What if I was George Floyd?

I feel like I don’t have the authority to write about racism in America. I’m just another white girl writing a blog as if I have something profound to say, when honestly, I don’t. My life has been easy in comparison to what my black friends have gone through. I don’t have to worry that one of my brothers is going to be pulled over or shot because of the color of their skin. I don’t have to be afraid that my relative is going to be pinned down under a cop’s knee leading to death. I have it easy. I am on the side of privilege when it comes to this country, and it saddens me.

When thinking about writing a gratitude list today, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. All I could think about was being thankful that I am not black and that George Floyd was not my family member. But isn’t that horrible! It is beyond unfair. What happened to George Floyd and all the other black men and women we’ve heard about dying this year alone, would not happen to me. I don’t have to be afraid when I see a cop. I don’t fear for my life. Our lives are not equal in this country. That’s not okay. 

I feel weird writing this because what do I really have to say? Besides getting less pay and opportunities as a woman, I have not been discriminated against. My people have the power, the wealth, the authority in this country. I am in the majority. And unless I think of George Floyd as my brother, my father, my uncle, my family, I cannot understand what it must feel like to be black in America.

I am so sorry for all of my black friends and family who have felt the systemic racism every. single. day. of their lives. I am so sorry. And I also cannot imagine what your life is like.

And to my friends and family who think this isn’t something I should be writing about, let’s have a conversation. I feel silly to be the one to help open your eyes to the very real modern-day slavery and oppression happening in our country, but I also know that maybe you’ll hear my voice over someone else’s... the very real problem I am talking about. 

Let’s be honest, guys. Let’s have these conversations. What if George Floyd was me? What if I died having been brutally held down by a cop? Think about it that way and let the feeling sink in. Let us try and empathize. Let’s try to understand. Let’s own up to being part of the white supremacy system of keeping things the way they are, and if we believe the system needs to change, let’s be part of the change.