don’t want to get on with the healing, and you want to just perpetuate conflict, then this is your wake up call. That shit has been seen, called out, and you are beating a broken drum.
And I’m not buying the soundtrack.
P.D., JAY V SHORE