Sometimes people can reach so far in their attempt to get attention or spark conversation that it can quite possibly become a bit extreme. This is especially true for Allen Watty.
Watty is an independent songwriter who recently released a controversial new song online titled “Sometimes I Wish I Was White.” In the song, Watty points out that he’s not at all ashamed of being Black, but that through his experiences he has learned that in order for one to be treated 100 percent equally, you have to be white.
It’s important to note that on Watty’s Web site there’s a disclaimer that says “the purpose of this song is not to say that Blacks should want to be white. The intent of this song and its controversial title is to make you think and converse about the mistreatment of Black people in America. And if you can, if just for a moment entertain the thought that for a Black person to experience true equality he or she would have to be white.”
Watty has done a variety of radio interviews about his controversial song. His public relations representatives said that during these interviews, several Black people called in to say they have at one point imagined themselves as white. None of these people appeared to be ashamed of their color, but realized that whites are the only group of people getting equal treatment.
While I somewhat understand what Watty and his supporters are saying…I think they’re all reaching a bit far. For starters, being white doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be treated equally…that’s a generalization that simply isn’t true. There are hundreds of thousands of white people who aren’t treated equally for a variety of reasons, including their socio-economic status.
With that said, I’m not naïve enough to think that inequalities don’t exist, because they do — and sometimes in a very blatant way. However, I asked several Black people if they ever daydreamed about being white and they all said a resounding no.
While many Blacks have asked themselves, “I wonder if this sales clerk would have treated me this way had I been white,” or “If I was white, that police officer probably wouldn’t have issued me a ticket,” none of the people I asked said they wished that they were white. The truth of the matter is not I, nor any other Black person can say that life is better as a white person because we’ve never walked in a white person’s shoes. The same is true for whites, as they’ve never walked a mile in the shoes of a Black person.
Racism does exist. So does sexism as well as discriminatory procedures against the disabled, older people and even young people. It’s something that is incredibly unfair, but also very realistic. Discrimination is something that is very hard to grasp and can be overwhelming when confronted with any form of it. However, there is something that we all can do about it…we can persevere.
I’m so tired of people placing the blame and pointing fingers at others. Let’s just do what we have to do as individuals to be happy and complete with ourselves. Downfalls and challenging circumstances in our lives aren’t always “the man’s” fault; as there are a lot of Blacks who sabotage themselves.
Before we’re so quick to place the blame on someone else and fault them for our current situations, it’s imperative that we ask ourselves, “did I do everything I could have done to get that promotion?” “Have I established a solid credit history so that I am able to get that brand-new car of my dreams?” “Was I really speeding in that school zone?”
Sometimes things are just as simple as right and wrong, however, admitting wrong can be darned near impossible for the strong-minded.
Life is hard…I realize this as I struggle with things in my own world. However, as I wrote this column, a very wise woman once told me that struggle builds character and she’s absolutely right. Struggle does build character, strength, knowledge and tenacity. With that said, Blacks are some of the most unique, strong, hardworking and intelligent people that I know.
I hope that through the words of this editorial people understand the importance of not fantasizing about something that they can never be, such as a different race. Doing so gives an unrealistic expectation and sense of home.
