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As a person of colour, living on the other side of the world, I ask myself briefly what the incident Chris Cooper faced & George Floyd’s death & that of so many others has to do with me. Nothing. Except they could be my brothers or sisters (1/10)
Nothing, except if I were living in the USA, I would fear for my life too.
As a mother raising a third culture kid who’s half white and half Asian, I would hope that he will never have to face people who will judge him on the basis that he is lesser than or more than (2/10)
As a mother raising a third culture kid who’s half white and half Asian, I would hope that he will never have to face people who will judge him on the basis that he is lesser than or more than (2/10)
So this is how it affects me: I have been otherised by own ethnic group. I have been fetishised by white men in positions of power. I have been told by my own family to stay out of the sun so I don’t become too dark (3/10)
I was told I couldn't study English Literature bc it wasn't my native tongue. Never mind that I have the ability to speak & write perfect English (& have probably had a better education than most). I sit amongst groups of Asians who make jokes about their own kind & others (4/10)
I have been guilty of doing the same.
I have sat in silence while white people accept me for my liberalism and exposure to Western culture yet mock others who have not had that ‘privilege’ (5/10)
I have sat in silence while white people accept me for my liberalism and exposure to Western culture yet mock others who have not had that ‘privilege’ (5/10)
I have myself spoken disparagingly of white people, yet at the same time pride myself for being more like them than my own people because of our heavy and complicated history with white imperialists and colonisers (6/10)
Make no mistake, racism is alive and well wherever you are. I am still educating myself, and more importantly, I know it is my DUTY to educate my son. To be righteous for the right reasons. To stand on the right side of history. To be human (7/10)
I will NEVER know the experience of life as a black person. But I have had glimpses of it as a brown woman living in a male-dominated world. So yes, it is insidious and yes, it affects me (8/10)
And if you’re disappointed in your idols for not speaking up earlier or saying anything at all...a piece of advice. Kill your heroes, metaphorically. Be your own goddamn hero in your own goddamn story (9/10)
There's more that connects us than what divides us. We cannot say ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER.
Here’s a thread of links & resources if you want to use your privilege for good & dismantle systemic racism.
https://twitter.com/elleosiliwood/status/1266346426444812288?s=21
#BlackLivesMatter
(10/10)
Here’s a thread of links & resources if you want to use your privilege for good & dismantle systemic racism.
https://twitter.com/elleosiliwood/status/1266346426444812288?s=21
#BlackLivesMatter
(10/10)
