"...and another on the website of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative by Anas White, called 'A Black Muslim Response To #MuslimLivesMatter'.
- "Solidarity Is Not Co-optation"
Which should have been the final answer. When black activist leaders make a request of those of us who bear more privilege than they - and we do, because light skin earns us more than any hijab or beard could ever take away - we should shut the fuck up, sit down, and listen. We had other hashtags which we could use, and which we did use. We had this discussion in so many other places, on Facebook (here, here, and here, for example) as well as in other articles, such as Khaled Beydoun and Margeri Hill's "The Colour of Muslim Mourning" for Al Jazeera on 15 February 2015.
We already had the discussion. We have already hashed out the issues. As far as I can see, a consensus was reached. I am disappointed to see so much verbiage dedicated to complaining that legitimate arguments were made against appropriating a slogan that quite frankly belongs to another movement. I am further disappointed to see the Socialist Worker carrying the piece.
So that is as far as I will read into that article.
Freedom to Be Me: The meanderings of a freed mind.
Showing posts with label white privilege. Show all posts
Showing posts with label white privilege. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Call Racism for What It Is (a response to the responses to Patricia Arqette)
Hi, Everyone
I get it. We don't like to admit the hard truths that exist among us. We dislike it even more when something that is deeply entrenched in us is splashed across national TV and swiftly - and rightly - condemned.
However, we need to stop using fancy words to identify the dark stain that resides in many Americans' hearts as a way of hiding what is now obvious within ourselves. We need to stop hiding behind complex concepts.
When Patricia Arquette said that LGBTIQ people (whom she merely called "gays") and people of colour needed to help women, she was being patently heterosexist and racist.
Not comfortable? You're not supposed to be comfortable. Confronting the evil within is never comfortable. Ms Arquette was being a racist. All of those who have been supporting her racist (and heterosexist) assertion are also racist (and heterosexist).
And I am here and now stating that hiding behind the concept of intersectionality, especially because we are "uncomfortable" using the term "racist" is itself an act of white privilege-clinging. Yes, Ms Arquette failed miserably at being intersectional. Yes, our society needs to be intersectional.
The fact remains that Ms Arquette was being a racist. The fact remains that our society is deeply and systemically racist. It is time for us to grow ourselves a collective spine, look this evil in the face, and take steps to destroy it.
I get it. We don't like to admit the hard truths that exist among us. We dislike it even more when something that is deeply entrenched in us is splashed across national TV and swiftly - and rightly - condemned.
However, we need to stop using fancy words to identify the dark stain that resides in many Americans' hearts as a way of hiding what is now obvious within ourselves. We need to stop hiding behind complex concepts.
When Patricia Arquette said that LGBTIQ people (whom she merely called "gays") and people of colour needed to help women, she was being patently heterosexist and racist.
And I am here and now stating that hiding behind the concept of intersectionality, especially because we are "uncomfortable" using the term "racist" is itself an act of white privilege-clinging. Yes, Ms Arquette failed miserably at being intersectional. Yes, our society needs to be intersectional.
The fact remains that Ms Arquette was being a racist. The fact remains that our society is deeply and systemically racist. It is time for us to grow ourselves a collective spine, look this evil in the face, and take steps to destroy it.
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Eliana Dockterman Cries White Tears on TIME
Trigger Warning: The article excerpts contained below are so white privilege-clinging as to be outright racist and white supremacist.
Eliana Dickerson has taken to TIME to shed a lake of white tears over criticism of Patricia Arquette's racist comments following her speech at the Oscars-So-White. I am copy-pasting huge chunks out of that god-awfully racist piece of trash so that TIME won't be graced with even more page views.
Don’t Tear Down Patricia Arquette for a Well-Intentioned Speech
Eliana Dockterman, TIME
23 February 2015
http://time.com/3718634/oscars-2015-patricia-arquette-feminism
...
But no good deed goes unpunished — especially on social media — and within hours of the ceremony, Arquette was being attacked by people who said she was prioritizing the rights of white women over those of LGBTQ people and people of color. These criticisms are legitimate and deserve to be heard. Still, Arquette’s heart was in the right place and it’s not right to completely dismiss one of feminism’s most visible advocates.
...
There was a lot to criticize at this year’s ceremonies, and the well-meaning Patricia Arquette should rank a lot lower on that list than, for example, Sean Penn.
...
While Gay and others had more nuanced takes on Arquette’s comments — supporting her message while critiquing her phrasing — folks on Twitter are dismissing her entirely, and that’s dangerous. Even while we recognize the problems with her speech, feminists should be careful not to tear down their best and most visible advocates.
...
Love her or hate her, there’s no greater public advocate for feminism in pop culture than Lena Dunham.
...
