This is a post I have wanted to write for a long time. Since the start of this blog, probably before. Because I have long been aware of the intersections of my privilege. I am white, I am cis, I am Canadian, I am able bodied, there are many many ways in which I move through the world in complete ignorance of how these identities work to my benefit. It is deeply unfair, and I wish that it was not this way. I wish the world was a true meritocracy. I wish that racism and sexism and homophobia and transphobia didn't exist. I wish that we lived in a world where people did more than tolerate these differences - I wish we lived in a world where people saw the deeply beautiful power in this diversity.
And I think these last few weeks we have seen a major shift in the awareness in our culture that these wishes have not yet come true. It is hard not to be hopeful that this momentum will continue, and people will use their voices, even if it is within their intimate circles. Because that is where some much change happens. Imagine the power if we could all change one heart? Imagine the power if every person decided to speak up even when it wasn't easy? Called out the racist joke? Stood up for the person in the street or at the board room table? Gave credit where credit was due? Imagine a world where instead of getting defensive about our privileges we interrogated them and asked ourselves how we could help dismantling this system?
This is not impossible. It is necessary. It is well past time. I will own my own behavior. I am imperfect, I have said the wrong thing. I have fallen short, I have talked when I should have listened. I have been on the wrong side of things and taken ignorant positions. We all have. Nobody is infallible. But we are able to change. Maybe someone is changing today. We need to work together to make this world a place where people aren't scared to be themselves. To live in the beautiful skin they were given. To identify as their true selves.
Here we are in Pride month, witnessing one of the most sweeping and passionate outcries for global human rights with Black Lives Matter. And I couldn't think of a better time to listen to other people's stories, to think about our own power to help extend this momentum, and to educate ourselves.
I will be continuing my education and I will commit to writing more about this going forward.
-Amanda
