Whiteness is a construct, developed in the 1600s as a tool of capitalistic oppression.
The invention of whiteness: a long history of a dangerous idea
While I do not believe whiteness is a real thing, the idea of whiteness has caused so much harm I feel compelled to own my skin color as it has been a source of unasked-for privilege my entire life.
I am committed to being a collaborator in the dismantling of white supremacy. This is not a title, role, or award. This is a declaration of my willingness to do the life-long work of interrogating racism, listening to what others are saying, and doing my part to address harms ranging from large-scale systems of oppression to quotidian micro-aggressions on the individual level.