CULTURE + HISTORY
Why White People Should Never Compare Their Experiences to Slavery
It’s historically inaccurate and disrespectful all rolled into one
White people have a historical responsibility for the chattel slavery system in America. However, they often draw parallels between their experiences and those of the enslaved — a view tainted by cognitive dissonance. This psychological phenomenon explains why some see themselves as powerless observers rather than privileged members of society. False comparisons and conversations about slavery distort our shared historical understanding, reducing the experiences of millions to a rhetorical device. One of the earliest examples of this misguided comparison occurred in the years leading up to the American Revolution. Despite paying significantly less in taxes than those living in Great Britain, colonists equated this taxation to slavery.
Cognitive dissonance arises when someone holds conflicting beliefs or values. In this case, the colonists viewed themselves as both freedom fighters and enslavers, a paradoxical identity. They used the metaphor of slavery to gain momentum for their critique of the British Empire while refusing to show empathy for those they’d deprived of liberty. In doing so, they exposed an under-discussed point — that the…
