#white prioritization

When I talk about the Twitter harassment John Boyega endures, the sidelining of Finn in The Last Jedi, or the prioritizing of whiteness that centering Kylo Ren represents, it’s not just about the movies. It’s very much about the world in general. The popular Kylo Ren is a fascist during a time when fascism is on the rise in the US and around the world. The Sequel Trilogy began before the current US administration, just like the Prequel Trilogy started before 9/11, but at this point, Kylo Ren has shown at least as many similarities with current real world fascism as Anakin Skywalker shared with GWB in Revenge of the Sith.

One of the subjects of Star Wars commentary that comes up often in the sequel era is the racial empathy gap, something that is baked into the American consciousness but has rarely been as acknowledged in the mainstream as it’s been over the last few years (thanks, in part, to social media itself).

Many fans who participate in the empathy gap, by, for example, embracing Kylo Ren as a victim while demonizing Finn, claim that the fictional Star Wars universe had no bearing on the real world.

They are wrong. The response to the sequels very much mirrors the real world, right down to people who imagine themselves as “woke” while perpetuating the status quo of white supremacy in insidious ways. And pearl clutching when someone, usually a Black person, says they’re acting to protect white supremacy.

jw becuase it always comes across as a side that only white men are allowed to have and there are people who feel sympathetic towards them but its never ever allowed for a woman or poc to feel that way.

Joseph Presley got 30 days in jail and five years of probation for children molestion

His lawyer “ do we want him in there with real sex offenders so he can learn the tricks of the trade”

“ Do we really want to take a kid that’s not institutionalized in put him in jail”

🤔! Africans were raped by your ppl. Put under traumatic stress 24/7.

Y’all obviously don’t have a problem locking our ppl up.

Or blowing our brains out on a routine traffic stop.

Now I understand rape victims. Why tell anyone nothing is going to happen.

Family don’t believe you, cops don’t believe you.

Before I’m attacked by people accusing me of racism, let me make it perfectly clear to you. I am white. Not just white in skin but white in culture and privilege. Yes I said it. The word spat on by the average white person. PRIVILEGE. We have it, embrace it, use it, get over it. Now that you have removed your comments about how reverse racism is a thing, listen to me very carefully. 

It has taken me years to realise this. I’ve lived under a shell. One filled with opportunities and ignorance. I am ashamed to say that I was once part of the problem. 

I was born and raised in England. The land meant for all. I have a French mother and a father who is Irish and English. This makes me lucky. So lucky. Every time we’ve gone to the airport, my mother or grandfather (rest his soul) have been stopped for random selections. Why? My grandfather and mother have skin the same as a native middle eastern and carry the horrid stereotypes of the Western world’s ‘Arab’. We made jokes about it, knowing that once they saw the French logo on the passport, the nice white man or woman would usher us through to our flight. No further questions asked. 

Growing up, I was graced with the chance to express my mother’s french side through my big brown eyes and round face. I don’t look English but oh hell am I white. No-one battered an eyelid. Yeah, sure, there has been and always be the kid who says that they hate the French for no reason in particular but the worse thing they can do is say that I eat frogs. And yes, i’ve heard every surrendering joke under the sun. However, when my maths teacher compared me to another girl in my class, I presumed she was doing it because we were French, not because we literally looked alike in every way. 

Since my grandmother came from a strong Catholic household, I’ve respected the fact that I am to wear a cross. Yet, as I’ve chewed it or held it in my fist as a way to calm myself down or simply out of habit, the worst comment i’ve ever heard is that Jesus wasn’t real or that he was a pervert. I’ve never been told that there was something wrong about carrying my beliefs on my person.

So, when I was opened to the world of Black Lives Matter and reverse racism, I hopped onto the band wagon of All Lives Matter. 

Yuck.

Nasty. 

Disgusting. 

Those are the thoughts that come to my mind when I think of reverse racism and All Lives Matter. Why? Because they are so, so out of place. How dare I take away the purpose of Black Lives Matter. How dare I try and make myself into a victim through reverse racism. 

White people need to wake up. We need to do it right now. Why?

Because my mother and grandfather were allowed through the airport.

Because I’ve never been compared to someone because we share the same race.

Because I’ve never been attacked for being Christian.

Because I’ve never watched a film without a white person. 

Because I’ve never been afraid of the police.

Because I’ve never been worried about speaking my native language.

Because I’ve never been told to go home when I am home.

Because i’ve never been moved away from because of where I’m from.

Because I’ve never been denied an opportunity because of my race.

Because I am so lucky to be white and I didn’t even know it.

If you are a white person in the western world sat at home right now accusing me of being a traitor, liar or manipulator I beg that you look in the mirror and tell yourself why even though you maybe living rough or having a hard life, it will NEVER be because you are white. 

Be apart of the change. Don’t add to the problem.