The Luxury of Not Understanding

Summary

The article reflects on the privilege of selective ignorance regarding racial injustices, as highlighted by Jamon Simmons during a protest following George Floyd's murder.

Abstract

The piece discusses a poignant comment made by Jamon Simmons on NPR, where he underscores the luxury of not understanding the struggles of racial injustice due to privilege. This privilege allows individuals to remain oblivious to systemic inequities because they do not personally experience them. The author of the article interprets Simmons' statement as a critique of society's complicity in perpetuating ignorance and injustice, suggesting that this willful ignorance is an active choice that benefits the privileged while insulting those who suffer.

Opinions

Jamon Simmons points out that people who do not experience racial injustices have the privilege to ignore them.
The author views the ability to remain unaware of racial issues as an advantage that is both tacitly exercised and willfully ignored.
The article suggests that society, by not addressing these injustices, is complicit in maintaining the status quo of inequality.
Simmons' comment implies that the ignorance of racial issues among the privileged is not accidental but a conscious decision to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths.
The author finds the choice to be willfully ignorant due to privilege to be more insulting than simple ignorance, as it is a deliberate act rather than a lack of awareness.

The Luxury of Not Understanding

I was listening to NPR whilst walking my doggies when a piece entitled “’We’re Tired Of Getting Killed’: The Voices Of Texas Protesters” came on concerning the recent rash of protests from the murder of George Floyd. The comments were unremarkable — go vote, make your voice heard, stand up for injustice, etc. Then a man named Jamon Simmons(pretty sure that’s what the journalist said his name was). His comment really struck me and I wanted to share it with the Medium community. He said

“I don’t I think a lot of people take it seriously because they don’t live this life. If you don’t live this life you have the privilege and the power to not understand it.”

What struck me was the notion that ignorance of the iniquities due to color was described as a privilege, an advantage that is tacitly exercised and willfully ignored.

It is a serious jab at the establishment for being complicit.

Simmons didn’t say that they were ignorant. He said they are aware of this injustice, but they hide behind privilege.

To me, this is so much more insulting — to be willfully ignorant because it’s more convenient.