The Disrespected Undercard

Courage in Perspective

I've been reading materials from an on-going debate about courage. The first idea I became aware of is that courageous acts are viewed differently and reacted to differently across sectors of the population. In fact, I had not given that perspective on courage much thought. I now understand that this naivety on my part is made possible by and serves as a function of white privilege. I cannot ever recall waking up with the first thought of the day being, “Who’s going to try to kill me today?” Opponents of white supremacy know that people who do not benefit from the “white” label experience this frightening realization routinely. I do not truly appreciate what the knowledge of such free-floating, murderous hatred feels like. I don't know how people live with it. I don't know what it feels like as a parent to have “the conversation” with my sons and daughters. I know how it feels to fear for someone else's life and found it a painful and anxiety provoking emotional roller coaster ride. Certainly not something I'm eager to repeat.

Gender represents a part of this debate about courage. Are women more courageous than men? It looks that way to me. What about the courage to disagree with a supervisor or with an employer? When does the corporate raider say, ”I’ve changed my mind about taking over this company. Too many people stand to lose their jobs and do I really need several million more dollars?”

Some workers can speak out, disagree, and get fired or removed from a project as a result of their show of courage. Does every person face the same set of risks for speaking out? Clearly not. A society and economy built on a foundation of white supremacy necessarily and inherently demands more from and commits greater violence against those who have been marginalized from the outset. Not only is it important for people like me to grasp this understanding. We must resolve to never assume all Americans face the same struggles simply because we share the same space.

Let us also resolve to look at and assess the courage of leaders in this way. Does the Speaker of the House take a courageous stand when sending the House into recess to satisfy his leader’s demands? What about the courage demonstrated by a Congresswoman from New Jersey who was arrested when she presented to an immigrant detention facility? Do these positions convince us that courage demands and receives equivalence for consequences?