“But I Never Owned Slaves” and Other Statements That Should Be Retired Forever

Yes, we know you aren’t a current slaveowner, but you benefit from the systemic racism in this country

The continuing conversations about racism have given me a glimmer of hope for the future.

It’s been surreal to read posts, watch podcasts, and see television shows that previously appeared oblivious to the racial inequities in America now openly calling them out and acknowledging that they actually do exist.

To keep this discussion moving in the right direction, I’d like to offer a few suggestions to help foster a positive process. Just like any conversation is bound to go left when either party gets defensive instead of listening with an open mind, talking about racism is certainly no exception.

It’s not difficult to understand that if a person is forced to address a less than pristine history, it may ruffle a few feathers. Anyone would react adversely to feeling as though they are under attack. But since Black people in this country deal with this uncomfortable and not-so-pleasant feeling pretty much on a daily basis, I ask that you indulge me for just a few moments.

There are certain statements made by White people who become defensive about the subject of racism that are completely counterproductive to the eradication process. If we can finally let go of debates on the following topics, we might be able to make big strides towards equality for all people:

“But I never owned slaves. Why should I be blamed for something that happened hundreds of years ago?”

First, let’s look at this from the perspective of inheritance. Imagine your great-grandparents created a multi-billion dollar business. When they passed away, they left it to your grandparents, who in turn left it to your parents, who will one day leave it to you. Do you believe that just because you weren’t a part of the business from its inception that you wouldn’t be entitled to the wealth it created? And do you also believe anyone who tried to withhold your family’s fortune from you would be wrong? If you do feel this way, you are absolutely correct. That wealth is part of your family’s legacy, and it is your birthright to benefit from the seeds of your grandparents’ labor.

Now let’s look at this from the perspective of this country. America was built on the backs of slaves whose blood, sweat, tears, and lives were sacrificed to create the infrastructure that would eventually grow into the society we live in today. White supremacy remains the rule of the land which grants those of European descent advantages in this country based on the foundation of its core beliefs.

So while you may have never owned slaves personally, you didn’t have to. Those who came before you did all the ground-work to ensure that your journey would be smooth, that no doors would be closed in your face, and that you and your future generations would never suffer the dehumanizing fate of the slaves and their lineages. And with this privilege comes a responsibility that is two-fold: recognizing that it exists, and using it to help those who are disenfranchised.

“But the Africans owned slaves, too!”

Yes, it is common knowledge to all people of African descent that Africans owned slaves. But what is not discussed is the distinction between the manner in which Africans owned slaves and that of European colonizers in America.

Slavery in Africa was based on a pre-determined time frame of servitude. Slaves were permitted to marry, own property, and in some cases even have their own slaves. It was an institution created as a means for the enslaved person to repay a debt to society and once satisfied, the captive was set free. This is not to minimize the atrocity of enslavement in any form, but only to put it in the proper context.

Slavery under the Europeans was far more insidious. This slave/slave master dynamic had nothing to do with atonement for criminal actions. European colonizers kidnapped and enslaved Africans who had not committed crimes against them for the sole purpose of eternal servitude.

Their system of slavery was created to remain intact while the New World was built with the intention of being passed down through generations. The idea that slavery would end and the enslaved would be entitled to the same pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness as the colonizers had never been part of the original plan. Slaves were free labor and property, and they were regarded as sub-human in the eyes of their masters.

But one of the most malicious components of all was that the Europeans put themselves in a place of supremacy, declaring that their Whiteness alone made them more valuable and worthy than the African slave. This horrific “hierarchy” was not present between slaves and slave owners on the continent of Africa.

“More White people are killed by police than Black people. Where’s the outcry for THAT?”

This declaration is often taken out of context. White people in America outnumber Black Americans by a ratio of over 5:1, so it would make sense that more White people would die at the hands of police considering they are the majority population. But that data alone doesn’t tell the complete story.

The relevance of the number of Black people murdered at the hands of police is magnified when the rate at which Black Americans are killed is explored. 1-in-1000 Black men and boys will be killed by police in their lifetime while the rate is 39-in-100,000 for White men and boys. Black people are also 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people and 1.3 times likely to be unarmed when killed that Whites.

Although Black people make up only 13% of the population in the U.S., 28% of those killed by police have been Black Americans in 2020.

“But what about Black on Black crime? Why don’t Black people march and protest about that as much as they do about racism?”

Let’s set the record straight on this “come back” once and for all. First of all, the phrase “Black on Black crime” is straight up RACIST. Why is it that when white people kill each other it’s not called “White on White” crime?

The myth that Black people sit idly by while we kill each other is ludicrous. Black people have been marching and protesting against violence in our communities for decades. Organizations such as 100 Black Men of America work directly with Black youth through mentoring programs, helping our young people to reach their fullest potential in spite of growing up in an impoverished environment.

The National Urban League, President Obama’s My Brother’s Alliance, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, Youth Over Guns, and countless other Black non-profit organizations have always been active in helping to build the self-worth of our youth. In addition, community volunteers have given their time and used their specific expertise to provide programs that encourage non-violent behavior, education, and economic empowerment.

Unfortunately, we live in a country that does not always prioritize publicizing positive efforts in the Black community. If you believe that Black people don’t care about crime in our neighborhoods because you don’t see evidence of this reflected in the media, then sadly you are misinformed. But if you are interested in this topic, other than as a deflection for the disenfranchisement of Black people in this country, you can always Google organizations dedicated to helping Black communities thrive and get involved. All hands on deck are always welcomed when it comes to saving lives.

“Black people are racist too!”

This is an often-debated topic in White and Black communities. Many White people agree that Black people can be racists however the common thought within the Black community is that while Black people may be prejudiced, we cannot be racist since racism is institutionalized. Black people as a whole are not in positions of power across the board in this county, thus we are unable to institute racism over the dominant society.

Let’s unpack this one because there are many viewpoints that follow this statement. First, let’s just clear up the definition of racism:

Racism: Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

Two words that immediately caught my attention from this definition were minority and marginalized, neither of which describe White Americans. To be fair, there are derogatory terms (cracker, wonder bread, honkey, etc.), stereotypical assumptions (White people don’t have rhythm, White people don’t season their food properly, White people can’t play basketball as well as Black people, etc.), and common prejudices (All White people think Black people are criminals, lazy, or not as intelligent as they are, etc.), that Black people have made against White people, but here are some thoughts to ponder:

While being prejudiced, using derogatory terms, or making assumptions against any group of people is unequivocally wrong, the deeper question is how these transgressions affect a race as a whole. When a Black person makes these inappropriate statements, they do not affect the White community’s immediate, day-to-day reality.

The opinions of Black people, no matter how many may share them, ultimately do not work to change the perception of White people, who hold the alpha position in this country. But the majority of White people sharing a common negative opinion about Black people, whether founded or not, comes with the power to shape the nation’s view of an entire race.

So yes, Black people can exhibit negativity towards White people causing some to apply the label of racist in certain situations. However, in the larger scheme of things, that negativity will never change a White person’s ability to get a job, secure a home loan, receive acceptance into an Ivy League school, to be perceived as a non-violent threat, or to stay alive during an interaction with law enforcement.

These are just a few of the common responses Black people may have to defend during this national conversation on racism. It is exhausting to justify our oppression and fight it at the same time. As it is with any other issue, sticking to the subject at hand (that would be racism against the Black community and people of color, in case anyone has forgotten) is the quickest and most effective way to find a workable and lasting solution.