As someone who has a degree in learning about the effects of policies and systemic injustices affecting BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and gender issues it’s so frustrating to get on my timeline everyday and see the constant criticism of people who are wanting to help, learn, or be allies (1)

I’ve touched on this topic before but it’s getting so intense and negative I have to address it for my own sanity, even if no one reads this or understands. I understand calling out people who support negative policies or racist/sexist/xenophobic ideologies but (2)

ALOT of energy is focused on celebrities, influencers, or other people who have good intentions but are just under a larger scrutiny. I guess the only example I can think of is many of the people I learn from, activists, spend alot of time criticizing and hardly take the time (3)

To educate people who want to learn. That is the most frustrating thing to me. It’s not anyone’s job, especially BIPOC to educate people, especially when it takes away from our energy but if you make a tweet to start a conversation about something criticizing a group of ppl (4)

& someone who WANTS to learn about what they can do to become more aware and you deny them, tell them to rudely “google” it or insult them you started the conversation for nothing. The only people who will respond to that are the people that already agree with your statement (5)

& that does not progress society or social awareness. Whether we like it or not we have to be realistic abt what actual causes change, & that is compassion! NOT isolating and insulting people who are still learning. We cannot expect anyone to be 100% socially or culturally aware

Many of the reasons I started to get into activism and social change were admittedly not because my life depended on it, which is 100% a privilege and I recognize that. I was inspired by other people who were still learning and doing their best.

Especially in terms of Native awareness when we talk about the deep appropriation (which is what most avg ppl get criticized for) we see that many elders or those involved in our communities have differing opinions on what matters and what doesn’t as much

My great-grandfather of the Seneca tribe in NY was a well-respected elder in our community, and even he culturally appropriated plains Indian regalia to draw attention to himself for various radical protests to stop the environmental tragedy of the kinzua dam. (8?)

If this was in the time of Twitter, would he be ripped apart for this when his intention was for the greater good? Is it okay to silence one BIPOC voice just because it’s not perfectly correct and free of flaw? We should uplift ALL viewpoints as long as they are not directly (9)

Harmful to our communities through action or advancing stereotypes. I’ve seen ALOT of criticism on non-natives who appreciate native culture and I don’t think that’s fair. These people are on our side, and while they don’t face the same struggles I am aware of (10)

Many tribes, specifically mine, who took in non-natives who had good hearts and intentions. If we really want to make a change when will we stop criticizing and start educating the non-BIPOC who want to learn and be involved?

There will ALWAYS be something to pick apart and no one, no matter how hard they try will EVER be entirely culturally sensitive and aware. I do not think it’s okay to slander people still on this journey.

I’m sure this goes without saying but since I know how words can be twitsed this thread is not at all to defend racists/sexist/xenophobic/etc people. It’s very clear when someone shares these ideologies. I’m talking about good people who make mistakes but still want to learn!!