General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Political Awareness Matters: How Black Lives Matter Are Screwing Themselves -- And the Rest of Us [View all]loyalsister
(13,390 posts)of trying to get people to understand why it's BLM and what their daily lives are like is that white people don't listen. Opon really hearing that point of view it became clear that white people are often trying to make it about them and try to bask in their identity as allies without listening.
One question I asked myself and have talked about with others is as a white person in MO how has my everyday personal life been affected by these protests?
The only way I have truly been affected is by becoming more aware. I am as safe as I was before, while black friends who have known it in ways I have not are observing and feeling a very real threat of open season. Mothers who have black sons live in a kind of fear that will probably never truly resonate with me.
People want to be heard. These candidates are not sitting down seeking an endorsement from the BLM movement. They are talking about their own experiences and good deeds. MLK's anger is relevant, but in the end, being reminded of all that white people gave so generously given, yet knowing that things haven't changed all that much when they are burying their youth and fear for their own and their families lives. I have had conversations where friends have told me that any optimism related to the Civil Rights Act is gone until white supremacy is acknowledged and addressed.
Instead of lecturing, I think it is more productive to acknowledge that there are some experiences that allies cannot understand and to make that fact part of the conversation. Would we see some substantive meeting of the minds if these candidates at least listened to any concrete demands BLM may have? Why aren't they suggesting that we all listen and learn what it is like to live under threat in this country?
I get the cynical side of the politics here, but how often do we see groups led by white people get the attention of politicians during elections. The Sierra Club has some pull along with a variety of other organizations. In the context of BLM, people are sincerely, and legitimately wondering, "what does it take for a movement of POC to get some real attention from politicians?"
People need to take time to listen under the assumption that people living the experience know more and feel more than many of us do.