Coming from a diverse city with a very large black population, I have heard an immense amount of stories involving racism. My high school had been subject to criticism due to a demerit system that seemed to target and affect black students much more heavily than their white peers. The recent shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile have caused my home city to become a hotspot for the Black Lives Matter movement. However, as a white teen, where do I fit into this situation? Quite frankly, in Brockton, Massachusetts, I don't.
I'd like to set a disclaimer. I am a person who supports the Black Lives Matter movement, despite not being an active member of protests and rallies. This may seem hypocritical, but some people in Brockton blame white people as a whole for white privilege and racial profiling, rather then recognizing the real issue of selective policing and the poor decisions of the nations judicial system regarding police brutality, and due to this I feel unsafe at the rallies in my city. With this being said, lets begin.
The easiest way to explain why it is difficult for me to contribute to BLM would be to explain the point of view of some black citizens in my city. There have been many times where I have noted black figures in my city blaming white people for the issues in our nation. I will be the first to acknowledge that white privilege exists and that black people are much more vulnerable to police violence. The facts are undeniable; however, in no way does that implicate white people as a whole are causing the issues in the country. This outlook held by some (definitely not all) black "Brocktonians" makes it a difficult and scary decision to join this protests. There have already been reported cases of violence between protesters at Brockton rallies, and going to one as a white teen makes me feel at risk. There are many who I know would accept me in these protests, but I can not and will not put myself in a situation in which my safety is at jeopardy.
The reason I write this is to express the message which many white people my age would like to send to those who blame us for the issues regarding violence and racism in America. We stand with you. It is easy to write me off as someone who has no care in the world for the current issues facing blacks in America. That could not be further from the truth. I have many friends affected by this, but most important to me is my sister and niece. They are black, and the love I have for both of them is only outweighed by the fear I have for them. Everyday I worry about how my niece will live in a world where black people are unfairly ruled against. I worry that my sister will be arrested or worse, for something as simple as a traffic violation. This is not acceptable. As a white teen my perspective is often overlooked. I may not be able to say that I have experienced being a victim of selective policing, but I have witnessed it with my own eyes. My message to the black Brocktonians, and all black citizens of the United States, is that no matter the color of your skin, it is easy to recognize the injustices in our nation. Do not write off white teens as bystanders. I can't speak for all, but many of us support you. Right now, black lives are at constant risk, and that needs to end. So as a white teen, I will do my best to stand with the BLM movement, but unfortunately, I am unable to do much in a society where white people are being blamed as a whole for racial issues. So please, do not look at me as a white teen with no idea of the issues blacks face in America. I can't relate, but I want to help fight against them to the best of my ability.
