Light Skin Privilege

So many conversations, debates and arguments. Too little people listening. I fear we hide behind social media as an attempt to stay anonymous. Some fear social media due to these free fall attacks. You’ll look at my picture and see what you decide to see. I’ll be classified differently by each classifier. Why is that? Because of the color of my skin, my subtle facial features or the texture of my hair. What you do not know, is that no matter how hard you fit me into your box, I will not, for..I’ve created my own.

I have learned that the color of my skin comes with privilege. The privilege to talk and more likely to be heard. So, this is what I have come to say…

We all have our truths… because they are ours. You can’t deny them. You can’t take them away or say they don’t exist. What we can say is that we wear different lenses. We see the world differently… based on our experiences, based on how others see us and classify us.

I learned at a young age that we are in tune to our name. People can talk and never once do you catch a word. But as soon as someone says your name you hear it. You immediately stop what you’re doing and you look. Before then, it was static in the background. This phenomena happens all of the time. If someone is talking about you or calls you out, you’re in tune to it…it has become personal.

Well, I believe the same process happens when people are “talked” about based on their religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race and so many more.  What happens is, if it doesn’t apply it’s easier to keep it static. So in others reality…the discrimination doesn’t exist. I can’t deny that…that’s your reality, your everyday, your privilege. But when you stand out from the majority and you hear the talking, when the actions are against you, it is no longer static in the background…it’s reality for people everyday.

The discrimination, racism, sexism, and all the other “isms” happen everyday, at every corner, and just because you can’t see it or hear it… doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…it’s your static.