Different women can choose to express their feminism in different ways. But when women begin to tear down their best, most popular advocates, we hurt our own cause. As Sally Kohn wrote at The New Republic after the Dunham incident: “The minute feminism becomes hypercritical and humorless, it becomes too easy for the mainstream to dismiss our more valid complaints.”
Eliana Dickerson has taken to TIME to shed a lake of white tears over criticism of Patricia Arquette's racist comments following her speech at the Oscars-So-White. I am copy-pasting huge chunks out of that god-awfully racist piece of trash so that TIME won't be graced with even more page views.
Don’t Tear Down Patricia Arquette for a Well-Intentioned Speech
Eliana Dockterman, TIME
23 February 2015
http://time.com/3718634/oscars-2015-patricia-arquette-feminism
...
But no good deed goes unpunished — especially on social media — and within hours of the ceremony, Arquette was being attacked by people who said she was prioritizing the rights of white women over those of LGBTQ people and people of color. These criticisms are legitimate and deserve to be heard. Still, Arquette’s heart was in the right place and it’s not right to completely dismiss one of feminism’s most visible advocates.
...
There was a lot to criticize at this year’s ceremonies, and the well-meaning Patricia Arquette should rank a lot lower on that list than, for example, Sean Penn.
...
While Gay and others had more nuanced takes on Arquette’s comments — supporting her message while critiquing her phrasing — folks on Twitter are dismissing her entirely, and that’s dangerous. Even while we recognize the problems with her speech, feminists should be careful not to tear down their best and most visible advocates.
...
Love her or hate her, there’s no greater public advocate for feminism in pop culture than Lena Dunham.
...
Different women can choose to express their feminism in different ways. But when women begin to tear down their best, most popular advocates, we hurt our own cause. As Sally Kohn wrote at The New Republic after the Dunham incident: “The minute feminism becomes hypercritical and humorless, it becomes too easy for the mainstream to dismiss our more valid complaints.”
White Privilege: A Concise History of Black-White Relations in the States
TRIGGER WARNING: Racism, Racist Violence, Slavery
Image: Cartoon divided into six panels, all against natural landscape background of blue sky and green earth. People depicted are two male-appearing persons of approximately the same 19- to 25-year-old age. One is a blonde white wearing short-sleeved salmon-coloured t-shirt, blue jeans, and steel grey foot-gear. The other is a black person with dark hair wearing a ragged sleeveless t-shirt and a pair of ragged long shorts. In the first three panels, the black person is chained to a large ball. In the fourth, he breaks the chains. In the fifth and sixth, the chains and ball are not depicted. Words an actions in panels:
1. White: "This is for your own good..." with hands on black person's shoulders. Black person: [thought bubble] "Not!"
2. White: "Oof!" while climbing on the back of the black person and reaching for a platform. Black person: "Hey!" while crouched.
3. White: [thought bubble] "Puff! Puff!" while standing on black person's back, settling arms on platform. Black person, on all fours: "Get OFF Me!"
4. White: [thought bubble] "Phew!" while climbing onto platform using black person's head. Black person: "Enough's ENOUGH! I'm getting UP!"
5. White: "I'm REAL sorry about being racist before. I know BETTER now," while resting on platform. Black person glares at white with arms crossed over chest.
6. Black Person: "SWELL, give me a hand up, willya?" while extending hand to white. White: "Of COURSE not! That would be REVERSE racism! Look, if I got myself up here, why can't you?" while reclining on platform.
.
Image: Cartoon divided into six panels, all against natural landscape background of blue sky and green earth. People depicted are two male-appearing persons of approximately the same 19- to 25-year-old age. One is a blonde white wearing short-sleeved salmon-coloured t-shirt, blue jeans, and steel grey foot-gear. The other is a black person with dark hair wearing a ragged sleeveless t-shirt and a pair of ragged long shorts. In the first three panels, the black person is chained to a large ball. In the fourth, he breaks the chains. In the fifth and sixth, the chains and ball are not depicted. Words an actions in panels:
1. White: "This is for your own good..." with hands on black person's shoulders. Black person: [thought bubble] "Not!"
2. White: "Oof!" while climbing on the back of the black person and reaching for a platform. Black person: "Hey!" while crouched.
3. White: [thought bubble] "Puff! Puff!" while standing on black person's back, settling arms on platform. Black person, on all fours: "Get OFF Me!"
4. White: [thought bubble] "Phew!" while climbing onto platform using black person's head. Black person: "Enough's ENOUGH! I'm getting UP!"
5. White: "I'm REAL sorry about being racist before. I know BETTER now," while resting on platform. Black person glares at white with arms crossed over chest.
6. Black Person: "SWELL, give me a hand up, willya?" while extending hand to white. White: "Of COURSE not! That would be REVERSE racism! Look, if I got myself up here, why can't you?" while reclining on platform.
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