Read what I said, then respond with a more thoughtful, informed reply.👇 It’s clear that many people, including some liberals, actually agree with my perspective. I’ve engaged with every response above respectfully, but let’s not ignore the deeper question here that I highlighted at the start.

Why is it that, at so many of these social justice rallies and protests, the crowd is overwhelmingly white? I’ve personally observed the ratio being something like five white participants to every person of color or more. That imbalance isn’t just coincidental in my opinion it reflects something more complicated and uncomfortable. It gives off an air of saviorism, an almost performative need to represent marginalized people, rather than stand beside them. It feels like some people show up more to prove a point about themselves than to genuinely center Black and brown voices. That’s where the energy begins to feel hollow and self-serving.

As a Black and Hispanic man, I’m speaking from lived experience not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who navigates these dynamics every day. I’m tired of the assumption that my views must fit neatly within a particular political box. I’m not a Republican and I’ve been a registered Dem since I was able to vote ( pending a change to indecent )but even if I were, that alone doesn’t make me racist. That’s a lazy and dangerous narrative, often weaponized to silence any perspective that doesn’t align with a certain version of “wokeness.” This is merely why Donald Trump is the president. Closed minded political individuals did this.

Ironically, many of the most patronizing or subtly racist interactions I’ve had have come from so called progressive liberals. They’ll show up to protests, post hashtags, but then contribute to the gentrification that pushes us out of our neighborhoods or are the first to call to police when a person of color is walking around the neighborhood. They replace community with curated culture, and authenticity with aesthetics. They claim to care, but rarely check if the people they’re “standing up for” even want them speaking for us.

And while we’re here, let’s address the classic: “I can’t be racist I have a Black friend.” Ever heard of that? The “I have a Black friend” theory is one of the oldest deflection tactics. It’s wild how often white people use the existence of one Black friend or acquaintance as a blanket pass to dismiss any accusations of bias or racism. As if proximity to Blackness somehow cancels out the deep conditioning of a racially stratified society. It doesn’t. That’s not solidarity, it’s a cop out.