Youtube Series Review: "Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man"
Emmanuel Acho, known for his former position as a linebacker in the NFL, created a YouTube series in which he starts dialogue to educate specifically white people on racial injustice. 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests and the urge for social reform inspired the creation of this series The videos cover many topics, such as the protests and riots in 2020, white privilege, trans interracial families, interracial relationships, reversing racism, religion’s influence on racism, police brutality, “Karens,” and cancel culture.
Acho speaks directly to white people, as many in America are inherently racist or oblivious to racial inequality. He conveys his beliefs in a confident, inviting, and sophisticated manner. He initially expresses the importance of white people’s willingness to understand the viewpoint of black people. He asks that they learn what they can do to help stand with black people. Empathy and compassion are highlighted as valuable tools, which allow white people to feel the pain of black people, as well as feel emotionally inspired to take part in racial reform. Acho profoundly states that white people are essentially the oppressors and the problem, so they must also be the solution, dissolving racism and oppression. He sympathized with rioters, not defending their violent actions, but validating their emotions, pain and anger. In his opinion, black people tried to peacefully protest, but were ignored time and time again. In order to get the attention of the oppressor, black people have taken a stand, trying to raise awareness of the oppression and call upon the people in power to create change.
Next, Emmanuel Acho explains white privilege for those who are not familiar with the term, “white privilege is having a head start due to hundreds and hundreds of years of systematic and systemic racism.” His motive in speaking on white privilege is to illuminate that the rising Black Lives Matter movement is not meant to promote that only black lives matter. Some people do not agree or are offended by the Black Lives Matter movement because they don’t understand what it stands for. The reason many are not protesting that white lives matter is not because they don’t, but because white people’s skin color doesn’t contribute to the difficulty in their life. A white person does not face the same disadvantages that black people do. Further conveying his perspective, Acho quotes the 36th United States President, Lyndon B. Johnson, in saying that “you can’t shackle and chain someone for hundreds of years, liberate them to freely compete with the rest, and still justly believe that you’ve been fair.” In addition, as history repeats itself the news is swamped with stories of racial injustice, whiteness being weaponized, and black people characterized as threats. The justice system has unfairly given black people harsh punishments time and time again. Emmanuel Acho proposes that fair consequences need to be given and reform in the justice system is a necessary to ameliorate the treatment of black people in America.
Moreover, Acho speaks on white people using the N word. He expresses, “the N word is synonymous with oppression, execution, and subordination.” The historical context of the word is the reason that it is never appropriate for a white person to say it. He goes on to highlight that the word is synonymous with black people being treated like dirt, no more than the slave to a master. The word crushes one spirit as it can remind one of the pain of their ancestors. Many people question why black people continue to use the word in today’s society and condemn their use of the word, as well. In response, Acho discloses that black people change the meaning of the word, which was originally meant to be evil and inhumane and turned it into a term of endearment. Furthermore, he points out that black people have been oppressed for so long, their rights have been limited, and trying to limit their speech is repressive and painful.
In summary, Emmanuel Acho’s YouTube series aims to show white people how they can help solve the issue of racism through exposure, education, compassion, and empathy. He is essentially using his platform and videos to educate and inform on racism, system, racism, social injustice, rioting, and the hurt black people are feeling today.