After the murder of George Floyd, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for not doing more to combat intolerance and racism. I’m blessed to work for a large organization that also took a quick and strong stance against racism encouraging all of us to get real with each other. I needed to do something (no matter how small) so I committed to sharing a weekly email with my immediate team including resources that explore racial inequality in America. Topics such as race, religion, and politics have been taboo in the workplace and understandably so. However, we (white people) can’t continue to stay silent and go along with the status quo. All of the previous posts on this page ((prior to September 2020) are excerpts from the weekly emails I sent to my team.
So why Nice White Girl?
As I continue to consume books, podcasts, and articles on racial disparities, the following self reflections have become abundantly clear:
- I have completely settled into my privilege, never thinking twice about how I navigate the physical space around me. I’m in the majority at the grocery store, at work, at my children’s daycare, etc.
- I have used my privilege to get what I want
- I haven’t been a true ally
Essentially, I’ve been a ‘nice white girl’ – not rocking the boat, not making anyone uncomfortable, quick to avoid any confrontation… Not quite a full-blown Karen, but too complicit nonetheless. Being ‘nice’ is a mask we hide behind because we don’t want to lose what we have. There’s a rich history behind the need for women to be ‘nice’, to play their part in society. Women are demonized if they are assertive, rude, or persistent, and maybe it’s part of a grand design. We risk social capital if we speak up, challenge the status quo, and be true allies to marginalized groups. I can’t stop thinking about the fact that in 1920, women could not give themselves the right to vote… we relied on MEN to give us the right to vote. Black people can’t singlehandedly ensure they’re treated as equals in this society. WE need to ensure they’re treated equally. Us nice white girls.
My goal in writing this blog is to share as I learn and hopefully encourage others to reflect on their own relationship with race and privilege.