#BlackLivesMatter, racial capitalism and my white privilege
The news headlines on Sunday the 14th June, 2020.
Violence and "thuggery" has broken out overnight as far-right "counter-protestors" clashed with police. Meanwhile, #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) protests continue to be largely peaceful throughout the UK, abiding by the principles of civil disobedience.
I'm just going to say it clear and outright - there is no place for the violent behaviour carried out by these self-proclaimed “statue defenders.” Quite frankly, I am ashamed to associate myself with those who raged and pelted and “defended” the colonial histories I share with them as a British citizen. Rather than being defended, Britain's colonial legacy must be acknowledged, taught in schools and countered. Consequently, I will not give ‘counter-protests’ any more acknowledgement in my blog. However, if any individuals from these protests would like to come forward and peacefully discuss their opinions with me, I will gladly engage and try to seek more of a mutual understanding with you, and I'm sure many other BLM supporters would like to do the same. I know your actions were not directly targeted at the BLM movement, but they were clearly targeted at countering the removal of statues related to the slave trade as demanded by most BLM protestors. But before you turn away, take a look around. Broken glass is scattered on what little common ground exists between us. I want to hear you speak, but at the moment we stand too far apart. How long will it be, I wonder, until we can stand on our streets again and strive to understand each other, without the risk of shedding blood?
In this space, let’s turn instead to the BLM chants desperate to resurface. Anger boils them, yes. Bold demands inspire them, true. But when opportunities, respect and rights are strangled by a system described by the Harvard professor, Khalil Gibran Muhammed (2020), as "racial capitalism," voices must shout ever louder to be heard. And when a resounding cry for air gets muffled by a systemic white privilege, it becomes necessary to put your knee to grit and tarmac and make explicitly clear what is written beneath our skin; Black Lives Matter.
In George Floyd’s name we remember every life lost to perpetual racism and police brutality.
In George Floyd’s name we remember those disgraced by the corrupt protection of another’s reputation.
In George Floyd’s name we call an end to the racist systems that discriminate against the BAME community.
Photograph: PA,
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/protesters-take-knee-black-lives-18393494I understand that some people are uncomfortable with protests. As a child growing up in a fairly conservative neighbourhood, even I remember thinking that despite people repeatedly saying that you should speak up for what you believe in, you should never cause a ruckus, never cause a scene.
Yet sometimes, progress cannot be achieved through civility alone. As a white middle-class female, I cannot speak directly of the discrimination which the BAME community experiences. However, I can see that even though many from the BAME community speak of their experience of discrimination, very few are listened to. And when you are faced with an injustice, and endless letters to politicians and campaigns on social media and books in the literature and speeches on the telly fail to produce results time and time again, what is left for you to do?
A look inside the textbooks and we find that primary school children are taught to thank the Suffragettes, praise Rosa Parks and hail the non-violence of Gandhi’s Salt March against British colonialism. Yet one step into the playground, and the stick of discipline indoctrinates. A little further out the school gates and society screams; “conform, conform, conform!”
Of course, we do not want violence, and discipline has good merit. Yet history tells us that progressive social change requires a little disobedience. The concept of ‘civil disobedience’ was developed by the political theorist, Henry David Thoreau. For me, the idea provides the foundation for just and legitimate protests, such as the largely non-violent BLM protests. The School of Life provide a great summary of ‘civil disobedience’ on YouTube, and I highly encourage you to watch it below. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, as I would love to open a discussion about this, or indeed any other concerns you may have on this topic.
Societal change is long overdue, and BLM protesting is ripe for catalysing such change. Of course, the present context means that precautions must be taken to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, and adherence to social distancing guidelines must remain of paramount importance. Yet the need to tackle racism and the discrimination of other marginalised groups by gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability and religion etc. cannot be pushed aside. No matter how much provoking occurs, it is up to protestors to ensure that protests remain largely safe and peaceful. The Black Lives Matter movement shall not be silenced.
In other news, the Prime Minister has called for a review of the 2m social distancing guidelines. In recognition of the major long-term and unpredictable impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, the review will evaluate whether current guidelines can be safely reduced to 1m. Not only will the review be guided by scientists and scientific evidence, but also economists.
The economy has been injured:
- Millions globally have sought unemployment benefits.
- Britain's service economy and small-scale businesses have essentially shut down.
- And a recession may well be on its way.
Yet I ask, where are the sociologists informing this review? Where are the lawyers? Where are the sustainability experts? I assume that when our Prime Minister says that 'scientists' will be involved, he refers to experts across numerous disciplines including medicine, public health, mental health and epidemiology. But how many and in what proportion will their views be represented?
