Solving Inequality

Reaching an Understanding on Reparations

What does it mean to a white man of modest means?

It was one of those conversations that get to the heart of the matter quickly. I was talking with an old friend from work. We both work in mental health, at a residential treatment facility where many of our clients face poverty, abuse, and lack of access to services. All of this is on top of underlying mental health issues. And sometimes, minority status.

The conversation delved into the topic of equity and the disadvantaged we serve. My friend has gone back to school to become a therapist. And even though he’s been working with the underserved for years, even though he’s a caring and giving man already attuned to the issues our clients face, he’s still struggling with where he fits in the solution and what he can do to address inequity.

He acknowledged something akin to white guilt, and in the midst of processing what he’s learning in his equity and inclusion classes he said something out loud that many white folks might feel privately:

“I still feel like equity doesn’t involve restitution by means of white men living in poverty.”

I was somewhat surprised to hear that because he’s not someone who is grasping or fearful. But there’s something that’s not talked about when the subject of restitution comes up; the gut reaction. What does it mean to me, as someone who clearly has more than others?