An Open Letter
The first question I ask myself as I write is, how can I – a biracial, Korean and White woman – possibly speak to not only the murders of Black men and women in recent weeks, but to the oppression that Black people experience on a daily basis?
The truth is, I don’t know that I can. But my second question is this – do I have any choice but to speak?
It is because of my privilege, a privilege that comes from the color of my skin, that I can easily choose to stay silent, to disengage, to move on to other things and away from the complex, heavy, self-incriminating state of our nation today.
Yes, self-incriminating. Because the recent murders of black men and women are more widely recognized examples of the less noticed, less publicized institutional racism that goes on every day. Those of us with White privilege have historically and systemically been given power and privilege over other people groups. And we with privilege must hold ourselves accountable to this truth - this is about needing to own and, because of the power disproportionally given to us, be the ones to undo that structure. It is incredibly easy for us with privilege to ignore this conversation, but we must choose to see how terribly violent our world is for People of Color because privileged people have repeatedly turned away for generations.
As I write, I know that our readers are many of SYM’s friends and donors who generously support and give to our work – and I also know that the large majority of our readership and donor support comes from people who are White. And so today, I am writing to you – with you, for you, to you. Because I am beside you with my White skin, leaning into the discomfort in the power that my skin gives me and figuring out what to do with it. Ignoring it doesn’t change the fact that I have it; in fact, it is a privilege to be able to ignore the color of my skin, a privilege that others are not afforded – those with Black skin are reminded of it daily as they are pulled over and criminalized without cause, assumed to be dangerous or violent, and killed.
I write with a bold hope that if you are reading and you feel targeted, frustrated, or defensive by my words – that you would breathe in, sit with that discomfort, and have the courage to keep engaging (and also read this article).
A White author, Daniel Hill, spoke to this truth about institutional racism and our part in it in his book, White Awake. I heard him speak over a year ago and one statement he made has stuck in my mind ever since:
We have all breathed it in.
You are not alone in your White privilege. We have all breathed it in - we have all breathed in the fumes from the system that, at its core, produces racism. We cannot pretend that we have somehow escaped the grasp of racism here in America – instead, we must humbly say along with the rest of our nation that we have breathed it in, too. It is in the very framework of our nation, from the moment our ancestors stepped onto this land and killed Indigenous people in order to call it our own - and it has persisted through the systemic evils of slavery, Jim Crow Laws, lynching, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and police brutality toward Black and Brown people (for more on this history of racism, check out this book).
But we absolutely cannot stop at this knowledge of racism’s existence. We have to act. We have to change. If this last week has told us anything, it is that we are already too late to this fight. So we better get a move on.
If we will believe that we’ve breathed it in too, that means that we can finally begin the work of breathing it out. But this work isn’t one breath out and it’s gone – it is a continual, self-reflecting, humbling, difficult, and messy process of breathing out the systemic racism that we have all been raised to participate in as well as a commitment to breathe in anti-racist education and formation – which must inherently lead to action.
We must be better. We must do better. And all of that has got to start, not by pointing fingers to the “real racists” over there, but by looking deep within ourselves and understanding our own privilege and participation in the system that oppresses People of Color.
--------------
As an organization, we repent of the many ways in which we have participated and continue to participate in the perpetuation of institutional racism.
As an individual, I repent of the many ways in which I have personally participated in and continue to participate in the perpetuation of institutional racism.
Would we have the integrity to stop seeking to defend ourselves as right but look with humility at the ways in which we are still in the wrong.
Would we not just say the words, but commit to right action, to anti-racist education, and to a lifetime of self-accountability to break the chains of racism in our own lives and in our world.
On behalf of my organization and the White community, I apologize to the Black community for our ignorance, our inaction, and our violent and harmful actions toward your people.
My words are not enough.
Would we not ask to be pardoned, but seek to be changed.
Let us be accountable to not just speak, but to move.
--------------
As a last note, I will emphasize that I am not the expert on this. My work toward anti-racism has only begun. Please don’t let me be the only voice you read from. We must look to the voices of Black, Indigenous and other People of Color as the experts and work to uplift the voices of those who wish to speak into our collective action. Below is a list of books, articles, and organizations that may act as your first, second, or hundredth step in continuing to educate ourselves and hold ourselves accountable to the power we hold. I urge you to listen to what is being asked of us and respond.
Sincerely,
Emily Bunch
Interim Program Director
Books & Articles to Read
The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander
I’m Still Here, by Austin Channing Brown
Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson
“What White Allyship Looks Like: An Open Letter” : article by Johnathan S. Perkins
"White Feelings: Racial Dialogue’s Greatest Obstacle": article by Johnathan S. Perkins
"Bryan Stevenson On the Frustration Behind the George Floyd Protests", article from The New Yorker
White Awake, by Daniel Hill
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DeAngelo
Places to Learn From and/or Donate To
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: A fund set up to support the family of George Floyd, who was murdered by Minneapolis police officers.
I Run With Maud: A fund set up to support Ahmaud’s mother, Ms. Wanda Cooper-Jones and her immediate family. Ahmaud was murdered by the McMichaels while out jogging.
Justice for Bre: A petition to hold the police accountable who murdered Breonna Taylor. Breonna was in her home asleep when police broke through the door without warning and fired shots.
BLM Seattle Freedom Fund, by Black Lives Matter, Seattle - King County: A fund to help bail out those who are arrested while protesting the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Manuel Ellis.
Showing Up For Racial Justice: A national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: A collective of anti-racist, multi-cultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation.
Black Alliance for Just Immigration: An organization that educates and engages African American and black immigrant communities to organize and advocate for racial, social, and economic justice.
Equal Justice Initiative: An organization committed to ending mass incarceration, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable in our society.
Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites: A Seattle based group of White anti-racists working for justice.