It seems the world has been bombarded this week. From the earthquake in Haiti to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, there have been grim stories splashed out all across the news. But as we read about the complicated politics and espionage failure in Afghanistan, or the destruction in Haiti, we must not forget that these are people we are talking about.
Once again, I’m talking to white folks. If you don’t know me, I’m a white, privileged cisgender girl from a progressive area.
What I’m saying this time is when you talk to your white friends about the earthquakes and the riots and the violence against BIPOC people all across the world, don’t leave them as a conversation topic. BIPOC people deserve more than just our talk, especially because all of this unrest and destruction is mainly caused by decades of our violent imperial policies.
You might say that it’s not directly our fault that this is happening. But our privilege is inextricably entangled in their exploitation.
The violence against West Papua by Indonesia is a brutal child of U.S. imperialism just as the unrest in Afghanistan is a left over from a war fought in part for economic prospects.
So I’m asking us white folks to do more. Open your purse, and give not to NGOs that squirrel away funds for executives but for mutual aid organizations doing work on the ground. A good example is the CHF Foundation in Haiti, or the Free West Papua campaign.
Tell your friends, tell your coworkers to aid those doing the work, and pressure their representatives to let in the refugees who will inevitably come here. The U.S. may have played a huge role in the crises unfolding worldwide, but we can also help fix it if us white folks make the conscious decision to listen to and support those working on the ground.
This is not charity, nor is it a talking point for liberal groups of friends. It is us doing the bare minimum to try and fix the mess we’ve made around the world.
Maddie Raymond, who is a high school student, lives in the hilltowns.