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Things I know to be true. (a mini-mega thread)
Trump is white America without the post civil-rights movement mask on.
We white Americans own Trump and white supremacy. It's our creation; our child genocidally run amok.
Own it and get to work if you're not already on it.
1/x
Trump is white America without the post civil-rights movement mask on.
We white Americans own Trump and white supremacy. It's our creation; our child genocidally run amok.
Own it and get to work if you're not already on it.
1/x
We use #BIPOC Americans, mainly BIPOC Democrats and progressives, constantly to validate our fragile egos and far too often additionally expect them to tolerate constant centering ourselves, and it's just a form of psychological abuse.
Heal thyself. #FollowOrGetOutOfTheWay
2/x
Heal thyself. #FollowOrGetOutOfTheWay
2/x
Speaking as a white American, I have no patience, and I suggest neither should you, for "not all" replies.
First, that's not the point and it doesn't matter if collectively we continue to perpetuate white supremacy.
Second, they know. To say it is unjustly exculpatory.
3/x
First, that's not the point and it doesn't matter if collectively we continue to perpetuate white supremacy.
Second, they know. To say it is unjustly exculpatory.
3/x
The metric I'll be measuring myself by is, how many fellow whites have I confronted on our racism today.
If my answer to myself is 0, I "failed" the day.
If my answer to myself is 3+, I "won" the day.
To convince is an achievement. To confront is the bare minimum.
4/x
If my answer to myself is 0, I "failed" the day.
If my answer to myself is 3+, I "won" the day.
To convince is an achievement. To confront is the bare minimum.
4/x
Unlearning bias is a habit, not an achievement.
Bias is constantly asserted and reinforced by our white supremacist culture -- yes it's changing, but it's very much still here and majorly resurgent.
White nationalist propaganda organizations:
GOP
QAnon
Major Media
Whites
5/x
Bias is constantly asserted and reinforced by our white supremacist culture -- yes it's changing, but it's very much still here and majorly resurgent.
White nationalist propaganda organizations:
GOP
QAnon
Major Media
Whites
5/x
The 'unfucking of America' is our primary goal.
Not a particular policy, or slate of priorities.
If you aren't willing to set aside any differences and help build coalitions led by BIPOC leaders, you are riding coattails or pulling on them.
Either way, "it's a drag".
6/x
Not a particular policy, or slate of priorities.
If you aren't willing to set aside any differences and help build coalitions led by BIPOC leaders, you are riding coattails or pulling on them.
Either way, "it's a drag".
6/x
I need to stop peddling my own ideas.
There's nothing unique, and certainly nothing uniquely valuable to them.
The more time I spend on them, or advocating for them -- the less time I'm spending on canvassing for the better ideas of BIPOC, women and LGBTQ+ leaders.
7/x
There's nothing unique, and certainly nothing uniquely valuable to them.
The more time I spend on them, or advocating for them -- the less time I'm spending on canvassing for the better ideas of BIPOC, women and LGBTQ+ leaders.
7/x
We, as white Americans, aren't on the right side of history yet.
We need to keep up the long struggle to get on the right side, and we should be proud of what we've accomplished, but there's too much work to be done to rest even a moment on any laurels.
8/x
We need to keep up the long struggle to get on the right side, and we should be proud of what we've accomplished, but there's too much work to be done to rest even a moment on any laurels.
8/x
Since our arrival on this continent, the attempted genocide of, not only the continent's owners, but of those we brought against their will -- and those of other races that came by their own volition has been uninterrupted.
To repeat. We're continuing the original genocide.
9/x
To repeat. We're continuing the original genocide.
9/x
It is a mistake to think slavery is over, or ever stopped.
Yes, we don't have openly state sanctioned chattel slavery today -- but we do have discretely state, and society, sanctioned enslavement in many forms.
The largest form is carceral enslaved labor.
10/x
Yes, we don't have openly state sanctioned chattel slavery today -- but we do have discretely state, and society, sanctioned enslavement in many forms.
The largest form is carceral enslaved labor.
10/x
Now, on to some left political truths.
The left has a massive white supremacy problem, across the idealogical spectrum.
It is often worst in the two "poles", conservative Democrats, and the neo-marxist "progressive" left.
11/x
The left has a massive white supremacy problem, across the idealogical spectrum.
It is often worst in the two "poles", conservative Democrats, and the neo-marxist "progressive" left.
11/x
A reality that needs to be front and center is there is no liberalism that isn't BIPOC liberalism.
There is no progressivism that isn't BIPOC progressivism.
Name any significant goal, policy or initiative of liberalism or progressivism, and its root is in BIPOC soil.
12/x
There is no progressivism that isn't BIPOC progressivism.
Name any significant goal, policy or initiative of liberalism or progressivism, and its root is in BIPOC soil.
