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The beginning of June was an awakening for many across the world, for many various reasons. Black Lives Matter extended itself into new heights as social media was flooded with information. In result, the constant reminders of Black issues pushed the overfill of white guilt.
From DMs, phone calls, and emails, white people came to terms with their microaggressions and felt the need to apologize. However, I’m here to explain why these apologies are, contrary to belief, bullshit. This is not an article that will denounce apologies completely, but decipher the real from the fake.
The art of an apology needs to be executed with three steps: 1. Accountability 2. Reflection 3. Change.
Most recently, we’ve seen well-known YouTuber, Shane Dawson, release an apology titled “Taking Accountability.” The video came right after Jenna Marbles apology video last week. Ironic to its title, Dawson’s apology lacked a little in each 3 steps.
At the beginning, he begins with his past “jokes” regarding Blackface. His ignorance to the history of this dehumanizing tactic is labeled as his excuse. The words “I wasn’t myself” and “I probably should’ve lost my career,” served as passive droplets of white guilt. Someone who is taking full accountability will own up to their mistakes versus trying to create a distinction between their past and present selves. It’s better to say “I did this ____. I will make up for my actions by doing____.” The passive tone is equivalent to trying to stay politically correct to avoid legal troubles. Nonetheless, some accountability is taken. It’s unclear how much reflecting was done before this video though.
The resurfacing videos of his racist and predatory behavior is obviously uncomfortable for Dawson to view. But news flash, that’s the point!
White people have the privilege to be comfortable in society at all times because America has systems in place to support them. Fellow journalist, Ciarra Jones, explained it best. “Apologizing is uncomfortable work because we are met with the truth of ourselves, or at the very least, the reality of how we mistreated somebody else. White people, make sure you are ready to see yourself before you even begin to think about apologizing. If not, then your apology will simply be another instance of a white person attempting to emotionally gaslight a Black person so that you do not have to do the work.”
Utilizing the time to become uncomfortable is when personal reflection should occur. Once the mistake is completely understood, it is better to fully understand how to properly make amends. It’s debated that apologizing is to make the offended party involved feel better, which is accurate. However, caressing the feelings of the offended does nothing if you plan on repeating the offensive to the next Black person you come in contact with.
Dawson stated that he planned on making changes within himself and his channel. He described his plans to include reading, educating himself, and featuring more Black people on his channel.
The talk of these plans is obviously a start in the right direction, but it’s unsure how much action we’ll see. This isn’t Dawson’s first apology. Who's to say it’s his last? That’s why the step of change must be combined with action. Failure to act on your solution is why Black people are constantly screaming “silence is violence.”
“We do not need public displays of trendy anti-racism, we need folks to join the movement,” Jones stated. As a Black person I do the work to strengthen my consciousness daily. White people, you need to do this too.”
To all the white people who claim to be allies, stop apologizing for your ancestors murders. Stop pretending to sympathize with Black bodies. Stop monetizing off Black suffering. In fact, the only way to really prove your apology is sincere and not a call for validation, is to help us dismantle the system that holds you on a pedestal.
Until then, no, your apology is not accepted.
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