How many people of color have heard a friend, a co-worker, an influencer, or a community leader say, “I am just a privileged white guy or girl?” Did it make you wonder, “If they are privileged and white, what is the color of my privilege, our privileges?” Many have historically and continue to obtain benefits from those pre-existing disparities that give them a better “starting point” in life with white privileges.
*White privilege is a phrase that captures the idea of “obtaining biased benefits that lead to life gains” and “securing unfair advantages”. This term emphasizes the idea of gaining benefits through biased or preferential treatment that most certainly results in personal and lifelong gains.
Some want to believe that character, work ethic, and strong family dynamics are the determining factors in everyone’s life. Now Breaking News, we have the Professional Basket star, Caitlin Clark, who “Time Magazine recently named as Athlete of the Year,” acknowledged her white privilege and hoped to be part of the effort to elevate Black women.”
The factors related to white privilege will unquestionably improve anyone’s chance to succeed; however, it’s outrageous for anyone to pretend or believe that the color of one’s skin has no bearing on their life experiences or successes in life. White supremacy, the mother and father of white/light privileges is a global phenomenon. It creates racial inequalities that affect the social and economic conditions of Black People and people of color in America and across the globe.
It is a historical fact that from the very beginning, based on the color of our skin alone, racial discrimination and the denial of privileges experienced by African Americans/Blacks have been different from that of any other group in America. African descendants of American Black folks have systematically been forbidden the basic rights, opportunities, and privileges that others have been afforded simply based on the color of their skin.
Africans and African descendants have endured one of the cruelest from of RACISM ever known to the main kind. Hence the barbaric system known as “The Peculiar Institution” was born. Our ancestors, who were considered only 3/5 human beings, consistently resisted enslavement; therefore, our demands for impartiality and full participation in American society have continued to this day. Although our strategies have varied, our collective goals of full freedom and equality remain unchanged.
African Americans/Blacks, for far too many years, have been governed by systemic racism which has never valued our contributions or our lives. Moving forward, we will break the cycle that has created, among some of our brothers and sisters, a type of self-hatred, self-deception, and suppression of our progression. The concoctions used to maintain this hard-core racist scheme of turning us against ourselves were/are supported by governments, mainstream media interests, and the global business elites.
Traditionally, individuals and groups have traveled the world spreading spiteful hate of African-Americans/Blacks specifically and Black people, in general, without accountability. The mainstream media, through its articles, books, movies, etc., continue to be complicit in the continued efforts of de-legitimization of our existence with their venomous messages.
Moreover; every immigrant before their arrival on America’s shores is awarded a set of Privileges, based primarily on color. The Color of their Privileges instantaneously Exceeds those afforded to African-American/Black people whose stolen labor, to a large degree, built this nation. Additionally; most immigrants arriving in America by airplane, ocean liners, or on foot, understand the attachment and meaning of the famous N-word. Immigrants are instructed to disengage from, and not befriend, African-Americans/Blacks; the group that is afforded the less humanity, and has been allocated the least amount of Privilege.
It is in our best interest to fully understand that the concept of white supremacy, which birthed white privileges, is a doctrine without moral or scientific authentication. We must fully comprehend the social and economic impact that the diabolical levels of misinformation and misinformation that is perpetrated against Black lives. Consequently, African-Americans/Blacks must no longer participate in the continued aiding and abetting of our demise. We are on the path of taking back our “Stolen Legacy”: Hence, we will never accept the racist ideas inferring that Melaninated skin, in some unexplainable way, gives others the right to minimize our humanity. Note: Global Educational policies have contributed to the construction and reinforcement of white privilege.
Starting Today, Africans/Descendants must enthusiastically celebrate the end of emotional duplicities and financial terrorism that is intertwined with barbaric and unjust policies. Most importantly, as we move forward; everything that we should control, we will control. By seizing total power over our monies and our minds; we will diligently work to connect High-Income Earning African/Blacks with the causes of comprehensive Black liberation.
We are a glorious people who have given so much to the world in the way of culture, religion, science, mathematics, and grace (etc.); therefore, we will not remain silent and endure self-imposed genocide by not demanding privileges that others are given just because of the color of their skin.
The Fierce Urgency for Justice and Sustainable Liberation requires us to enthusiastically re-evaluate our relationships with ALL entities that work against our interests. Therefore, Africans and African descendants Black people must critically assess the attitudes and actions of companies and individuals and not patronize any institution that continues to disrespect Black People, Black Prosperities, and Black Lives.
I am going to close with this question: If we can all agree, based on statistical current, and historical data, that whiter/lighter skin has an artificially higher positive outcome, when and how are we going to realize economic and social justice and global equity for all?
©Mansour Id-Deen Revised December 17, 2024