Can we retire wh*t* privilege?

As I scroll down my timeline, there are so many arguments where the main goal is to eradicate "white privilege". However, in people's efforts to do so, their constant use of the expression realizes this privilege even more so.

I took it upon myself to express, "Let's retire, "white privilege,: because that phrase is affirming and gives more space for it to live, grow, and thrive." In the moment this was tweeted, I felt that if the feelings were strong, then I should come up with a solution. Because words matter- finding the semantic is imperative. I think that at this point, there are strong temporal drags that assume the listener or reader understands your nuance in language. This is not always the case.

As a concept, this privilege is really an advantage that has been granted strictly based on race and the color of someones skin- "whiteness," as we know it, is no more- it has expanded to include those who consider themselves to be a "Person of Color," in which really, does not exist. "POC" is an idea that their nationality, race, and ethnicity can be grouped together with others that do not look like them but there is an assumption the oppressive systems work the same- equally rather, against them. FALSE. Any inequities other races are facing in America differ vastly and sometimes have the capacity to intersect.

POC can be weaponized and has been because many people who identify, can also identify as white, therefore also, taking advantage of any freedoms that may come with it when it best suits them. So what is happening is this huge practice of anti-Blackness from those who are able to choose to experience whiteness.

2021 is a great year to begin selecting words and phrases more carefully as to not manifest greater powers and reinforce oppressive phrases and terms that keep people idle and trapped.

Here are some phrases or sentences that can be used instead of reinforcing and giving power to those we are not kin to socially/politically/familial(ly):

-Those experiencing social immunity due to their race
-Nepotism
-Weaponized grouping
-Conceptual power (that can only realize itself if you reinforce it)

Off the top of my head, this is what I could come up with so leave a comment of other affirming words/phrases for your Blackness so the focus shifts to us and not always in tandem with "them".

Stay blessed Niggas.

Signed,

A Negress, Suni Mullen

Self-Portrait with Self-Timer, (2021)

Self-Portrait with Self-Timer, (2021)