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The following isn't news to most people, but just in case it'll be useful others, I wanna share my "1+1=2" moment. Since I'm caricature of myself & of my whiteness (which aren't actually separate), I made a table to demonstrate what I've realized* too late.
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*sources in replies
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*sources in replies
Disclaimer:
-White people are my intended audience of this thread. People of color, feel free to read along but y'all of course already know this shit.
-I'm calling this "My '1+1=2' Moment" because I recognize that I'm belatedly piecing together a very obvious puzzle
-White people are my intended audience of this thread. People of color, feel free to read along but y'all of course already know this shit.
-I'm calling this "My '1+1=2' Moment" because I recognize that I'm belatedly piecing together a very obvious puzzle
Disclaimer, contd.:
I am NOT arguing that the best or singular solution to dismantling white supremacy involves centering whiteness. There are so many different and necessary approaches— most notably, redistributing my income and wealth to Black people.
I am NOT arguing that the best or singular solution to dismantling white supremacy involves centering whiteness. There are so many different and necessary approaches— most notably, redistributing my income and wealth to Black people.
Observation:
The left column on its own and the right column on its own are already long well-documented (separate) phenomena. No novelty there! But why does the left column map almost DIRECTLY ONTO the right column?
The left column on its own and the right column on its own are already long well-documented (separate) phenomena. No novelty there! But why does the left column map almost DIRECTLY ONTO the right column?
Note:
I've never seen the concepts in the left column ~explicitly paralleled~ with the concepts in the right, like I've done so in my chart. But I'm NOT claiming credit bc I'm 100% positive someone else off my radar already made this observation. Plz hmu if you have the citation
I've never seen the concepts in the left column ~explicitly paralleled~ with the concepts in the right, like I've done so in my chart. But I'm NOT claiming credit bc I'm 100% positive someone else off my radar already made this observation. Plz hmu if you have the citation
My "1+1=2" Takeaway:
The architects of white supremacy (strategically & evilly) tried safeguarding against its demise by making the proverbial "self-destruct" button something white people like myself would try avoiding at all costs: connecting to our humanity.
The architects of white supremacy (strategically & evilly) tried safeguarding against its demise by making the proverbial "self-destruct" button something white people like myself would try avoiding at all costs: connecting to our humanity.
Personal Relevance (1/4):
I am incentivized to uphold white supremacy and disincentivized to dismantle it because I've been tricked into believing that one of the foundational pillars of white supremacy will protect me from my own pain.
I am incentivized to uphold white supremacy and disincentivized to dismantle it because I've been tricked into believing that one of the foundational pillars of white supremacy will protect me from my own pain.
Personal Relevance (2/4):
I'll be both more adept at taking responsibility for the racist harm I cause, and more skillful in the accountability process, when I heal the wound that made the white supremacist (WS) notion of exceptionalism so seductive in the first place.
I'll be both more adept at taking responsibility for the racist harm I cause, and more skillful in the accountability process, when I heal the wound that made the white supremacist (WS) notion of exceptionalism so seductive in the first place.
Personal Relevance (3/4):
Since I want to divest from & dismantle white supremacy, I've gotta update my existing proverbial mental health ‘tool box.’ Otherwise, I'm using coping mechanisms (ex: exceptionalism) that function, BY DESIGN, as the lifeforce of white supremacy.
Since I want to divest from & dismantle white supremacy, I've gotta update my existing proverbial mental health ‘tool box.’ Otherwise, I'm using coping mechanisms (ex: exceptionalism) that function, BY DESIGN, as the lifeforce of white supremacy.
Personal Relevance (4/4):
Jokes on me because exceptionalism, in addition to fueling white supremacy, also doesn't actually help my underlying insecurities
Jokes on me because exceptionalism, in addition to fueling white supremacy, also doesn't actually help my underlying insecurities
Notes, contd.:
-The connection I'm observing between the left and right columns can be cross listed and recategorized.
-I didn't include either white saviorism, white martyrdom, and white distancing in the chart because all apply to the whole thing
-The connection I'm observing between the left and right columns can be cross listed and recategorized.
-I didn't include either white saviorism, white martyrdom, and white distancing in the chart because all apply to the whole thing
Image/Chart Description
-Left Column Header:
"Typical Emotional Baggage
=MIRRORS=
White People's Excuses For Upholding White Supremacy"
-Right Column Header:
"Characteristics of White Supremacy (Okun & Jones)
=MIRROR=
White People's Attempts to
Avoid Our Own Pain"
-Left Column Header:
"Typical Emotional Baggage
=MIRRORS=
White People's Excuses For Upholding White Supremacy"
-Right Column Header:
"Characteristics of White Supremacy (Okun & Jones)
=MIRROR=
White People's Attempts to
Avoid Our Own Pain"
Image/Chart Contents
-Please DM for the written text. I already have it ready to copy and paste :)
-Please DM for the written text. I already have it ready to copy and paste :)
Sources (1/x):
-"The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture" from "Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups," Tema Okun & Kenneth Jones, ChangeWork, 2001
-"The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture" from "Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups," Tema Okun & Kenneth Jones, ChangeWork, 2001
Sources (2/x):
-The list of typical emotional baggage definitely has a scholarly reference that I can't find. Please hmu if you know the proper attribution! Tbh I used stuff I already know in combination with Psychology Today dot com
-The list of typical emotional baggage definitely has a scholarly reference that I can't find. Please hmu if you know the proper attribution! Tbh I used stuff I already know in combination with Psychology Today dot com
Sources (3a/x):
The fact that I linked the left and right column is a direct result of many things, including
-Recurring "European Dissent" meetings, organized by The People's Institute for Survival & Beyond
-"Undoing Racism & Building Community" workshop, also organized by PISAB
The fact that I linked the left and right column is a direct result of many things, including
-Recurring "European Dissent" meetings, organized by The People's Institute for Survival & Beyond
-"Undoing Racism & Building Community" workshop, also organized by PISAB
Sources (3b/x):
The fact that I linked the left and right column is a direct result of many things, including
-The harm I am personally responsible for inflicting upon the people of color in my life, especially Black people.
-My generational wealth = good therapy
The fact that I linked the left and right column is a direct result of many things, including
-The harm I am personally responsible for inflicting upon the people of color in my life, especially Black people.
-My generational wealth = good therapy
Ask:
Please let me know what you think! Where have I missed the mark? Questions, comments, concerns? Criticism encouraged! Something resonate with you?
Please let me know what you think! Where have I missed the mark? Questions, comments, concerns? Criticism encouraged! Something resonate with you?
Dangit, I knew I'd find an editing error...
I tried cropping the image so the column headers would be in full view, but they get cut off in the preview. Please click to expand the table so you can see the full headings.
I tried cropping the image so the column headers would be in full view, but they get cut off in the preview. Please click to expand the table so you can see the full headings.
(Hopefully) this is less pixelated