12/x
Some examples (1/5):
Economic inequality: "One of the most important components in the fight for civil rights was the fight for equal opportunity. This opportunity came in the form of better jobs and higher wages for people of color."
https://mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org/better-jobs-higher-wages
13/x
Economic inequality: "One of the most important components in the fight for civil rights was the fight for equal opportunity. This opportunity came in the form of better jobs and higher wages for people of color."
https://mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org/better-jobs-higher-wages
13/x
Some examples (2/5):
Marriage rights: "Loving v. Virginia was a Supreme Court case [legalizing] interracial marriage in the United States. ...Richard & Mildred Loving, [were a] white man and black woman whose marriage was deemed illegal [by law]."
14/x
Marriage rights: "Loving v. Virginia was a Supreme Court case [legalizing] interracial marriage in the United States. ...Richard & Mildred Loving, [were a] white man and black woman whose marriage was deemed illegal [by law]."
14/x
Some examples (3/5):
Healthcare as a right: "...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. turned his pulpit towards health care. ...blasting the AMA and other organizations for a “conspiracy of inaction” in the maintenance of a medical apartheid..."
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-fight-for-health-care-is-really-all-about-civil-rights/531855/
15/x
Healthcare as a right: "...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. turned his pulpit towards health care. ...blasting the AMA and other organizations for a “conspiracy of inaction” in the maintenance of a medical apartheid..."
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-fight-for-health-care-is-really-all-about-civil-rights/531855/
15/x
Some examples (4/5):
Ballot access/Suffrage: Dozens of BIPOC men and women were central in the fight for suffrage, not just for themselves -- but often for disenfranchised whites as well, sometimes before gaining suffrage for their own race.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/20-for-2020.htm?magazineName=upfront&promo_code=9887
16/x
Ballot access/Suffrage: Dozens of BIPOC men and women were central in the fight for suffrage, not just for themselves -- but often for disenfranchised whites as well, sometimes before gaining suffrage for their own race.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/20-for-2020.htm?magazineName=upfront&promo_code=9887
16/x
Some examples (5/5):
Free Education: "...the 1847 Virginia Criminal Code: “Any white person who shall assemble with slaves, [or] free negroes...for the purpose of instructing them to read or write,...shall be punished by [jail] and a fine."
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-segregation.html
17/x
Free Education: "...the 1847 Virginia Criminal Code: “Any white person who shall assemble with slaves, [or] free negroes...for the purpose of instructing them to read or write,...shall be punished by [jail] and a fine."
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-segregation.html
17/x
Now that the election's outcome is clear, I want to briefly review the electorate that saved America in general and white America from ourselves in particular.
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (1/6)
Whites
Trump 2016 57%
Trump 2020 57%
18/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (1/6)
Whites
Trump 2016 57%
Trump 2020 57%
18/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (2/6)
It's deplorable, pun intended, that white voters didn't move the needle with our own demographic.
We love our Twitter families and friends, but we need to talk to our own families and friends about our racism and privilege.
19/x
It's deplorable, pun intended, that white voters didn't move the needle with our own demographic.
We love our Twitter families and friends, but we need to talk to our own families and friends about our racism and privilege.
19/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (3/6)
Don't say "our country is divided", say "whites unwilling to confront privilege divides our country".
Understand when the media cover politics, they are covering white identity politics.
https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/lessons-talking-about-race-racism-and-racial-justice
20/x
Don't say "our country is divided", say "whites unwilling to confront privilege divides our country".
Understand when the media cover politics, they are covering white identity politics.
https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/lessons-talking-about-race-racism-and-racial-justice
20/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (4/6)
If we don't do anti-racist work in our neighborhoods and homes, we cannot reach our goals as Democrats or Americans.
Diversify your inner circle through an affinity bias unlearning session.
https://www.hivelearning.com/site/affinity-bias-and-you-evaluate-your-inner-circle/
21/x
If we don't do anti-racist work in our neighborhoods and homes, we cannot reach our goals as Democrats or Americans.
Diversify your inner circle through an affinity bias unlearning session.
https://www.hivelearning.com/site/affinity-bias-and-you-evaluate-your-inner-circle/
21/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (5/6)
Learn to follow, or at a minimum, get out of the way.
Choosing if/when to protest is a privilege, ask leaders for change what they need instead of sitting back.
If you can't give time, give money.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/support-us
22/x
Learn to follow, or at a minimum, get out of the way.
Choosing if/when to protest is a privilege, ask leaders for change what they need instead of sitting back.
If you can't give time, give money.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/support-us
22/x
BIPOC (again) got it right, whites didn't (6/6)
Many have warned, we may find the next "Trump" is more polished and savvy.
We must defuse the "bomb" that is white nationalism before then.
One of the best defenses is to hire, boost and elect BIPOC.
Let's get to work.
23/23
Many have warned, we may find the next "Trump" is more polished and savvy.
We must defuse the "bomb" that is white nationalism before then.
One of the best defenses is to hire, boost and elect BIPOC.
Let's get to work.
23/23
