Recently on Tik Tok there’ve been a series of videos where white folks are espousing their anger because Native American and First Nation folks are referring to them as “colonizers.”

They say they’re upset because they see themselves as allies and don’t think its right that they’re being referred to as colonizers.

But y’all, they are. 

We are all colonizers.

“All non-Indigenous people living in what is today called the “U.S.” are settlers living on stolen land. Settlers do not all benefit equally from settler colonialism. Many people were brought to settler states as slaves, indentured servants, refugees, etc. Race and class play a large part in determining which settlers benefit the most from stolen Indigenous homeland.” –Laura Hurwitz and Shawn Bourque

July 4th, 1776 makes this country 245 years old.
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But we know there are 400 years of colonization and white supremacy at the root of this country.

American history begins with the creation of a myth.

A myth of superiority to justify genocide and enslavement.

And the myth that only some of us deserve resources and support from our government.

A myth that was birthed in Europe and the colonies.

America was born from the violent myth of racial difference and all these myths endure today, in part because we don’t talk about them.

The work of racial equity is to speak this truth.

Colonization is at the root of racism. White Europeans justified land theft and genocide by asserting that they were superior and more deserving than non white people.

Colonization by white Europeans introduced a Christianity-backed patriarchy that created and enforces gender roles.

Colonization by white Europeans brought indentured servitude, created an economy of capitalism that led to the enslavement of Africans.

White Europeans’ stole land, stole resources, stole human bodies and their labor. This lies at the heart of the racial wealth divide in this country.

The very first documented use of the word “white” instead of European was in 1691 used in early legal documents. The development of whiteness led to the profound inequities of economic wealth and ownership of property, the vote, and access to political power.

The work of racial equity is to talk about power.

The work of racial equity is rooted in deep love and connection. It expands our understanding of community and keeps us in right relationship.

Just because we started here doesn’t mean this is where we have to stay.

This is the work for us to do.

The work of racial equity is to talk about freedom and liberation for all that is human centered and equitable.

Let’s get to work!