When Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, white people wrote to Congress … not to do something about systemic issues in Louisiana, but to demand laws that treat dogs like human citizens during disasters! And recently, when a white woman in the park lied about a Black birdwatcher attacking her, many white people focused on the dog’s feelings – not the Black man’s life.
These are just two of countless examples. We’re honestly asking: do white people care more about dogs than Black humans?
There’s nothing wrong with loving dogs. In fact, spending on pets overall is increasing among Black people. But there are some problematic trends when it comes to white people and dogs.
Dogs were often trained to hunt down enslaved people who dared to seek freedom. Cops continued this violent tradition during the Civil Rights movement when dogs attacked protesters. There were even jokes about us being “dog biscuits” in the 1980s! But it doesn’t end there.
White people frequently use dogs as reasons to call the police on us when we live in the same neighborhoods – especially when they disagree with how we care for our dogs or want to reinforce racial boundaries, according to Sarah Mayorga, author of “Behind the White Picket Fence.”
Caring for dogs is a good thing. Dogs are NOT the problem – white supremacy prioritizing them over their fellow human beings is!