P R I V I L E G E

Privilege is given by your parents as you progress in maturity and develop in age. Privilege is also given by gender and as you may know by color. First, let’s define what exactly is privilege. As defined, privilege is a special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste. We know this word to be associated with the white never the Black. The men never the women; as men are given the job more easily than women because he looks more fit for the job. The boy never the girl. And as the list goes on, you know that the simple distinction is the way they are perceived or labeled by society. Privilege was never given to young Black people or Black people at all for that matter. As Shamell Bell said, “it is impossible to be unarmed when our Blackness [was and] is the weapon they fear.” White people. White people believe they have a prerogative to kill Black people because THEY thought it was RIGHT believing that they SUSPECTED danger. White people should trade the echo of their bullet for the vibration of their vocal cords; unfortunately, George  Zimmerman, Daniel Pantaleo, and the killer of Emmett Till did not.  

What happened after Trayvon Martin’s death, when he was fatally shot and left to bleed out because he had a gray hoodie on and “look[ed] like [he was] up to no good”, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. George Zimmerman, the killer of Martin, was charged with second-degree murder SIX WEEKS AFTER the death of Trayvon Martin. Where was Black privilege in those six weeks!!!?? Again the word suspected shows up with Eric Garner, I …Cant …Breathe, who was suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes. Daniel Pantaleo was never convicted or charged for the death he has caused and the pain he has inflicted. Michael Brown was an unarmed black kid who needed a hand but instead was given a bullet. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy that was lynched in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. No Black privilege, whatsoever. And they say bullets don’t have a name. But in this reality, bullets have Black people’s names written all over them.  

John Blake, a CNN reporter, wrote an article directed towards complaining Black people of racism in America where he expresses, “You don’t know how good you have it.” As a white man, he does not know how good he has it. How good whites have it. Blake refers to how white people don’t have white history month but here exists Black History Month. Apposed with the question, do you believe there should be white history month? 

Personally, they should never implement such a thing in our society. Whites get to celebrate life every day by watching our struggle. Some of them even try to act Black, since that seems to be the new trend, but still get to keep their privilege. They are so privileged that they are unaware of their privilege. Black history month and Hispanic heritage month were created as a chance for the unrepresented culture to be appreciated. But what many forget is that natives learned it as an oppressive tactic to make our ancestors be more “civil” and since February is already the shortest month, it is another act of oppression. Even with Black History Month, I’m sorry to say that we are still oppressed. And the sad truth is that there will never be an equal between Blacks and whites. Women and men. Girls and boys.