I have been given the privilege
To hold my breath
To make this choice:
I cannot watch that video
I will not watch that video
To see
How George Floyd is being killed
To hear
How George Floyd is being killed
To hear
His breath failing as he tells the whole world so
And Derek Chauvin
On duty
To see
Derek Chauvin killing George Floyd
On duty
Tag Archives: racism
On Racism and Othering
The following text is partly in response to friends or anyone really who is rightfully upset and hurt by ongoing racism in the world. My fear is that this pain makes it more and more difficult for us to engage openly, and to challenge ourselves and our prejudice, or if you like: myself and my prejudices. I sense that a lot of people on the receiving end of racism are fed up with finding themselves in a position where they are asked to explain or end racism or are asked to forgive, more so than those who commit acts of racism, directly or indirectly, are willing to do the work to overcome it, or even look at potential racist behaviour, or to admit to their position of privilege.
It’s become longer than I thought, and I believe what truth there is in it is personal, thus not necessarily The capital-T Truth.