I worry about this sometimes. I don’t ever want to be seen as speaking “for” minorities I’m not a member of, but I do want to be seen speaking “up for” them. And I worry about finding the right balance. I don’t want to speak over them, but do want to help make it clear that I support them and I am opposed to those who are opposed to them. I don’t want to be MLK’s “white moderate”.
I heard this once, and it’s stuck with me since: don’t speak for people that you don’t speak to. It helps me remember that I don’t really know the challenges a marginalized community faces if I’m not a part of it, and I should do the work of listening and understanding before inserting myself into a situation with perhaps well-intentioned, but misguided, attempts at helping.
I feel that the most important thing is to speak out against the people who oppose minorities’ rights. You don’t need to speak for minorities to oppose those who oppress them.
Most folks I know just want you to treat em like people. And if someone’s being a dick to the it’s certainly right to call it out (and maybe spit on em if the circumstance permits).
I struggle with this too. I’m reading White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo right now though and it’s main suggestion is to just oppose racism when you see it. Call white people out on their behavior even if it makes everyone uncomfortable and makes you unpopular.
Also, to listen to feedback from people of color without getting defensive. No one is going to be perfect and we live in a system which is constantly socializing us, it’s ok if we fuck up but just try and fix it when you learn better.
I worry about this sometimes. I don’t ever want to be seen as speaking “for” minorities I’m not a member of, but I do want to be seen speaking “up for” them. And I worry about finding the right balance. I don’t want to speak over them, but do want to help make it clear that I support them and I am opposed to those who are opposed to them. I don’t want to be MLK’s “white moderate”.
I heard this once, and it’s stuck with me since: don’t speak for people that you don’t speak to. It helps me remember that I don’t really know the challenges a marginalized community faces if I’m not a part of it, and I should do the work of listening and understanding before inserting myself into a situation with perhaps well-intentioned, but misguided, attempts at helping.
Don’t worry, this is just chud racist propaganda in an attempt to divide the left by race.
Speak truth to power and punch Nazis.
I feel that the most important thing is to speak out against the people who oppose minorities’ rights. You don’t need to speak for minorities to oppose those who oppress them.
Most folks I know just want you to treat em like people. And if someone’s being a dick to the it’s certainly right to call it out (and maybe spit on em if the circumstance permits).
I struggle with this too. I’m reading White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo right now though and it’s main suggestion is to just oppose racism when you see it. Call white people out on their behavior even if it makes everyone uncomfortable and makes you unpopular.
Also, to listen to feedback from people of color without getting defensive. No one is going to be perfect and we live in a system which is constantly socializing us, it’s ok if we fuck up but just try and fix it when you learn better.
Universal concepts, like Justice.
Careful thinking justice is a universe or objective concept.
Stand beside, not in front.
You can stand in front as a shield, but only then.