White People Problems

I’m always telling people this https://t.co/g1oWhtdzi5

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 13, 2021

To put things in perspective for my white friends: every single time I get in my car and go anywhere, because of police, there’s an underlying fear for my life. EVERY time I make it home safely, it’s like I’ve won the lottery. And I should never have to feel that way...

— Henry Lake (@lakeshow73) April 12, 2021

One of my professors in seminary was black. He told us how he was followed in department stores by clerks, suspicious of him simply because of his skin color. It was the first time I'd confronted that problem, because it was never one for me. My daughter talks about being cautious in public spaces, being aware of people I pay no attention to.  My wife agrees with her, that it is something you must do as a woman.  Which means she’s been doing it too, without my ever realizing.

When I was in seminary, I used to sit in my car waiting for my wife to leave work in a busy “downtown” area.  I often saw cars stopped for seemingly traffic violations.  I began paying attention, and never saw the white police officers stop a white driver.  Not once.

I am not nearly as privileged as Josh Hawkey or Tucker Carlson, and yet I am aware of these issues that don’t, and never will, effect me.  I am not aware of any cancellations by corporations.  Maybe that’s because it’s a meaningless phrase being spouted by privileged children who can’t even imagine life without their privileges.