Eileen Kugler
Springfield, VA
Those of us who benefit from white privilege and from middle-class privilege need to constantly be aware of how our lives are different from a person of color. Walking with my son on a cold rainy day in early April, I watched him nonchalantly pull his hood up as we walked around town. He kept it on as he walked in and out of stores; not making a statement, just keeping himself warm. But I saw the statement. He could do this without fear because underneath his hood was his white face. That’s why it was so meaningful – and so important – for the President to articulate that message so clearly. Certainly the president is at the height of privilege, and yet his children will always be viewed as Black children first. I see my privilege all the time – rarely stopped in my mini-van although I often speed; returning items to a store without all the right tags; playing my music as loud as I want. About a year ago, someone noticed a Latino man in work clothes riding his bike on a public trail through my neighborhood which sadly has few people who look like him. A comment about his presence went out on a neighborhood email list. My husband immediately wrote back about how this was profiling a man with the right to be on that path and he was bombarded with “how dare you call me a racist” emails. I hope people will be a little more aware of these issues today. We all need to open our eyes. And we need to keep having authentic conversations about this.
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