It is June 2020 and I find myself, just, and only sort-of, out of a “sort-of” lockdown, and now agonising over an adequate response to the antiracism revolt that is claiming the world’s attention; and that as a white person – privileged by not much except reasonable intelligence and health, but certainly aware of that granted by the colour of skin.
The “streets” are something for the young; should I be in the States I may well be tempted anyway, so extreme are the circumstances, but in Germany, though racism is as present as it is in other countries, the situation with the U.S. is relatable only up to a point – different democratic and institutional structures, different demographics and a different history mean a different fight to be fought; one that focuses on the shortcomings in this country rather than those elsewhere. There is an awful lot to be thought about, mostly coming down in the end to some honest reflection upon one’s own socialisation that may not be “racist” but certainly not without resentments and intolerance.
In terms of America, and my concerns stated elsewhere, I am reasonably well-read and informed on social issues, inspired often by literature or movies or contemporary events. And that’s always important – stay informed, and reliably so. And what one is ignorant of – educate oneself about. To that end, I am having a go at an edX course from Columbia University history department called The Civil War and Reconstruction. I do know some things, but I also know what I do not – and that is a lot! If not the root of all evil, then pretty close – the slavery, the civil war, the aftermath.
I read in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung today a rather timely culinary piece on the delights of New Orleans’ gumbo, that led to Edouardo Jordan’s JuneBaby restaurant in Seattle, which led me to its website and at the top of the Encyclopaedia page (which is an interesting cultural and culinary resource) this:
Mr. Jordan knows his customers and they seem to be mostly white – at least those to whom he is speaking in his five tips above. (Do I hear: “What to do, Eduardo?” And would a Black person even need to ask?) Some simple lessons to take from this: listen, learn, support. Really not very hard. In this matter; it is for others to set the agenda and some, like me, to follow. (Though of course some will not.)