It is February which means it's Black History Month. In addition to seeing an increase in the amount videos, articles and posts about the accomplishments of Black Americans, you're also likely to see an increase in toxic white fragility. There is something about celebrating the accomplishments of Black people in this country that brings out the ignorant and hateful. So, I'm going to waste a few moments of this precious month telling y'all to knock it off.
White fragility is defined as "a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves." Simply put, white fragility is the notion that some white people have to be coddled in situations regarding race because discussing race makes them defensive. No, this does not apply to all white people. However my impulse to state that in and of itself is a direct result of dealing with white fragility.
White fragility is toxic to the advancement of all people in this country because tip-toeing around race has never made the issues of racism go away. And the defensiveness that comes in attempting conversations makes for a difficult road to a solution to the issues this country has with race. If we're busy trying to hand-hold and coddle the privileged into these conversations, how will we ever make progress for the marginalized?
During this month (and generally speaking) we hear so many oppositions. "Why don't we have a white history month?" Perhaps because you have 12? There is no White History Month because the majority of the history we are taught in school was carried out by white people.Think back to the accomplishments you learned about in your regular schooling. Now think about how if you wanted a detailed look into Black history, you had to sign up for an elective. If it wasn't slavery or the Civil Rights movement, you probably didn't hear about it in your classroom. Despite the fact that our history didn't begin with slavery nor did it end with the Civil Rights Movement, that's all we're given. Black history is American history but until it is treated as such by being included in the regular curriculum, we will continue to take this month to celebrate our accomplishments.
Another frequently used criticism is the classic "why do you insist on talking about race? That is what keeps racism alive!" Well actually the systems and people that benefit from racism keep it alive. Talking about it can only bring awareness and spreading awareness is one of the first steps in repairing the deep rooted issues this country has with racism. Talking about racism isn't an automatic statement that all white people are racist. It is, however, going to call out those who are and challenge those who are comfortable in their privilege.
If you've ever uttered the phrases above or found yourself getting defensive during Black History Month (or in general when the topic of race comes up), it may be time to take a step back and check yourself.
