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Ok I am nonbinary. But socially I am read as a woman. A white woman. And from that standpoint I wanna address white women/people socially read as white women because this is important:
we are weapons of white supremacy; in fact, we are THE weapon of white supremacy
we are weapons of white supremacy; in fact, we are THE weapon of white supremacy
Our supposed "purity" is the justification behind acts of racial violence and murder. Lynchings were so often committed because a black man was accused of assaulting/touching/looking at! a white woman. The specter of black men coming after white women was major racist propaganda
And we were not innocent in this of course. This is pretty basic history. Think of "To Kill A Mockingbird," an entire book based on a white woman using the fear of black men's desire to hide her own shame and her father's guilt.
That isn't made up. That happened.
That isn't made up. That happened.
Emmett Till was murdered because of a white woman who lied. A white woman who has lived her life free from the consequences of her actions, a white woman who caused a child's violent lynching and got away with it.
White women we know of what we are capable
White women we know of what we are capable
And white women, when we call the police on a black person we are knowingly committing a modern-day lynching.
#amycooper could very have killed that man, just as Carolyn Bryant Donham killed Emmett Till
#amycooper could very have killed that man, just as Carolyn Bryant Donham killed Emmett Till
This is a difficult truth to face, I know. White women, sometimes we (and those of us socially read as women) feel like we aren't as bad as white men because we're, you know, women.
But when it comes to racism in general and anti-blackness in particular, the dynamic shifts
But when it comes to racism in general and anti-blackness in particular, the dynamic shifts
and white women we have social power--enough social power to get people killed.
So we cannot be passive here. We cannot assume we are doing enough. We have to be very clear that we will not tolerate racism done in our name
So we cannot be passive here. We cannot assume we are doing enough. We have to be very clear that we will not tolerate racism done in our name
This means we cannot call the police on a black person. We can't. Period. Because calling out the police on a black person is akin to telling some men with ropes in the 20s that a black man winked at us.
This means if we see a white woman acting in a way that can get a black person (or any POC of course) hurt we must confront her. Record her. But also stop her from calling the cops. Shame her. Make her realize that her actions will have negative consequences. Be active
This means recognizing that "Karen" isn't a fvcking racist slur but a way or recognizing a person who engages in certain behaviors that literally get people killed.
This means educating ourselves on the history of how white women have been complicit in racial, anti-black violence; how white women have been active in using our social power to instigate racial, anti-black violence. How white women continue to perpetuate racist violence
This means listening to black people and not invalidating their experiences. This means not demanding black people educate us. This means not derailing discussions of white women & racism by exclaiming how not racist we are
This means giving credit to black scholars:
Nell Irvin Painter https://www.amazon.com/Nell-Irvin-Painter/e/B000APV4N2?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r0_c1
Nell Irvin Painter https://www.amazon.com/Nell-Irvin-Painter/e/B000APV4N2?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r0_c1
Tressie McMillan Cottom https://www.amazon.com/Tressie-McMillan-Cottom/e/B01N9G6B0W?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1590492774&sr=8-2
Daina Ramey Berry https://www.amazon.com/Daina-Ramey-Berry/e/B01HWCCZI8?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r2_c1
Crystal Marie Fleming https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Marie-Fleming/e/B01MS9MLNB/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Ebony Elizabeth Thomas https://www.amazon.com/Ebony-Elizabeth-Thomas/e/B07JQ9L5HL/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Bettina L. Love https://www.amazon.com/Bettina-L.-Love/e/B07K3Z6SVV?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r0_c1
Monique W. Morris https://www.amazon.com/Monique-W.-Morris/e/B001HPA5LQ?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r0_c0
Zora Neale Hurston https://www.amazon.com/Zora-Neale-Hurston/e/B000AQ05M2?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r0_c1
Brittany C. Cooper https://www.amazon.com/Brittney-C.-Cooper/e/B01N6XZ20X?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r3_c1
Angela Y. Davis https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Y.-Davis/e/B000APW3CI?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r3_c1
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor https://www.amazon.com/Keeanga-Yamahtta-Taylor/e/B0744WHGJW?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_sims_vu00_r1_c0
And these are just a very few of the scholars out there. Also here are a few sources not written by black women but still useful for white women: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/the-trouble-with-white-women-an-interview-with-kyla-schuller/
Hey so, if I "had you until" this tweet, if you agreed with me until this tweet, if you were fully on board until this tweet then you missed the point of the thread https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/1265239088866766848?s=20
Calling the police ON someone is never ok. Never.
Look if you're in a situation where you feel like you're in danger and you're convinced the police can help you then ok whatever fine, call them. If you hear someone in your house at night, if your car's been stolen, etc etc
Look if you're in a situation where you feel like you're in danger and you're convinced the police can help you then ok whatever fine, call them. If you hear someone in your house at night, if your car's been stolen, etc etc
then sure. Whatever.
Calling the cops ON someone means you see a specific person who is behaving in a way you feel might be dangerous or whatever. Calling the cops ON that person will often mean that person will be harmed--especially if they are a BIPOC
Calling the cops ON someone means you see a specific person who is behaving in a way you feel might be dangerous or whatever. Calling the cops ON that person will often mean that person will be harmed--especially if they are a BIPOC
And you can say I'm arguing semantics but this is an important distinction that a lot of people don't consider.
But part of fighting white supremacy is understanding that the police are by their very nature a tool of state-sanctioned violence and alternatives are required
But part of fighting white supremacy is understanding that the police are by their very nature a tool of state-sanctioned violence and alternatives are required
An aside about fear: https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/1265779957957042177?s=20
Another aside about white marginalized ppl: https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/1265690355258798081?s=20
