James Baldwin

"Being white means never having to think about it.” — commonly attributed to James Baldwin who reflects on these ideas from his essay On Being 'White'... and Other Lies.

If you want to read more, start with Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time and On Being 'White'... and Other Lies. He breaks down how whiteness was created to maintain power & what that means for everyone else.

It’s important to read Baldwin & think about this because whiteness isn't just a skin color—it’s a system. A system that was built to avoid scrutiny, to center itself as “normal,” and to stay unmarked.

When white people don’t have to think about being white, it means others are forced to constantly think about their race.

Baldwin doesn’t just explain racism, he explains the cost of avoiding responsibility, the violence of silence, & the urgency of reflection.

His work isn’t comfortable, but it’s clear, honest, and necessary.

- Julia Grace Garfield