We all have our own unique contributions to racism, spoken or not, but I do remember times growing up and thinking — if the color of my skin hadn’t been white — how would it have been different?!
Let me give you perspective. I love that word: perspective. I’m actually a bit obsessed with the idea of perspectives. Having a different perspective on any given situation. So let me paint this picture for you. In my late teen years — I might of been nineteen or twenty at the time — I would go out to the clubs/bars with my friends — yeah yeah, I know, I used a fake I.d. — it’s what us white Scottsdale girls did. We’d go to RA Sushi, do sake bombs, then go dance it up at Axis Radius, or Sanctuary, or one of the other south Scottdsdale clubs at that time (how things have grown and changed now). I remember being out with my two girlfriends, and we did exactly that, went out for sushi at RA, then went and had a couple drinks at a club... (before you judge me Karen, let’s face it, most people underage drink, I just did it in public, which is better IMO) my one friend (three years older than I) had a young child at the time so she always liked to drive separate, and leave early to get home at a decent hour for the babysitter (and she was always the sober one). She lived on the west side too, which is a far drive. I drove my car with my other friend in tow. We decided to leave when our sober friend wanted to leave, and she asked if I could drop her off at her car. I know you’re probably thinking how stupid of me for drinking and driving, and you’re right! I was young, dumb, and immature. Remember this was 15 years ago. Perspective. Life experience gives you perspective. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes gives you perspective. Your own dumb mistakes gives you perspective, looking back. Hindsight is 20/20. Stop judging. (Sorry Mom 😬). Anyway, I drop her off at her car in a big parking lot, that if memory serves, wasn’t really well lit up. My friend got out, started her car and pulled out behind us. I drove straight to where the street was, down the the row of cars, and all of a sudden I was “hopping the curb” with my Volkswagen Jetta. The anthem car of every white chick. Lol. Instead of what I thought was a slope to drive out of the parking lot, was actually a square curb. Whoops. My bad. Typical white girl here. I turned right, then another immediate right, not more than a few yards away was the stop sign, I stopped, went through the intersection, and before I made it to the main street light to get onto Scottdsdale road, I saw the police lights in my rear view mirror.
Of course I was freaking out. This was maybe only the second time in my life I was ever pulled over. I turned to pull into an empty parking spot. I remember having one of those wisp’s in my car, so I quickly brushed my teeth with it. I got out my “real” I.d. and I think my friend and I quickly hypothesized what I would say. I will tell you, I’m the type of person that can handle my liquor, no matter what I drink, except tequila. I can’t do tequila because it gives me the spins. To sum this part up a little: the police officer came to the window, I gave him my I.d., he went back to check my driving record & registration. Came back to the window, asked me to step out of the car. Oh shit. Oh shit. I was thinking. This is it, I’m being arrested. He preceded to ask, “Have you had anything to drink tonight” “Yes. My friends and I had sushi at RA, and we know someone who works there that doesn’t card, so I had a couple beers”. Not a complete lie. “Do you know why I pulled you over?” “I drove off the curb in the parking lot? I honestly thought it was a slope, and not a curb.” The officer then asked me to wait as he went back to the patrol car again. A few minutes past and he finally walked back. He said, “Okay, I’m going to let you go with a warning but you have to leave your car here and get a ride home somehow.” I told him our other friend was right behind us and she doesn’t drink so she can give us a ride home. He went back to his patrol car and got in. We waived our friend down who luckily had pulled over too, gave her a quick summary of what went down, and we drove off. Lucky me right?!
I have no doubt, that if the color of my skin had been different, I wouldn’t have gotten off so easy. My life literally would have changed and that would have been a pivotal turning point in my life. Maybe the police officer knew this, or maybe he respected the fact that I was honest with him about drinking. But if you think for one second that the same scenario would have played out in the same way for a person who isn’t white... then you need to read this book. This is just one example from my life, but is a perfect example of white privilege. I definitely am aware of it, and I’m aware of how others are targeted unfairly... just for the color of their skin. If horrible white people are horrible to other white people, just think about the horrible things they say or do to people of color. This book is for them, and for the white people who seemingly think their comments or use of words won’t hurt or affect another individual. As innocent as it may seem to you, it could be vastly offensive to someone else. You need to be schooled by Frederick Joseph in this New York Times best seller! A MUST READ!