A Journey Toward Understanding – sources Kate Dudding August 14, 2020
Amber Skye Williams and her father
“My name is Ariel Skye Williams.
I am eight years old.
I am unarmed and have nothing that can hurt you.”
Amber Ruffin, writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers since 2014
Early June 2020, in the midst of protests about the murder of George Floyd, for 4 evenings Amber spoke about her interactions with police instead of a monologue by Seth.
"I have a thousand stories like this. The cops have pulled a gun on me, the cops have followed me to my own home. And every black person I know has a few stories like that. Many have more than a few. Black people leave the house every day knowing that, at any time, we could get murdered by the police."
James Corden Gets a Lesson on White Privilege
From one of his writers, Olivia Harewood
“White privilege means that your skin color didn’t make your life more challenging.
Helpful things you can do with your white privilege to fight for a more just society.
Speak on behalf of people of color in big ways and small.
Bigs ways like fighting for social justice in education, health care and housing
Small ways like listening to people of color especially when we talk about racism without making it about your feelings.”
Sheila Arnold’s story https://www.facebook.com/560005258/videos/10158048998055259/
“I ask you to be a witness for those who need someone to stand with them.”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man A series of 10-20 minute videos with Emmanuel Acho.
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism a book by Robin DiAngelo
“The value in White Fragility lies in its
methodical, irrefutable exposure of racism in thought and action, and its call
for humility and vigilance.”
—The New Yorker
“Thoughtful, instructive, and comprehensive . . . This slim
book is impressive in its scope and complexity; DiAngelo provides a powerful
lens for examining, and practical tools for grappling with, racism today.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
The litany below on “white privilege” seeks to help people understand what this term means. For each activity mentioned, (e.g. “I can go jogging”) there is a name in parenthesis which refers to a person of color who was attacked doing that same routine activity. (source unknown)
I have privilege as a white person because….
I have privilege as a white person because I can do all these things without thinking twice about it...
I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery).
I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean, #AtatianaJefferson, #BreonnaTaylor).
I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride).
I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark).
I can leave a party to get
to safety (#JordanEdwards).
I can play loud music (#JordanDavis).
I can sell CD's (#AltonSterling).
I can sleep (#AiyanaJones)
I can walk from the corner
store (#MikeBrown).
I can play cops and
robbers (#TamirRice).
I can go to church (#Charleston9).
I can walk home with
Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).
I can hold a hair brush
while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell).
I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant).
I can get a traffic ticket
(#SandraBland).
I can lawfully carry a
weapon (#PhilandoCastile).
I can break down on a
public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).
I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) .
I can have a disabled
vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).
I can read a book in my
own car (#KeithScott).
I can be a 10yr old
walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).
I can decorate for a party
(#ClaudeReese).
I can ask a cop a question
(#RandyEvans).
I can cash a check in
peace (#YvonneSmallwood).
I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo).
I can run (#WalterScott).
I can breathe ( #EricGarner).
I can live (#FreddieGray).
I can ask someone to put a
leash on their dog when it is required in the public park we are in (#ChristianCooper).
I can be arrested without the fear of being murdered. #GeorgeFloyd
These things should not be a privilege. They should be a right for everyone!