The current state of race relations is not new. There has always
been racial tension between communities of color and Euro-Americans since this
country was stolen from us Natives. As a whole, Natives and Blacks have the highest
disparities in all categories that negatively impact our daily lives. According
to the Department of Justice, Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice, and Lakota
People’s Law Project:
· Natives are
incarcerated at a rate 38% higher than the national average
· Native youth
are 30% more likely than Whites to be referred to juvenile court than have
charges dropped
· Native men
are incarcerated at 4X’s the rate of White men; Native women are incarcerated
at 6X’s the rate of White women
· 88% of
violent crimes committed against Natives is done by non-Natives
· Natives are more likely to be killed than any
other racial group
The state of this country’s current situation is bringing out the
discussion of race relation issues. It may be uncomfortable for some, however,
it’s not uncomfortable to me because I have learned quite early on by my
father, who went to Law School, that there will always be discrimination. In
fact, he told me that I will have it 10X’s harder than anybody else because I’m
minority and I’m a female, so I have to work 10X’s harder than everyone else
just to be deemed as “equal.” Let’s not be ignorant and dismissive of these
issues. They exist. However, some people do not want to recognize it, talk
about it, “give into” it, etc…I am not exactly sure why that is the case.
My question is, how do these race relations impact our daily
interactions or romantic relationships? I know for myself, I lack trust because
I have been discriminated against consistently, and when it constantly occurs,
my trust walls have risen. It is my natural and instinctive way to protect
myself. Living on the reservation and traveling in-and-out of neighboring cities
and towns, there’s significant amount of discrimination that exist among Natives.
My frustration and personal experiences have put me in a place
of frustration. However, instead of using my frustration negatively, I try to apply
it towards fighting for equality and trying to create change in our
communities. Nevertheless, at some point there’s a level of tiredness,
skeptical thinking, and overwhelming feelings that gets the best of you.
For these reasons, I choose to date men of color. I want to
relate to my partner on a level of consciousness he can understand that stems
from historical trauma. I know this thought logic may seem weird. But, I want to
know when I come home from trying to “fight the world” sort of speak, those frustrations that are are within me, that he can truly empathize with my pain at those times. There’s
a level of understanding where he “just knows.” He can say those right words to
support me or give me my space to take the overwhelming burdens of the outside
world off my shoulders and keep it outside, letting me know I am safe with him
on every level imaginable, especially mentally. I want to be able to vent freely, without confusion or lack of understanding on his part.
I am not always in a trusting space to intimately interact with people
who have not experienced discrimination or oppression. I feel like this because what if they say something ignorant, then what would my reaction be? What if they dismiss my experiences or concerns? What if they deem me as an "angry Native girl?" What if they don't believe me. What if they think "i'm trippin?"
I also find it
interesting that when I’m with my people of color, professional colleagues we
talk about our “brown people” challenges because it is integrated into our
daily lives, whether we want it to be or not, we have no choice. We talk about
our work, career, families, that circle around our personal identity, whether
it’s bad or good. For example, my Black friends talk about how they talk to
their Black children, especially their sons. Parallel, to how my father talked
to me about discrimination as I was a kid. It’s our parents’ duties to prepare
us for life. When I’m around my White colleagues, the discussion of race or
discrimination never occurs. They talk about their daily work challenges, which
is challenging, but racial discrimination or profiling is not part of their daily-lived
experiences, so there’s no reference to it.
I find it interesting how these situations cause a divide and
people are “uncomfortable” to talk about it because they may have opposite
views or experiences. We all have different experiences and viewpoints. As a
Native woman, these are my personal experiences and viewpoints.
#Equality #KnowledgeIsPower
#DecolonizeYourMind
