White & Privileged - That's Me

Guest Post by Kristine Schwartzman

After the April 5, 2025, "Hands-off" protest, a long-time friend and I chatted via text about the next scheduled rally. My friend is an American citizen, but came to the US as a child with her mother and brother from Central America. 

We texted back and forth about rallies and marches, and how exciting it was to be a part of a group of like-minded people, even for an introvert like me. We looked for the next protests in her area, and I told her she'd be so glad she went. 

Then she said, "But, you look white." And, that's when it hit me. No one would ever mistake me for a person of color. I have red hair, albeit much faded red hair these days, and freckles. Maybe I am not blonde and blue-eyed, but I'm about as white as they come. ICE would never arrest me with a throng of other people, and send me off to a hellhole prison in another country without due process. 

But, it could happen to her. 

To my utter dismay, that possibility had not even occurred to me. It's happening to people every day. Families are being torn apart, people have been deported "by mistake," with no recourse. American citizens as young as 2-years-old, and at least one child, an American, in the middle of cancer treatments have been taken. 

When I was at the April 5 rally, I remember noticing that nearly everyone there was white. It didn't make sense to me then, but it does now. Black people, and people of color, are targets. I'd always considered myself "woke," but there is no denying that my whiteness blinded me to one of the realities of so many in this country. 

My friend, if you're reading this - and I know you are - thank you. Thank you for giving me permission to talk about this moment, and for pointing out your truth. I love you.  

So, where does that leave us? To me, it means that those of us in this privileged class need to take on the greatest responsibility. It's up to us to keep protesting, writing letters, making calls, taking stands, and donating - whatever we can do within our personal circumstances.

It's up to us because we will never face the consequences that someone of color might face for standing up for what is right.