Imagine that you have a car.
You can drive anywhere you want.
But there’s one pesky annoyance you constantly have to deal with: Bicyclists.
Why are they even there? They never used… Why now? Why are they everywhere? It’s irritating that you can’t drive the way you used to.
But here’s the thing: The roads and streets were built for you, car driver, with you, car owner, in mind. The bicycle lane is an add-on to allow bicyclists to be able to enjoy some of the benefits and freedoms that you do in getting from place to place.
“Well, I’m not going to apologize for being in the financial position to be able to buy a car. Also, I didn’t build the roads, anyways.”
No one said you had to. Also, what part of that means not being gracious to bicyclists? What part of that excuses bumping them or almost running them over? And in addition to that, what have you done or advocated for to make the road more equitable for the both of you to be able to use?
Nothing?
Essentially this is the same argument made in a recent article by Charles Milliken, a professor emeritus at Sienna Heights University, who pens a mean-spirited and condescending tirade about why he why he won’t make any apologies “for the privilege of being white.”
But here’s thing: No one has ever, in the entire discussion of white privilege, ever asked for an apology for possessing white privilege or to apologize for being white.
No one’s ever asked for ridiculous displays of penitent feet washing.
No one’s ever asked for tearful videos of celebrities set against a Sarah McLachlan song, declaring how they are “taking responsibility.”
What has been asked is for something concrete, substantive moves to improve our society.
Kristen Bell, which originally part of the “Taking Responsibility” video, actually made a concrete move, refusing to continue voicing Black cartoon characters and literally erasing Black voices. Likewise with actress Jenny Slate, stepping down from her role on Netflix’s Big Mouth where she voiced the biracial Jewish character of Missy.
Steps like these are what’s being asked for.
But the problem is that the people who “refuse to apologize” for their white privilege are the same people who do nothing to equalize the playing field, and then simultaneously wonder why they’re resented for their privilege.
We don’t need empty apologies. We need you to advocate opening up the road for the rest of us.