Oppressed

I was brought up to believe that America is the “land of the free.” Unless, of course, you’re in prison for some sort of criminal activity. However, I’m hearing more and more that I’m not as free as I think. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be seeing the recent rise in reverse discrimination lawsuits. But I have now learned: America is the land of the free, unless you are cisgender, white, and male.

I had no idea I was so oppressed until I read about the cisgender white male law professors suing the Michigan Law Review. Apparently, being tenured, white, and male doesn’t count if you’re looking to have an essay published. It doesn’t even count if you’re a student who wants to be part of the Law Review staff.

For so long, I thought cisgender white guys like me were the ones running the world. But apparently, I’ve been lied to. All along, I believed I was part of a privileged class, completely unaware that I had been overlooked again and again. Looking back, had I known, I could have done so much more with my career instead of being passed over in favor of women architects, Black architects, and other marginalized individuals.

Now I know what you’re going to say: I’m wrong. White men have been in charge dating back to the founding of the country. That you only have to look at Congress to see that in action. But after reading about these poor law professors, I’m now convinced Mike Johnson and John Thune are just DEI hires. Based on recent actions, they clearly don’t know what they’re doing. The real power lies with the 26% of Senate and House members who are minorities. How else do you explain Hakeem Jeffries taking over from Nancy Pelosi?

I grew up hearing during family gatherings about people being hired solely because they were Black. Usually, this came out as various family members complained about their work conditions. Granted, this wasn’t said too loudly in case someone might hear—since we all know if you don’t say it too loud, it’s okay to say it. And it was said a lot.

But I just can’t believe they were so wrong in their thinking! Should I tell them? After all this time, for the truth to end up being that they were being hired because they were white—regardless of how unqualified they might be. I doubt they’ll believe it, but maybe I should throw that out at Thanksgiving dinner.

Of course, being oppressed isn’t that new to me. I am queer, so I like to think I know a little bit—if not from a personal perspective, then a historical one. Identifying as queer in this country hasn’t always been a walk in the park. Even now, after all the advances over the last half-century, we’re finding ourselves gearing up for another fight.

But who knew if I had started whining about being a disadvantaged cis white guy much earlier in my career, I’d be much farther ahead—whether I was queer or not.

For now, however, I’ll just sit in my office feeling oppressed and sucking it up—knowing things aren’t likely to change soon. I will keep running my own business, participating in my white, cisgender, male-dominated profession, and praying on the way home I don’t get pulled over by some cop for being white while driving.