agirlnamedally:

I know. It’s not about me, although I do feel I have to apologise, because I belong to the group that is causing most of this oppression and pain. I’m very ashamed, because it’s not only the radical violent extremists that perpetuate racism, it’s the silence, the shared dinner party discussions, the prejudice so innate they don’t even realise it’s there. I know I’m incredibly fortunate, and I try to take advantage of my privileges (human, white, straight) to fight against those injustices, but sometimes it’s exhausting. Even the fact that I have the ability to be exhausted is a privilege in itself, because I can stop at any time. When I cry of frustration and heartache, I can lock myself away with my tears, reemerge later and forget all about it. Those in the oppressed communities don’t even have that option. Why am I offered a life of abundant choices, opportunities, decisions, freedom and fun, when a girl my age born into a different family is barely even offered a life? In history books we look like we’ve come so far from discriminating based on race or religion, but we truly haven’t learned from our mistakes. We are all the same, we all deserve to be healthy and safe. The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world.

Basically, I got into a huge argument with a family member about race issues, ISIS, “terrorists” and Donald Trump’s plan of not allowing “muslim immigrants” into the country, and it ended in me screaming and crying because there’s only a certain amount I can discuss and explain why those views are so harmful before it all becomes too much.

I just can’t understand how perfectly nice, otherwise ‘kind’ humans can have such a view of other humans, simply because they live in a different continent, have a different amount of melanin or hold a different religious belief. I’m beginning to really resent religion, simply for the barriers and division that it creates between people. I know that it’s only extremists that generally turn things violent, but I think a vast majority of those “nice” individuals within religious groups don’t.

I’m just sick of the hate. The war, acts of terror, retaliation, media propaganda and racial profiling, excuses and defences. I’m tired. I’m so sad. I’m not even one of the minority groups having to face the consequences of this awful systematic oppression and racism, I’m just so angry, upset and exhausted for all those who are.

I don’t know how to get through to people who think that another certain group of people are the cause for evil, when in reality it’s their views creating the most harm. I don’t know how to change the perspectives of those who mean well but are so misguided and misinformed. I’m so sorry for all muslims who are labelled terrorists and blacks labelled thugs, while members of my community would be given concern and seen as an extremist outlier upon performing the same task. I’m sorry that we immigrated and slaughtered native inhabitants but now demonise or imprison those who do the same, when theirs is an attempt to flee death and ours was a desire to conquer and control. I’m so sorry for the systems we have put in place that make it near impossible for POC to succeed due to lack of fair access and opportunity within education and employment, and then inclination to shame them for it. I’m sorry that we give power to those who have money rather than helpful ideas. I’m sorry we choose fear over love.