Read on Twitter
Gonna call this post out as an example, but this generally applies to everyone in the context of white liberalism:
BLM isn’t a platform for white people to co-opt as an opportunity talk shit about communities they have personal issues with. https://twitter.com/annieobehrens/status/1266815908539965441">https://twitter.com/annieobeh...
BLM isn’t a platform for white people to co-opt as an opportunity talk shit about communities they have personal issues with. https://twitter.com/annieobehrens/status/1266815908539965441">https://twitter.com/annieobeh...
I don’t mean to downplay this person’s experience, maybe people who were involved with YL at her high school wronged her somehow, and YL is not a perfect institution, but the fact that she RTed like 2 things and then took a gratuitous stab specifically at YL is very telling.
As an aside, SO much of the community I met through my days in YL, specifically white people/privileged POC, are trying their best to learn and asking how they can help. I’m very encouraged by the conversations I’ve seen thusfar. But defending Younglife is not the point here.
The point is that it is harmful for privileged people to use BLM to fulfill their personal qualms.
If you want to slut-shame the kids from your high school who had sex at church camp, do it on your own accord and don’t hide behind the BLM movement.
If you want to slut-shame the kids from your high school who had sex at church camp, do it on your own accord and don’t hide behind the BLM movement.
If you actually want to help, think about why you post things related to this movement. Is it actually doing anything for the black people around you? Or is it simply fulfilling your personal feelings of resentment that don’t actually have anything to do with what’s going on?
(i also do get the resentment people have for Christians/religious institutions right now given that racists wrongfully use it as a platform, but many of us are doing the work to keep our communities accountable. Sowing seeds of resentment is toxic and solves nothing here)
But as privileged people we MUST be vigilant of our rhetoric & how we occupy space in the conversation; the first step is to shut up and listen to the black community. The next step is to evaluate what we are saying.
If our words are not fruitful, we shut up & listen some more.
If our words are not fruitful, we shut up & listen some more.
Actions speak louder than words, but this is why our words are so damn important.
If the person who tweeted this sees this I would hope that she gets my sentiment & leans more into productively speaking out against racism and supporting the black folx around her if she hasn’t already (Twitter is just one platform and I’m not going to assume anything about her)
Also I’m the same vein, if anyone (particularly black folx) does see anything off-base with my words in this thread, I would appreciate a DM with your thoughts and feedback.
