In one of my classes, we were talking about what it means to be a global citizen. What does being a global citizen actually mean? Does it mean you are trying to improve the community that surrounds you? Does being a global citizen include improving communities you may not be a part of? I believe "global citizen" is a hard term to define. Our professor immediately put a cartoon up on the screen:
We spoke about the cartoon and it's implications, and it resonated with me. With the chaos of day to day life, it is so easy to resort to the phrase, "That's not my problem." When we go on with our daily lives, it can be very easy to feel far removed from issues that are going on in the world and in your country. I am guilty of this everyday. It can be so effortless to read an article online about an issue such as inequality in the incarceration system, think about it for a minute or two, and then move on to your next commitment. It has become so mindless to read one of those articles, give yourself a pat on the back for remaining updated, and then carry on with your day. While being informed can be the first step towards being a global citizen, it is certainly not the last.
Understanding the different privileges and positions of power you may hold within society is crucial in becoming a global citizen. In order to make change happen for the people experiencing oppression, people of privilege need to step up to the plate. It is a privilege to carry on with life without thinking about politics, legislation, and oppressive leaders. This is a privilege because some are forced to think about these things every minute of their lives. Acknowledging this privilege and trying to use it to help those who may not be as privileged as you is a great way of exemplifying global citizenship.
As a white person, I believe being a global citizen means accepting problems that may seem far removed from me, as my own. This must be a careful process though. As a white person I must try to help and not hinder different movements such as Black Lives Matter, which were justly started by the people who are actually experiencing the oppression. It is important that the people in positions of greater privilege, recognize that they must become allies to these organizations so that they can find even greater success.
I am lucky enough to feel like many issues that are happening in the world are, "not my problem." But that exact feeling, is privilege- and I need to find ways to use that privilege to help those who are experiencing oppression.
