Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Garrett Eaglin

White Space

Maintaining black dignity in white space is the name of the game of life for a black person in the Anglo-American realm. Conversational and cultural norms are undoubtedly white in this realm. This can be brutal in its exhaustion and confusion and can be seriously disorienting for black folk working and living in this space. Once a black American enters white space, which is usually located right outside of their door, they are instantly an “other”–someone who is unlike their cultural milieu and subject to the stereotypes of “otherness” in this milieu. This is a privileged space for whites. Whites are safe here while black folk struggle for their identity and self-preserving dignity.

White Fragility

Now, before I proceed, we confront the problem of white fragility: the issue that whites become offended at the prospect that they might be implicated in the creation and perpetual maintenance of this white space. This white fragility is real, dangerous, and deeply ironic. Whites have the highest standing in the Anglo-American West, yet they are the most easily offended at the implication of guilt in the construction and perpetuation of white space and white privilege. The pew research center has a recent poll that indicates that only 16% of whites believe that white people benefit a great deal from advantages in society that black people do not have. This number is staggering.

Nice Whites

“But,” they say, “every fellow white person I surround myself with is so nice!” This niceness is seen as a “Get-out-of-Guilt-Free” card for whites. “If I am a good person, then how can I be responsible for systemic racism?” Easily. Niceness actually perpetuates this racial disparity. Nice whites are a problem for black folk because it forces the latter to assume the position of guilt and responsibility. If most white people are nice, then any disorientation, confusion, and exhaustion are the fault of the respective attitudes of black people. What is the alternative? Answer: whites more serious about confronting their own responsibility for racism than they are about being nice to avoid that guilt. So fellow whites: be nice, but not too nice; be normal, but not the norm; be responsible, but do not feel whatever form of guilt that entices you to “make up” for it with niceties. Be brave in your confrontation with guilt, for your black brothers and sisters are far braver than you for entering white space every single day in stride.

Theological Perspective

Lastly, fellow whites, pray for conviction and confrontation with your own racist tendencies: all us whites have them, as we are all constituent parts of white space. Pray that your view of God would shift from a “Law and Order” God to a loving, powerful, just liberator God, who is the God of the oppressed and the exhausted, disoriented, and those who struggle for dignity in a space that is not theirs. A God of a diaspora people. That God is God; any other is an idol.

This post was inspired by Austin Channing Brown’s book “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.”

Garrett Eaglin
Garrett works at a financial firm in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to this, he taught Literature & Composition and World History at Trivium Preparatory Academy in Goodyear, AZ. He received his B.A. from Biola University in La Mirada, CA with a major in Biblical & Theological Studies and a minor in Great Books through the Torrey Honors Institute. He enjoys playing guitar and reading in his free time and takes pleasure in considering the theological and metaphysical presuppositions that everyone deploys in their everyday life and behaviors. You can contact him by email: Garrett.r.eaglin@gmail.com

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6 responses to “Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness”

  1. Brandon

    Hi Garrett,
    I had a difficult time with this article, mainly because it felt very much like someone venting without giving specifics of the problem, or giving any solutions.

    The only solutions I found was this:

    “What is the alternative? Answer: whites more serious about confronting their own responsibility for racism than they are about being nice to avoid that guilt. So fellow whites: be nice, but not too nice; be normal, but not the norm; be responsible, but do not feel whatever form of guilt that entices you to “make up” for it with niceties. Be brave in your confrontation with guilt, for your black brothers and sisters are far braver than you for entering white space every single day in stride.”

    I also find it helpful when trying to persuade others of ones perspective to show some empathy and grace while driving home a strong argument for change. The “white’s” simply get attacked in this article. Even if you feel whites are utterly at fault, that’s fine, but you can still speak to them in a manner or respect. I think that would serve your call for change much more effectively.

    At least, it would help me a great deal 🙂

    Reply
  2. Garrett

    Brandon, thanks for the comment. I appreciate your engagement in this article. The tone was specifically crafted as confrontational to whites since that’s the answer to the issue. Whites have to be comfortable with confrontation in order for racism to begin to lose its grasp on white space. I understand that it is not palatable. But that should ring as an alarm causing us to take notice of our faults; it is not confrontation for confrontation’s sake. Hope this helps.
    – Garrett

    Reply
  3. Brandon

    Hey Garrett,
    I really don’t even understand what your confronting white people on. I’m gathering from the context of your article that terms like “white space” mean something like the world of America feels white, or is dominated by white culture, or something along those lines?

    If you could spell out what you propose white people should do, that would be helpful. I have neighbors on either side of my house who are of different skin colors, but I’m friends with both of them. When I read your article, I’m simply left confused on what the problem is, and what the solution to it is.

    I’m going to guess that you’ll see my lack of recognition of the problem as the problem. But help me out! I’m aware of racism, I’m aware that all countries have a dominant culture, but I’ve never seen that as a problem as long as we respect one another. What should I personally feel uncomfortable about, and what do you believe I should change in my life as a white-skinned person?

    Reply
  4. Garrett Eaglin

    Thanks for the comment, Brandon.

    Whites should learn to be uncomfortable with the normativity of white culture. Our existence as whites who are not critical of our own participation in this normative culture perpetuates the forms of racism that are inherent in white space.

    Racism inhabits white space.

    The problem is not that there happens to be a dominant culture, it is that the culture that happens to be dominant is white and therefore carries with it a real history of oppressiveness and stigmatizes other races for not conforming.

    Not actively being racist is not enough to fight racism in our personal space/place.

    We must actively introspect and find the racist bones in our bodies that we call “our heritage” and “our history” and destroy them for the good of the ostracized. This looks like creating space for people of color to speak and advance in our society, allowing their culture to be in the foreground, and their voices to guide our thoughts and form our culture.

    Reply
  5. Brandon

    Garrett, thank you for the great response. I think I understand what you are getting at, however, I’d love for you to give me more specifics in a few areas.

    What are some examples of how “white culture stigmatizes other races for not conforming?”

    I agree with you when you say that we should “find the racist bones in our bodies that we call “our heritage” and “our history” and destroy them…” but when you say, we need to be “creating space for people of color to speak and advance in our society, allowing their culture to be in the foreground” it gives me pause because, isn’t that what society is doing?

    And sometimes, I worry society is too focused on skin color. Focusing on a person’s skin color or race puts our eyes, unintentionally, on the wrong objective. No matter our skin color, or what country or family we were born into, valuing one another based on the fact that we are all created by God, in his image, and therefore, humans, seems to me to be a different way of addressing the same problem.

    But I could be oversimplifying! What do you do, personally, Garrett, in your life, to address these issues–besides writing about it! 🙂 I’m just curious, because I like to hear practical things that everyday people can do.

    Reply
  6. Garrett Eaglin

    Take Bobby Kennedy’s example. His recalcitrance to Black rage and his need for all blacks to behave with civility like MLK and Roy Wilkins is an inexcusable offense.

    Yes, he met with leaders in black thought and culture, but he failed to humble himself in that meeting and let the other voices in the room, the oppressed voices, speak with dignity and authority.

    Colorblindness, what you’re advocating here, only clouds the problem and ignores black dignity. The image of God is not colorless, it includes and insists on the equitable existence of every color.

    I advocate in writing and in relationships with my white counterparts in my respective circles of influence. I educate myself about the present history of white supremacy and the black nihilism resulting from it. And we should all do the same, in the least.

    Reply

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