Dear White People, Stop Telling People of Color What To Do.
Graphics by: Halima Jibril
Words by: Blanca Reyes
White people are being real brave, telling people of color, once again, what to do and who to vote for.
“You have to vote for Biden!”
“If you don’t vote, you’re privileged.”
“You’re voting for Trump!”
“Never complain about anything ever again.”
Imagine that. White people telling people of color that we’re privileged because we refuse to vote for someone who is not for us, who will do nothing for us. Someone who has played a part in the continuation of our oppression.
White people are really brave.
But let me ask white people this: what has happened to y’all in the last 4 years? What awful thing has the Trump administration done that has specifically targeted white people?
White people haven’t been locked in cages and separated from their children.
White people haven’t been racially profiled and wrongfully put in concentration *ahem* sorry, detention camps, even though you had proof you were a legal resident.
White people haven’t been gruesomely discriminated against and murdered by police officers because they were white.
White people haven’t had acid thrown at them due to their religion or color of their skin.
White people haven’t been disproportionately sentenced to prison with maximum sentences for non-violent crimes simply because of their race.
White people haven’t been drone struck in the Middle East
The list can go on and on.
The fact of the matter is, white people will be okay no matter who becomes president. Nothing will happen to you based on the color of your skin. You won’t be actively targeted. But do you know who it will continue to be unsafe for? People of color.
You can name health insurance, college debt, Roe v. Wade, and other things to try and prove that I’m wrong but those issues will continue to be issues under Biden. He will not change a thing. Look at this track record. There is no evidence that he will actually do anything to help us, especially people of color. The only thing is the fact that he’s friends with the first black president but even that isn’t impressive. Biden himself said to CNN's Anderson Cooper ahead of Super Tuesday voting in March, that “people don’t want a revolution, they want results.” When in actuality, marginalised people need a revolution, because “normal” before Trump was still detrimental to us. If you think Biden’s election is going to make it right for people of color or anyone, you’re most likely white and blind to our reality. You will never understand and quite frankly, you refuse to.
Instead of telling people of color what they have to do and who they have to vote for, maybe you should be quiet, check your privilege and listen to the needs and wants of people of color, since we’re the ones who have more to fear, more to lose and more at stake. I’ve been saying from the beginning of the presidential campaign that we needed to elect someone who has a track record of helping marginalized communities. People of color have been saying loud and clear what we need for our people’s safety and yet we’re down to pick between two white rapists? We weren’t listened to.
Unlike white people, I’m not going to tell you what to do and I’m not going to judge you for voting for Biden out of fear. However, I will not allow white people to continue to guilt-shame us for not wanting to vote for him. They can put their morals, ethics and dignity aside to vote for him, but I’m going to vote for who I think is right - not only for my people but for my conscience. I’m going to vote for who is best for people of color. I’m going to vote for who is best for marginalized communities. No matter what.
I am over letting white people tell us what to do.
Trump is in office because of who? White people. Specifically white women. So it’s up to white people and white women to clean up their mess. It is not the responsibility of people of color to fix the problems of the white man. You’ll have a person of color talking about their struggles with racism and there’s always one or more white people who will say, “Instead of complaining, do something about it.” Why is it our job to fix this country’s racism? We’re not the ones who started it.
This country’s politics is a complete shitshow because of white people. Trying to shame people of color into believing that WE, will be the reason why this country continues to be substandard if we vote for Bernie, a third party, or not vote at all is a complete and utter joke.
It says a lot that white liberals will be mad at people for not voting for a senile rapist rather than being mad at the senile rapist himself and the establishment that allowed him to be a presidential nominee in the first place.
Stop telling people of color what to do.
By Blanca Reyes
(she/her)
Twitter : @blanca__star