One of the most potent and compelling recent societal shifts, from my perspective, has been the deepening public conversation concerning white privilege. Part of the discussion is that white people typically have so much to say, and it is time to genuinely listen to people of color. So, while I’ve done quite a bit of reflection, I haven’t written much about the topic. Today, I wanted to write a few words in response to recent events.
The nature of existence is that perception is filtered through experience. As much as we feel we have shared realities, to some extent, our realities are personal constructions. What each of us thinks, believes, and perceives, is intertwined in a largely unconscious activity of creation. For that reason, the idea of a truly objective, shared reality may well be fiction. In writing Joy’s Edge, I explored perception from a variety of angles. My explorations were informed by my own experiences – my own life. In that way, they are, of course, only a limited, personal view.
Many researchers and thinkers have identified ways in which cellphone usage has adversely impacted our societies. For example, people are often more attentive to their cellphones than to the people in the room. People can get addicted to “likes” on social media platforms, anxiously reviewing and comparing feedback. As well, cell phones help to amplify the 24-hour news cycle, and many react with increasing anxiety to constant updates concerning problems in the world. Consequently, it is important to be conscientious about one’s cellphone use.
Even so, cell phones have brought about one profound and welcome change: people who are being treated unfairly, and even illegally, now frequently have their experiences recorded by cellphones. Often, the recordings are made by victims or by witnesses. Sometimes, videos are recorded by perpetrators, unaware of how badly their own behavior will be perceived. Cell phone video, especially when it is long, unedited, with relatively still camera handling, provides a measure of objectivity, and thus a sense of shared reality.
These days, most people have cellphones. Many are willing and able to record situations that they sense are dangerous. Such video documentation has been instrumental in identifying issues of police abuse and other types of threatening behaviors. A few years ago, many hoped that police body cameras would curtail abuses. For a variety of reasons, they haven’t had the dramatic impact that was once anticipated (https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/01/14/body-cameras-may-not-be-the-easy-answer-everyone-was-looking-for). However, citizen recordings have been profoundly useful in uncovering inappropriate, illegal, and dangerous behaviors. People can stand up for what they feel is right. They can record, share, and post videos.
In the case of George Floyd’s murder, a powerful collective “No” arose in response to video evidence. Without video evidence, people could argue about circumstances, such as whether the police were facing a dangerous situation. However, a long, unedited video showed the terrifying last few minutes of a man’s life as he was killed by those who had sworn to serve and protect him. We can disagree about a lot. But, when we see a man face down, hands handcuffed behind his back not resisting, one policeman with his knee on his neck and three more standing around not intervening while a crowd shouts and pleads for his life, a cop literally choking the life out of someone as people beg him to stop, there’s no argument. The video documents a profound abuse of power, a profound disregard for human life – and a profound assault to everyone’s humanity, everyone’s peace. So, I’m grateful that it is so much easier now for us to document abuse. I’m grateful that people are speaking up and asking those who do the talking to listen. I’m grateful that powerful, painful, essential conversations are taking place. I’m hopeful that as we create more of a sense of shared reality, as we see things through each others’ eyes, we’ll get better at honoring each others’ humanity.
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