It’s Cool Now to Be an Ally

So I guess it’s cool now to be an ally.

To stand up for Black Lives in a covert attempt to minimize our very whiteness that caused the problem in the first place. 

Black Lives Matter is once again a trending topic on Instagram that we tack on to the end of our daily stories, passing the guilt along like a hot potato — lest it land too long in our laps, and we get burnt.

We shout “I am here to listen!” so that we can show our Black friends what we’re really about.

We can’t see the fault that lies behind our eyes in the dark corners of our minds because we really believe we woke up already “woke.”

Maybe, if we shout loud enough at those who are learning what we just discovered yesterday, we can keep the memory of our own recent ignorance at bay.

If I can attack the system, and then attack you for not attacking the system the way that I am, I can feel better about myself. 

There’s no gain in fighting pain with pain, in shaming others for what we ourselves are ashamed. 

We pride ourselves on pointing fingers at easy targets and so forget that the hardest part is shining a light on our own prideful hearts.

At the heart of racism is white supremacy. It’s white people thinking that they’re better than Black people.

I’m not a racist. I know I’m not better than Black people. And knowing that makes me better than you. 

I’d rather blindside you with the truth than let the Light slowly, gently shine on the ugliness that I’ve still got inside.

The Light is calling each of us from our darkness.

Come, walk in the Light, and let the truth set me and you free.