Black Lives Matter: Addressing Race, Unconscious Bias, and Privilege
Have you ever heard of Albert Einstein? What about Joe Biden? Or Taylor Swift? How about Trayvon Martin? Does his name ring a bell? Should it?
Trayvon Benjamin Martin, born February 5th 1995, was a 17-year-old African-American who lived a normal life in Florida, The United States, just like any other teenage boy.
On the evening of February 26th 2012, not long after he had been accepted into aviation school, Trayvon was walking back to his fiancée's house from a nearby convenience store. Insurance underwriter George Zimmerman saw Martin and reported him to the Sanford Police as suspicious. Several minutes later, an altercation occurred between the two and Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon—who was unarmed—in the chest. He claimed this was an act of self-defence. Zimmerman was not arrested or charged at the time.
Trayvon Martin happened to be the wrong colour, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Protests, rallies, walkouts, marches, and a national debate about racial profiling took place following Trayvon Martin’s death. Treyvon represents the everyday experience of so many black and brown people around the world.
This young man, along with a number of other black people who have been senselessly killed since his death, was a catalyst behind the Black Lives Matter movement.
Black Lives Matter is a movement that seeks to recognize and support the many generations of black individuals and families who have suffered from racial trauma and injustice across the world. The core principles of this movement centre around the idea that all people should be treated with respect and equality, regardless of their skin colour, or other physical attributes.
The long history of racial trauma and discrimination against black individuals has created an ongoing cycle of oppression and injustice. From the brutality experienced under enslavement, struggles of Apartheid, post-slavery life in the United States during the Reconstruction Era, to decades of Jim Crow laws, black people have been continually subject to systemic racism, mistreatment, and abuse.
From Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, to Asia and the Americas, people of colour around the world continue to experience racism in international diplomacy, employment opportunities, immigration, healthcare access, housing access, education quality, incarceration rates, and police violence.
While there are a number of movements across the world working to address these issues such as social justice reform, education reform, poverty reduction initiatives, and other efforts for change, the Black Lives Matter movement stands out as one that is mainly aimed at recognising how unique the experiences are for black and brown individuals.
But doesn’t “Black Lives Matter” ignore the pain and experiences of other race groups?
Absolutely not. Saying "all lives matter" in response to "Black Lives Matter" however, undermines the focus of the movement, because it implies that all people already experience equal treatment—regardless of their skin colour.
Trayvon Martin represents the reality of black and brown people around the world. The world needs this focus. When we say "all lives matter," we are erasing the history of oppression endured by black people and overlooking how unique these experiences are for this racial group. This kind of thinking detracts from the true message being pushed forward by the Black Lives Matter movement, which is recognition and respect for all black people. It’s a destructive mindset to have, as it does not channel the immediate focus: addressing the pain and discrimination faced by black people, not only now, but over a prolonged period of time.
The point of the Black Lives Matter movement isn’t to suggest that black lives should be, or are more, important than all other lives, but it’s to point out that black people experience discrimination and inequality that white people typically don’t. Their experiences are not the same as white people’s, and the Black Lives Matter movement intends to create awareness about these deep-rooted racial disparities.
To say that Black Lives Matter is not to say that other lives don’t, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s to recognize that ALL lives matter.
Another factor influencing the “all lives matter” mindset is privilege. The topic of privilege, and specifically “white privilege”, is often seen as a sensitive topic of conversation. However, it’s a very necessary one, and having a good understanding of what it is and how to recognise one’s own privilege can be immensely beneficial in creating a more equitable world.
White privilege is not about shame or guilt, it’s about awareness.
Put simply, “white privilege” is the advantage or entitlement that individuals have due to their skin colour. It’s experiencing a lack of prejudice that can be as subtle as not being interrogated at an airport because of your skin colour, or as seemingly insignificant as not being followed around a store by security, or even as inconspicuous as someone not crossing the road or changing direction entirely when they encounter you. This privilege usually manifests itself in various other ways, from wealth to educational opportunities, job security, and media representation.
The first step in recognising one’s own privilege is to become aware of our own biases, whether they are conscious or unconscious. Unconscious bias is a form of implicit bias where our minds unknowingly categorise people into certain groups, leading to prejudicial beliefs and behaviours. While this type of bias is often unintentional and deep-rooted in stereotypes, it can cause real harm if not addressed. Being conscious of your role as a privileged individual can help you understand how the dynamics of power are at play in our society.
Once you recognise your privilege, you can start looking at how bias affects people differently and learn how you can use your influence and position to contribute to positive change.
Understanding privilege and beginning the work to address our unconscious bias with compassion is no easy task, but one that can be extremely beneficial for both individuals and society. Once we become aware of our own prejudices, we can begin to actively challenge them and reflect on how they might influence our interactions with others.
Conversations are a powerful tool for uncovering new perspectives, opening up the possibility for growth, and ultimately helping to bridge divides between different groups and communities.
White people can be a particularly important part of this movement by showing up to protests, speaking out on social media, joining coalitions that promote change, advocating for black-owned businesses, engaging in open dialogue with those who don’t understand the cause, making donations towards meaningful charities that support the cause, and by learning more about systemic racism through books and films.
We can all push ourselves out of our comfort zones when it comes to talking about race by having conversations with family members and friends—even if they disagree with us. We need to open dialogue to catapult change. By understanding what’s happening within our society, we can create tangible change going forward and build a future where all lives are equally respected. This understanding is where we allow ourselves to see the world outside of the lens of our social conditioning.
Making an effort to listen without judgment will create an open atmosphere for dialogue and help build trust within conversations. Being open-minded and engaging in honest dialogue about privilege can go a long way towards building mutual understanding and empathy between individuals from different backgrounds with different experiences.
Taking part in activities such as community service projects, or attending protests for social justice, can also be great ways to gain an understanding of others’ struggles with oppression or inequality based on race/ethnicity, gender identity, and other factors related to marginalisation.
An important way to show commitment towards creating a more equitable world is by advocating for change in our institutions and society at large. Engage with lawmakers and speak up against any policies that may discriminate against minority groups and further encourage inequality. We have to speak up in order to encourage change.
Each one of us has a responsibility towards promoting justice, equity, and inclusion within our communities.
By supporting initiatives, such as The Dandelion Philosophy, you can help address inequality and make real change. We create access for underprivileged communities by giving them resources such as education, housing, and healthcare access that will enable them to thrive alongside their peers.
The slogan for “Circles”, The Dandelion Philosophy’s Psychosocial Intervention Program, is:
The Dandelion Philosophy’s work is one of deep intention. We need the support of individuals and corporations around the world to help us heal our collective trauma and address many of the visible, and sometimes invisible, challenges that the Black Lives Matter movement seeks to address.
Come heal with us!
Visit our website to learn more about how you can contribute to change today.
