Are White People Correct About the Phrase “Not All White People”!?

Turning the popular ancient white proverb on its head

Image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Not all white people is an ancient white proverb that has echoed throughout time and space, especially within the last century. Though the phrase crackles loudly, like a Midwest summer storm, it carries as much validity as an expired coupon.

Like many other white proverbs, not all white people is a retort that is typically used by white people to deflect from race-related conversations and ultimately silence BIPOC people. For instance, Monique Judge, a News Editor at The Root, received criticism from many disgruntled white people after she wrote her article titled White People Have Weaponized ‘I Feel Threatened’ the Same Way They Have Weaponized the Police. Though the phrase was not overtly said by the commenter, it was undoubtedly implicated in their following comment below:

I came across your article…I just want to ask you why have chosen to group all white people into one category? As a white man I have never once used the phrase “I feel threatened” let alone weaponize that phrase, and I couldn’t help but feel that your title was a bit prejudiced. I don’t believe it is right to try to make generalizations based on the color of people’s skin and that is what you have done with your title. It is not ok for police to racially profile black people and treat them differently than they treat other people but it is also not ok for people to assume that all whites are part of the problem. I’m not trying to stir the pot by messaging you, I’m just trying to create dialog because I believe in order to bring real change people need to tear down these racial barriers that exist in this country and try to understand one another.

My dear fellow white people: Does the commenter sound benign to your white ears? Because I can assure you that his response is anything but innocent and lacks critical analysis and understanding of whiteness in the U.S. The reader’s response is riddled with white-American exceptionalism, individualism, reverse racism, and devoid of a sociological understanding of how whiteness maintains white supremacy. 

Still, I believe we’re onto something with the phrase not all white people. I'm not talking about the "traditional" sense of the phrase that seeks white absolution. I'm talking about the meaning of the phrase that opts into taking responsibility for our whiteness. Allow me to lay it out for us below:

For more on this piece please visit medium.com/@joeypierre