Read on Twitter
On #CancelCulture, directed at nobody in particular- Of course dialogue is important. Its how we build networks of justice solidarity advocacy & built in that is the knowledge that ppl CAN change. I was not born with my queer feminism, I came to it after stumbling & fucking up 1
& I have been (rightly) called out, ‘cancelled’, & also engaged with. I have received both criticism & patience. I have screwed up about caste, gender, race, disability, & I still screw up now & again, & this dialogue makes me better. I’ve been accountable. I’ve been complicit. 2
Ppl have been vicious & ppl have been kind. I’ve at been defensive, angry, humiliated, humbled & grateful. I try to carry humility with me & I have ppl to keep me in check. We are not perfect - we are deeply flawed & our politics makes space for mistakes, and personal growth. 3
But as any feminist knows, your politics is in your praxis. If you have years, of transphobia, misogyny, casteism, racism & islamophobia behind you, if your PRAXIS reflects this - and if you double down & lash out when confronted- then I am not giving you the benefit of doubt. 4
People do not make the same mistakes over & over. It is a choice. & if you choose exclusion + bigotry, even if you dress it up in the language of justice & freedom, I. Owe. You. Nothing. 5
I am finite. & I will direct my emotional physical intellectual labour in nurturing the fragile alliances & coalitions we build, constantly under attack. I will try to do good work & I will have dialogue there. I’ve grown up in movements & learned to pick my battles. 6
& I will judge those that ally with problematic institutions or politics or people repeatedly, because allyship is an action, and my only concern is your praxis. 7
So yes. Some people/organizations/things should be cancelled. That doesn’t mean they are beyond redemption - but it is not redemption on my time, with my efforts. It is not my benefit of doubt, or my continued engagement. 8
If ten years down the line somebody who has done grievous harm says ‘I was wrong’, holds themselves accountable+makes amends, tries to change - I will still be (rightfully) suspicious, but appreciate that there is 1 less bigot in the world. There may even be dialogue some day. 9
The burden of ‘giving chances’ is not on me. I have done it enough, and I am exhausted. We all are. How ppl respond to being called out is enough for me to decide whether I want to engage with them at all. 10
& that ppl are weaponizing critiques of ‘cancel culture’ to get away with bad behaviour/politics is...okay go ahead I can’t stop you. I choose not to fight that battle. Though I guess for me, until further notice, you’re cancelled. 11
