I'm Privileged but I'm Not White

Dec. 30

Privilege is not only afforded to those that have the power to oppress.

People with agency, as in a voice to speak and be heard, are in fact privileged. Privilege, as with oppression and repression, contains levels and multitudes within each individual. For example, as a woman of colour, I may be discriminated against but I also have to recognize the privileges I am afforded and from the space that I occupy religiously, socially, ethnically, and politically.

As a Canadian with Arab and Irani heritage, I am privileged to have access to healthcare, education, access to food and shelter, access to the internet, and so much more. While I am part of a historically, socially, and politically marginalized community, I recognize my privilege, even though I am not white.

The Black community has experienced and continues to experience levels of systemic racism in a society that is meant to be seen as free and progressive. Living in a democratic society does not afford you the safety of skin colour or the protection from violence based on a presumption of innocence framed solely around appearance.

The instances of wrongful persecution and the rate at which members of this community are threatened, assaulted, and murdered are overwhelming. This evidence is not new and the outrage is certainly not a recent phenomenon.

I cannot claim to understand or speak for anyone living within this diaspora. As a witness, I can only acknowledge, support, and speak up when I can to defend and fight for the rights of those unfairly discriminated against.

The events of the last month were horrifying, heart-wrenching, and horrendous. There is absolutely no excuse for the cold and apathetic treatment such as this, not once or twice, but countless times.

Over the last 100 years, a lot has changed. Human rights were officially recognized and the world committed itself to protect and defend the fundamental rights of people all over the world. This fight was led by the United States of America and Eleanor Roosevelt herself being an integral cog in reviewing and implementing the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Also over the last 100 years, what hasn’t changed includes: the African-American community is continuously and overarchingly disenfranchised politically, socially, and economically. This community is three times more likely to live below the poverty line as compared to their white counterparts. Black women are sexualized and objectified alarmingly at levels that have seldom reflected any significant change. Representation politically has reverted in recent years with the current leadership. The media reflects achievements, crimes, and events pertaining to the black community as either an anomaly or as desensitizing the experiences of individuals.

Though very different diasporas, the recent death of an unarmed Palestinian man has led to an increase in mutual support for justice in the US and Palestine. The worsening condition and quality of life in the state have amassed incredulous amounts of global attention and yet, very little action has been done.

How can a nation claim to be modern, developed, or even part of the First World when the policies that induced such mass fear, paranoia, and wrongful death continue to this day? This is a human rights issue on a scale comparable to nations that the USA has condemned in the past. Why are they too not being held accountable for their actions?

Acknowledging the past and apologizing for the mistakes of those that came before them is an important step in this process. A step that the US has yet to make. Apologies and acknowledgements such as this are important because it holds the state accountable and allows repressed communities to claim their rights and history.

While indigenous communities continue to face discrimination and violence, the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions as well as the subsequent reparations, present a step towards affording these communities their rightful compensation for their losses. While it is not enough and could never claim to be enough, apologies for the violence enacted against them are a step that is crucial in taking responsibility for the past and the consistent disenfranchisement of marginalized communities. Apologies and acknowledgment claim responsibility and make leaders accountable.

The recent reaction and statements made by the governments responsible for the deaths have been weak to say the least. By dismissing the deaths and attempting to justify these, you feed into the systemic oppression and silencing of these communities that diminish their fundamental human rights.

The racism is not only in the act of murder and consistent discrimination and violence within the state, it’s about other nations and agents holding them accountable. How can one nation claim to be supporting human rights in other countries if they do not abide by the theories they preach when invading and looting other nations for that same purpose?

It is the duty of an ally to support the individuals and use the privilege that their voices are afforded to direct the conversation towards the marginalized and oppressed. We cannot speak for them. We cannot claim their experiences as our own. We may educate ourselves and do our best to create a space for this community to have their voices heard.

POC supporting POC. People supporting people.

More and more videos are exposing supposed allies in the protests looting, destroying property, and generally inciting violence. This is the opposite of support. This tarnishing the cause and invalidating their voices, pushing their cause backwards, and suppressing and silencing the memory of those that lost their lives to this system.

As someone who aligns with multiple cultural identities, it's important for me to be able to discuss my own experiences. This also means that when other communities express their own grievances and issues, that we do not see this as an attack and instead trust that their needs are different and require the same attention that we afford our own concerns.

What does it mean when the same wrongful persecution and violence of a state such as Palestine under martial law and a supposed free country such as the US are facing violence in the same right? George Floyd and Eyad Hallaq were both killed. Both unarmed. Both died without regard for their rights.

How can a nation like the US claim any level of superiority when occupied land and people under martial law are in a state comparable to their own citizens? The level of ignorance is abhorrent and the need for all of these deaths to be justly prosecuted is necessary on all counts. This is not to say that the US is the only one with this issue, as the ongoing investigation into Regis Korchinski-Paquet’s death is being conducted in Toronto, we need to remind ourselves that these are not isolated incidents.

Not only are four people dead (in the last month), but millions of lives are threatened every day across the world solely because of their identity. Their race. Their culture. Their history.

So don’t just sit back and watch. Whether or not you are a member of a marginalized group, you have a responsibility to yourself and to anyone around you to educate yourself and do what you can. We’re in the middle of a pandemic so if you do not feel as if you can protest, then donate. If you do not have the means to donate, then raise awareness. If you aren’t ready to post, then learn more.

You have no excuse to do nothing in these times. Learning and educating yourself, becoming a beacon of support, or even just listening to those with opinions and grievances to share is something.

Recognize your privilege and use it to give a voice to those that are silenced.

Here are a few links for those of you that would like to learn more about the cause, the mission, and the people who have lost their lives:

Black Lives Matter- George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet:

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ahmaud-arbery-black-jogger-georgia-fatal-shooting-video/

https://globalnews.ca/news/7006524/regis-korchinski-paquet-justiceforregis-march-toronto/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/shereeatcheson/2018/11/30/allyship-the-key-to-unlocking-the-power-of-diversity/#4fde6b9849c6

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1065042

Eyad Hallaq:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/30/middleeast/unarmed-palestinian-killed-jerusalem-intl/index.html

Donation and Petitions: