Article Reflection 4

Article Reflection 4

This is a reflection in response to an essay written by Ewuare X. Osayande called Word to the Wise: Unpacking the White Privilege of Tim Wise.

Why is it that anti-racist antics are always hidden behind the mask of a person of color? What does anti-racism mean anyway? The essay talks about Tim Wise feeling that he can decide when and how he should be accountable to people of color. I do not understand this. What is the point of being an ally if you are only working part time?

The two main issues that are addressed in regards to anti-racism efforts are internalized oppression and white privilege. Systemic racism over the years clearly has brainwashed some minds, internalizing things that are just not so. We do not have to accept stereotypes. The more we understand what white privilege really is and that it is not okay, the more people can understand why we have internalized so much.

This essay made me think about when people say that white people are down what the cause because they act the Black part, whatever that means. It is not okay with the history of Black face and the mockery against people of color. People get caught up in this because of internalized oppression; it’s really what it all comes down to.

I want to go back to the question about what does anti-racism really mean anyway? I love what Osayande talks about, “baby steps in the long march against white supremacy.” We can talk and talk, they can talk and talk, but awareness is only one stage. Knowledge is another. Application, action and change are a whole different realm that we haven’t begun to tap into. Anti-racism is much deeper than calling out microaggressions and such but in order to actually eradicate racism, action steps need to happen. We need to address the systems in place that are against people of color. We need to address who has the privilege and divvy that up.

One of the main ideas I took away from this essay is that sometimes in praising white anti-racists, racism is perpetuated because things are happening against the best interests of people of color. For example, favoring a white anti-racist speaker over a person of color on the topic of racism. Another idea is that many institutions put on this mask of being committed to multicultural competence and diversity but behind that mask are implementing policies that work against people of color. I think the most outstanding thing he brought up is that Tim Wise may have the ultimate white privilege, being idolized to speak and write about anti-racism.

This reflection is not to say that I agree with all the points made in the essay but beyond the critique of Tim Wise, I think that some important points are made about the need to unpack white privilege and address systemic racism.