What about local community leaders, social care workers and the voices of minority groups? Is this review going to be neutral a priori, Boris, with differing perspectives being represented equitably and balancing each other out? This is information the public should have access to, and I cannot find anywhere. We know that Boris' government focuses on, and has strong interests in, the economy, and I want to make sure that during these critical times, the government is being led by the science, rather than other ideologies. Yet I fear that too much importance has been placed on the economy as of late. Could the review have been designed, either intentionally or unintentionally, to place excessive emphasis on monetary pressures? Could the government's approach be undermining the nation’s health? The public deserve to know.
3 years on, and the communities affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy continue to campaign for change and fight for social justice. They claim that 2000 tall residential buildings still contain "dangerous materials which risk a repeat of the disaster" (Simons, 2020, 06:33-06:44 mins). They also remain without answers as to why the fire happened and who is to blame, as the coronavirus outbreak has caused yet another delay to the inquiry. Tonight, the Grenfell United community ask people to join them by attending a series of online events, and watching a special video which will illuminate homes in a green light of remembrance across the nation.
Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/12/green-lights-to-shine-for-grenfell-victims-on-anniversary-of-disaster
3 years. Authorities have been under public scrutiny over the Grenfell Tower tragedy for 3 years. Despite this, the lives of many residents in nearby tower blocks remains at risk. Brexit and the coronavirus outbreak are partly to blame. Yet a seemingly essential action - removing dangerous materials from residences where lives are known to be at risk - seems to have been forgotten. This can no longer be blamed on insufficient knowledge or capacity. This is shear neglect.
And I wonder now, can you see a link between all three?
It’s subtle but engrained into the very fabric of society. A system founded on the exploitation of marginalised groups; discriminated by race, gender, nature and class, to name a few (I will go into this in a later blog, but for now let it suffice that I consider there to be an exploitation of non-humans that interlinks with, and facilitates, exploitation of other ethically significant marginalised groups. This is evidenced by the concept of ‘natural capital,’ which portrays natural beings like rocks, soil, plants, birds, bears and bees as a resources for appropriation).
The elite built a system to extract wealth from marginalised groups. It justifies itself by ‘othering’ those who differ from the ruling class. It strips people of respect, ethical consideration and dignity. And so, blind to another’s ethical significance, the elite are able to capitalise on the plight of ‘Others.’ Thus, with faults concealed, I worry that no matter what the evidence says, Boris will find no problem in prioritising the economy over the nation's wellbeing. Similarly, the Grenfell community and their campaigns continue to be overlooked, because political priorities just aren’t in their favour.
The system can discriminate along many different lines. One form is racial capitalism, which continues to justify itself by claiming that everyone is ‘free.’ Yet opportunities, wealth and resources are channeled towards the elite. At the same time, we are blinded to our own ‘white privilege.’ For many years I could not see it, and thought I was not racist - I wanted equity for everyone and never intended, acted or said anything discriminatory. Yet, over time, I learnt the error of my ways. I think I am beginning to understand my white privilege and what it means. It means that I was born into a family with financial security. It means that I can apply for a job and not be turned down because of my name. It means that when I walk out the house, I do not have to think or deal with racism. It is not enough to refrain from racist behaviour, for the system still perpetuates. I have to reconcile the fact that I have nonetheless bought into this system. My spending habits, the books I read, the news channels I listen to; these can all play a role in keeping the truth from me. I must continue to expose other privileges I receive, and when I cannot turn away from them, I will shout them out. I will become an ally in the fight for racial justice.
I know this blog post is written solely from my experiences as a white person, and I therefore cannot portray or discuss racial issues with accuracy or a full understanding of the experiences of BAME-identifying individuals. In these ways, I am ignorant and my words have little strength. At the same time, I cannot make amends for historical injustices on my own. But I will not stop demanding change. I will bare witness and kneel in solidarity. I add my voice to demands to decolonise curriculums and more accurately teach children of Britain's colonial history. I demand equitable rights and respect for individuals of all races and ethnicities.
Enough is enough. I must not shy away from racism any longer. Although I speak up about it, all too often my worries have restrained me from questioning people around me who have made comments that I consider problematic. For too long I have feared 'political correctness' and offence in a mistake. But silence is worse than stumbling over my words. I must use my voice to create the space for dialogue instead. I must try to speak up more and lend my voice to the movements I believe in. I must allow myself to be vulnerable, be prepared to stutter and stumble. I may well make a fool of myself, but so what? I’ll make my intention clear. And if we all make this progress, we can tear down the system. Together. And together, we will rebuild a new society on the foundations of equal rights and respect.
#BlackLivesMatter.
H_M
:)
:)
Bibliography:
Simons, T. News and Papers. 2020. BBC Radio 4. 06 June 2020, 08:00. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k1bg
Muhammed, K.G. The Documentary: America Black and White. 2020. BBC Radio 4. 14 June 2020, 18:06. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct0w2q
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