A Friend Called Me Out For Hiding Behind My White Privilege. She Did the Right Thing.

Last week, when the story about Amy Cooper, the white woman in Central Park who called the police after a black man simply requested that she leash her dog, was making headlines (this was the day before George Floyd was murdered), I sent a text to a couple of close friends of mine, in which I talked about how embarrassing it is to be a white person, given how some whites (like Amy Cooper) behave in such blatant and unthinkingly racist ways.

One of the people I texted replied with a similar text. The other friend must have been busy, for she didn’t reply that day. Then, George Floyd died in police custody. The horrific video of white cop Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed into Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes is both appalling and sickening to watch. It is not surprising that so many people across our nation and beyond have responded with anger and mass protests.

Almost a week went by — a couple of “news cycles.” I had pretty much forgotten about Amy Cooper and her entitled, spoiled-brat racism. But then on Friday I received this reply to my “embarrassed to be white” text from the previous Sunday. Remember: I wrote that text, and then another friend (also a white male) chimed in with a similar thought. Then this text came from our mutual friend, a white woman.

In regards to your previous texts, especially in light of all things happening now: As white males…