It’s me. I’m the white.

[lyna_rochdi]

Recently in Dakar I had many experiences in which my “whiteness” was noticed and commented on. I place “whiteness” in parentheses because their standard of white was anything that was not black.
It was an odd thing to see a white person walking down the street. I felt like an attraction and out of place. As a result I actively noticed whiteness in my daily life because it was much more rare. Having grown up in white majority spaces, this experience helped me reflect the implicit bias I hold. I realized that I had a privilege because the observation of my body only made me (the receiver) uncomfortable not the viewer. Their version of “Look a white” wasn’t coming from a place of hatred (most of the time) but rather curiosity or amusement. By being hyperaware of the perceptions others had of me I was able to reflect on the ways I am able to use my body and the mobility I had in the past when navigating different spaces

“Look, a white!” Is gift because it complicates identity according to Yancy, which is a proactive strategy in acknowledging the ever present remains of racism. Additionally, it echos Baldwin’s conclusion in his letter to his nephew that transmits a message of hope for the future of America. Perhaps “Look a white!” Is a step towards achieving Baldwin’s image of America because it forces the white person to look inwards. In only 3 words “Look a white!” Not only flips the narrative it also becomes the opposite of colorblind showing white people they shouldn’t be the standard. “Look, a white!”It is two fold. For black people it ensures freedom from the thought prison of white mentality that Baldwin speaks of in the beginning of his letter and for white people it helps empathize and place in context the inequality and inequity that we contribute to (willingly or not)and subject other humans to.

[iman_iqbal]

Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and reflective experience from your time in Dakar. It's clear that being in an enviroment where your race became more noticeable led to some deep personal reflection, and I truly appreciate how you've used that experience to consider your own identity and the privilege that comes with it.

Your awareness of how your witness was observed by others is such an important realization. As you noted. the attention you received wasn't malicious but more out of curiosity, and that difference is significant. It highlights the experience in majority-white spaces. George Yancy's idea in Look, a white- that making witness visible is a way to challenge norms, fits perfectly with your experience. It shows how being in different spaces can give us a new perspective on your own racial identity and the way it operates in society. I also found it meaningful how your reflection touched on James Bladwin's My Dungeon Shook. Baldwin takes about how black people are constantly aware of how they are seen by others, and while your experience in Dakar was different, it gave you a moment to reflect on that type of awareness. You've recognized the privilege of being able to navigate spaces without the same consequences, which is a really powerful insight.

Additionally, your mention of how this experience connects with the music of Charged's Snakecharmer and The Kominas 4 is such great point. In both cases, these artists challenge the way cultural identities are simplified or reduced to stereotypes, and your experience of being seen as different in Dakar reflect that dynamic in reverse.

I really appreciate how you've used this experience to reflect on your own privilege and what its means to be aware of racial dynamics in different spaces. It's through these kinds of reflections that we can all become more conscious of the role play in addressing inequality.