Why It’s Not Okay to Be White
George Seibold
Taken by George Seibold for the Vermont Cynic
Last spring, flyers with the words “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” began popping up on college campuses across Burlington. Just a little over a month ago, at least one more flyer was found on Champlain College’s campus. The school’s president, Donald Laackman, sent an email to students and faculty, stating that we as a community rejected the message of hatred that these flyers expressed. If someone told me a few years ago that these words had been meant to incite white nationalism, I would’ve been surprised. Because how do you argue against the point that it’s okay to be a skin color?
As a queer person of color, I live in constant fear that I’ll lose my rights. I’m afraid of encountering someone who will walk up to me and say that it’s not okay to be me. I watch the news with bated breath because I wonder what politicians are saying about people like me now. So it’s laughable to see someone say “it’s okay to be white” because nobody ever said it wasn’t. However, there are plenty of people who thought it wasn’t okay to be darker. The current social climate doesn’t exactly help either. When Trump was elected, there were people who thought it was okay to tell people who’ve lived here their whole lives to “go back home.” White neo-Nazis began crawling out of the woodwork to express that they wanted to take America back. In their minds, what makes America “great” is the lack of people of color.
Here’s the other thing about the phrase “It’s okay to be _____”—people like me needed to hear it. Not those specific words, but we needed to hear “It’s okay to be black/gay/trans/etc.” because so many of us were ashamed. It became a pride phrase. Something that instilled pride in our identity. The difference between white and black? I can’t and won’t speak for black people, but they need that phrase because a thing called slavery happened and they don’t know what else to be proud of. They don’t know what parts of Africa their ancestors came from so they have the word black instead. But white people can be proud of their French or Irish heritage and forget about the whiteness that comes with it. Because what’s attached to that whiteness is colonization, slavery, segregation, and racism.
It’s always been okay to be white. But don’t take pride in that. The reason why the rest of us can is because we’ve been told it’s not okay. So we’re taking back the time that we lost. The time we spent being ashamed or trying to hide, we want it back. And we don’t want to be afraid when we step onto campus thinking someone doesn’t want us there. Because we don’t have the time to worry anymore.
“Because what’s attached to that is whiteness is colonization, slavery, segregation, and racism. It’s always been okay to be white, But don’t take pride in that.” So, because I was born a white person, I am now a part of slavery, racism, segregation, and colonization. I am the one who did that. 100%.
You talk about the Irish like they were never oppressed.
“Because what’s attached to that whiteness is colonization, slavery, segregation, and racism.”
Yeah, because no people of other races or ethnicities ever had any of these.
What about Italians and southern Europe being oppressed, enslaved, and rapped by moors? Or the black muslims claiming white people are devils, it’s not ok to be white, and evil and need to be destroyed? Both sides have groups and individuals speaking against and oppressing the other. It’s ok to be proud of yourself and heritage just don’t think you’re better or above anyone. We’re all humans on this tiny rock and deserve the freedom to express ourself and celebrate our differences and similarities without persecution. And the minute you tell someone what they can and can’t do you’re talking away that freedom.
Okay. So Irish people were oppressed by the British. Quite people oppressing white people. Guess where they came? To America. To change their name, and continue the cycle of oppression, only standing behind the label of ‘white’ this time. Moreover, at least you know they’re Irish. And you don’t have to use white as an all inclusive term for pale and fair skinned people. Next. “Moors” … isn’t that a derogatory term for Muslim people? Funny that. Because in the example you brought up, when they were named that, it wasn’t only given to dark skinned Muslims, it was a name Europeans came up with for all Muslims, including white European Muslims, which yeah, totally a thing… it’s not tied to ethnicity so I see where your head is at. Next. The whole white devil thing? Idk much about that but it sounds like more religious garbage. And white Christianity has a lot of that. Have you even heard of manifest destiny? Religions been used to pin humans against each other since the beginning of time. Next. I agree with the rest of your statements. However, understand that a near 300 years of oppression is dangerous. So much so that there are black people who hate themselves, and genuinely feel their inferior and there are idiot hick whites who think they’re genuinely superior. Notice I said idiot. Most educated white people are very aware of the political climate and the disgusting history of systematic racism in America. It’s ok to white and it’s ok to be black. The difference is I’m proud of my ancestors and what they’ve pushed through to get me to where I am today. I know a lot of white people arent proud of their ancestors, but instead of pushing back and saying “It’s still ok to be white” (and it is), try making your descendants proud, instead of this icky white-guilt, your ancestors left you. You shouldn’t be guilty for being white. But don’t act as if whites and blacks have had the same experience in America.
these comments are valid but quite frankly ridiculous.
first, we’re talking about AMERICA right now. minorities are being oppressed in America, so we need these phrases, to let us know that we’re okay and still standing. in AMERICA, white people have ALWAYS been at the top of the food chain. y’all don’t need an ‘it’s okay to be white’ phrase because it’s ALWAYS been okay to be white (in America). you can’t say to same for marginalized communities. to this day. it’s not that hard of a concept to grasp.