Tag: white privilege

siancore:

“The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people’s expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a white person who likes black people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything.”

—

Scott Woods (X)

he motherfucking dropped the truth.

(via mesmerisme)

This is on my dash quite a bit: a lack of support of shows like Black Lightning because networks like the CW are racist/homophobic (past behaviour/people in charge) and have hurt audiences (without consequences).  

There are people who will use this as an excuse for their own racism, that’s just a fact.  Is it what it all boils down to? No. But racism is a huge factor in not supporting this. I get the tug of war some have. There’s more to it, yes. As part of the queer audience, I get where the resentment comes from (and I know how angry some people are toward this network). But we’ve asked others to get over theirs to support us.  We have to do better. We have to keep challenging our privilege. We’re not going to win anything if we don’t support one another and support representation. We’ve got to bring the margins to the fore. Isn’t this part of how we do it?  

There’s so much we despise about this system/that network and it does need to be addressed, but where are we on that? We’re still watching telly.  Let’s make it count for something. 

Adding here TV Grim Reaper’s ratings post. I don’t think international viewers affect this, and I don’t think this includes streaming views, either. 

queerly-christian:

floofbooty:

dearnonnatives:

A guide for white people.

What. Racist no matter what?? ://///

Yes. Those of us who are white need to recognize that we always have more to learn, always have more to do to earn or retain the title of ally. We might think we’ve learned all there is to know – what racist behavior to avoid, what rallies to attend, how to call out other white people – but chances are we will still slip up sometimes, will realize something we’ve been saying was racist or will speak over POC when we should shut up or will fail to act when we should have acted to support POC.

And even if we were somehow to become The Perfect Ally, it is impossible not to benefit in some ways from our white privilege, from systemic racism. I am white, I am trying to learn and be anti-racist, but if I ever pretend I’m “free” from being racist or no longer benefit from racism then I’ve stopped learning, I’ve stopped listening, and I’ve made my allyship about me instead of about POC.

Racism, sexism, heteronormativity, cissexism, xenophobia…all sorts of prejudices are unfortunately in the air we breathe. I don’t think it makes us Bad Mean Bigots to have absorbed these prejudices – unless we refuse to acknowledge those prejudices. When white people pretend we’re not racist anymore, we’ve failed. For another example, when straight and/or cis people pretend they’re not homophobic or transphobic anymore, they’ve failed. When men pretend they don’t still hold some sexist beliefs deep down or benefit from sexism, they’ve failed. And so on.

Those of us who want to earn the title ally need to perpetually work for it, and we always need to be open to correction. 

rapunzelie:

The idea that racism will die out with the white baby boomers is a myth perpetuated by white millennials who do not want to take action and responsibility for calling out racism in their own generation. White millennials are not inherently less racist than white baby boomers and racism does not disappear with a generation. Racism is a construct that exists in all aspects of society, from politics to economics to social norms and activities. It can only be eradicated with constant and fervent dismantling of these powerful constructs in place and new generations must keep working at it. I’ve heard too many fellow white people say that when all these ‘racist old people’ die off then we’ll be fine but we all know that racism is not limited to old white people and that the alt-right is littered with white millennials. Check your friends and family on bigoted and racist remarks. Be a good ally. Sitting back for old people to die is not good allyship and you’ll soon see that they are not the only racists in power.

sandalwoodandsunlight:

Posting these threads not to taint anyone’s positive feelings and inspiration they got from participating and/or witnessing the women’s march, it is not to erase the fact that the march was diverse and people of color led and participated in the march, it’s also not to isolate or be hypercritical of white women who are trying to do the right thing.

Posting them because it is a reminder to act beyond the march and because it’s a teaching moment, especially those of us who are new to political activism should listen and learn.

Protesting can’t be the new form disaster tourism, and it’s also a starting point, not the end goal.

Fandom and the Intersection of Feminism and Race

diversehighfantasy:

Intersectionality – specifically, the intersection of feminism and race as it pertains to Black women – has become a bit of a Tumblr buzzphrase that is generally applied to major social issues. But it has a real and important place in fandom as well, and while that is generally accepted on the surface, it has come to mean (to folks to don’t actually get it) simply acknowledging the existence of Black women.

Here’s the thing, though. Intersectionality isn’t white women reblogging photos of black women with the caption “omg so beautiful!” It isn’t fancasting Lupita in everything or having “poc” headcanons of white characters. It doesn’t even necessarily mean supporting existing Black women characters (though that’s a start). Those things are inclusive, but they’re not necessarily intersectional.

To understand the intersectionality of feminism and race in media (and, by extension, fandom), one must understand the fundamental differences between what is considered empowering for white women vs. what is empowering for Black women. (Hint: due to many years of dehumanization of Black women while white women have been portrayed as The Ideal, these two perceptions are almost diametrically opposite.)

Take the Strong Woman who isn’t there to be loved. White women love this trope, because white women in media are so often primarily seen as love interests. I can understand how that can be frustrating, and how it can be refreshing to see, say, Furiosa in Mad Max. But – and this is important – the Strong Woman trope, applied to a Black woman, reads entirely differently, and to ignore that ignores intersectionality altogether.

Black women have almost never been the ones who need protecting in media. Black women aren’t sick and tired of always being love interests. The Strong Independent Woman (thanks in part to fandom repeatedly using the term to try and keep women of color in their romance-free place) has become virtually a slur when it comes to Black women in media in the same way the Damsel in Distress makes white women’s skin crawl. If you care about intersectionality at all, it’s important to understand that. The experience of Black women in media is the Bizarro World version of white women’s experience.

Most “inclusive” feminists can see the disparity between Scarlett O’Hara and Mammy, and (I hope) understand that Mammy was dehumanized and otherized. The Scarlett and Mammy trope lives on today, with only the most un-PC parts of the Mammy character removed. Otherizing Black women is not yet widely considered un-PC. It still continues in the media we consume every day. And just because they’re often glorified for being so strong, so tough, and so independent it doesn’t make it OK.

Abbie Mills is a tough, independent badass – but Katrina embodied “womanhood,” precious and pure. Michonne is a tough, independent badass – but Jessie embodies “womanhood.” And on and on.

It has been said so many times, but it hardly ever seems to sink in: It is progressive and feminist for Black women to be the precious ones, the love interests, the damsels who need saving. 

So if you instinctively ask why a Black woman can’t just be strong or get upset if she is “reduced to a love interest,” allowed the kind of romantic storyline you take for granted and spit on, the answer is: Your brand of feminism doesn’t apply here.

And, you know, that doesn’t negate that brand of feminism. Intersectionality (of all kinds) asks you to look at feminism as something that is complex, not a set of one-size-fits-all rules.