Dear Editor,
All over America, millions of people been have marching, chanting the slogan “Black Lives Matter” in recent weeks. Virtually all of them believed that they were advancing the cause of equal justice under the law.
In America, I am seeing a change in the attitude and behaviour of white people toward black people. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is winning. I want to share with you why I believe that BLM is winning.
First, more and more white people are talking with me at the gas stations, bus stops, on the train and in the supermarket. These white strangers are smiling, saying hello and asking how I’m doing.
Before BLM, this didn’t happen. White people would walk by me without acknowledging me. Not anymore, total (white) strangers are going completely out of their way to acknowledge and speak to me.
Second, over a year ago, a white friend from my church in America promised to make a donation to help the poor children in Guyana; he never fulfilled his promise. Each Sunday, we speak to each other at church but never about the donation.
Editor, to my surprise, the fellow friend called me last Thursday and told me that he wanted to make the donation. After recovering from the shock, the first thought that came to mind was that he is doing this because of the BLM movement which is making him more conscientious of the struggles of black people. Did the BLM movement make him remember his promise to me? I don’t know for sure what made him decide to make his donation now but I suspect that BLM may or may not have something to do with it.
Third, two weeks ago my daughter received a text message from her former high school coach, who is of white extraction, telling her that she is sorry for all the obstacles, discrimination and prejudice she has to endure for being black.
I don’t remember any time in my lifetime white people were so sympathetic and asking for forgiveness from black people. I know for a fact that it was because of the BLM that this coach reached out to my daughter.
Fourth, a month ago I had a meeting with 10 white pastors at church, and they wanted my opinion on BLM and being black.
I was surprised and humbled by how hungry they were to learn from me how it feels to be black. I shared with them that they have two great privileges. Being white and American. As white people, they never have to worry about facing racism because of their race. As Americans, they will hardly face discrimination because they are Americans.
I shared with them that I have a privilege as well as an American citizen. I have been to Europe, the Middle East and countless other countries and I have never been denied entry into any country.
I told them of my experience in French Guiana. I was travelling to French Guiana on a bus. When I arrived at the French Guiana border, I presented my Guyanese passport and was promptly denied entry. And, then, I whipped out my American passport and was immediately granted entry.
I explained to the pastors that the French didn’t deny me entry because I was black. I was denied entry because of my Guyanese nationality. Being black didn’t matter. What mattered most was not my ethnicity but rather my nationality. Not my Guyanese nationality. But my American nationality.
I told them that they have two great privileges, being White and American and because of their privileges they will rarely experience racial discrimination or international discrimination. I, on the other hand, I only have the privilege of being an American and not have to face international discrimination. On the other hand, I will face racial discrimination because I am black.
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
