Power Dynamics

“When you are one up on a power dynamic, you have a lot of blind spots.” – Van Jones

White males are often fragile.  

I can say that, because I am one.

It’s not bad to be a white male, it just is.

But it is important to listen.  

By and large, society and the Constitution of the United States were created for us and by us, for white land-owning males.  If you disagree, simply read the Constitution.   

This doesn’t make you a bad person.  It doesn’t mean you are directly responsible for writing the Constitution.  But it does mean… you should listen.  We should listen.  I should listen.  

“When you are one up on a power dynamic, you have a lot of blind spots.  When you’re one down, you have a lot of sore spots.  Wisdom accumulates at the bottom.  When you’re one down, those sore spots force you to pay attention and to learn.  When you’re one up… it’s not even a moral thing… when you’re one up, you do not know that you do not know.”  - Van Jones

I grew up listening to white, male pastors, reading books mostly written by white men, and generally being taught by white, male professors.  It wasn’t intentional per se, it was simply what was in front of me.  And it wasn’t until someone shined a light that I realized what I was or wasn’t doing.  It wasn’t intentional.  It wasn’t a moral thing. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, those pastors and authors and professors weren’t doing anything wrong but I also wasn’t seeing the entirety of the story.  It was me being blind.  You don’t know what you don’t know.  

It’s always a good time to listen.

When you’re in a position of power, it’s key to listen.

When your goal is for love, equality, and justice, it is required to listen.   

…find someone(s) to listen to.