The White Savior Movement

Hi,

When the term "White Savior" comes to mind, it often conjures an image of a White individual venturing to a less affluent part of the world, typically in Africa or Asia, with the intention of aiding underprivileged Black and Brown children. Their noble mission might include addressing dire health conditions, combating malnourishment, providing access to education, or perhaps all three. Surprisingly, this very same approach has found its way into the mindset of White Liberals in the United States.

White Liberals in the USA sometimes seem to perceive an obligation to rescue the entire Black and Brown population. It's as if they hold the view that we, the Black and Brown community, are incapable of self-determination. Their reasoning appears to stem from the belief that we are oppressed, while White individuals enjoy a level of privilege that Black people in this country can never attain, irrespective of their accomplishments. So, because we, the Black community, are seen as disadvantaged and oppressed, we are expected to rely constantly on the advocacy of White individuals. Isn't that inherently racist?

As I've mentioned before, there was indeed a time, perhaps in the 1950s, when racism was an acute issue in this country. However, in 2023, as a Black woman, I can confidently assert that it is not as pervasive today. This is not to deny the existence of racism; it will persist, but it's no longer as blatant as it once was. Thus, there is no justification for White individuals to assume the role of saviors for a whole community fully capable of self-advocacy.

The most intriguing aspect of this "movement," to me, is the idea that to consider oneself more privileged than another person due to circumstances beyond one's control, you must place yourself on a pedestal. This implies that White individuals who embrace this notion also believe that the world regards them as "better" than all other Black and Brown individuals solely due to the color of their skin. This is fundamentally racist.

If you believe that you are more privileged than me simply because you are White, I encourage you to challenge that belief. Why do you think you are more privileged than me? Could it be because you hold a lesser opinion of Black and Brown individuals?

Thanks for reading.