Read on Twitter
because it was in my Drive and people asked a bit back, but I never said a thing, I'm going to take some time to say it now.
"allies" asked: what else can we do to make it clear we're anti-racist.
A good question.
"allies" asked: what else can we do to make it clear we're anti-racist.
A good question.
as we saw last week, saying 'I donated thousands of dollars' isn't enough. I know in your minds MONETARILY it is, but there's still some ire around the fact that most of you have no problem making it PUBLIC when you're charitable to any other cause....
but when helping black folx it has to be a secret. Step back and unpack why that is. What do you lose by giving us the same energy you do all your other efforts?
many of you may think 'oh, well I've told my mods to ban all iterations of the N word, and we try to ban as fast as we can'-but do you keep that energy in your social media presence, too? Or does it get swept away as 'can't control everyone, plus they're not a "real" follower'?
"I've raided black streamers"-but we notice you never put out that tweet you always do saying who all raided you and who you carried over to like you do any other day.
Care to discuss?
Care to discuss?
This isn't actually up for discussion-this is me challenging allies who stay in their feelings, ready to whip out receipts of 'all the good done' to step back and ask why is it always behind closed doors, secret society style, and thrown in our face when we ask where's support.
we need your support in those ways AND we need you to be vocal about that support. We need you to be anti-racist ON MAIN. That's the hump I see being struggled with THE MOST.
"but isn't that just showboating and bragging" you may ask. I counter as follows:
is it anymore of a 'showboat' than when you get on main and announce your papers, your upcoming events, your interviews, or other events you drop scratch on?
is it anymore of a 'showboat' than when you get on main and announce your papers, your upcoming events, your interviews, or other events you drop scratch on?
Like...I know y'all don't MEAN to come off as racist.....
but the shit is racist.
full-stop.
it shouldn't take you getting paid, or being interviewed, or being on front page, or whatever, to be anti-racist. The work is a constant. You're either doing it or you're not.
but the shit is racist.
full-stop.
it shouldn't take you getting paid, or being interviewed, or being on front page, or whatever, to be anti-racist. The work is a constant. You're either doing it or you're not.
and tbh sitting there and making a cute little log as 'proof' of all the times you 'couldn't be racist' is super, duper fucking nasty. If people are asking 'what have you done'--
that should be your indicator that the answer is 'apparently not enough if you have to ask that...'
that should be your indicator that the answer is 'apparently not enough if you have to ask that...'
so maybe instead of being in your feelings, you step back and ask 'how can I do better?'
I'll be honest: I'd much rather have a broke ally who has no issue clapping up racists in my mentions and dragging them in my chat than someone touting how they dropped $2K somewhere.
I'll be honest: I'd much rather have a broke ally who has no issue clapping up racists in my mentions and dragging them in my chat than someone touting how they dropped $2K somewhere.
yea, that money DOES help!
and I highly doubt these orgs are going to come back and say 'oh actually we dont want your money, we saw you didnt retweet this black person so begone.'
and I highly doubt these orgs are going to come back and say 'oh actually we dont want your money, we saw you didnt retweet this black person so begone.'
ensuring you don't have racists in your chat/community is also good.
it's also the ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM.
That's basic community curation. Y'all stay wanting back pats and high fives for banning a bigot. Good job, you did WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
it's also the ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM.
That's basic community curation. Y'all stay wanting back pats and high fives for banning a bigot. Good job, you did WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
something else that is helpful: listening to us when we point out how what you do is harmful rather than leaning into 'yea well, everyone around me says I'm like, dope.'
Cool.
That's your 2 black friends v. hundreds of voices, but go off.
Cool.
That's your 2 black friends v. hundreds of voices, but go off.
again: these queries wouldn't pop up if the work is out there, and on main.
Not in your privatized spaces.
Not only when you want to be like 'LOOK AT MY RECEIPTS THO'.
There are too many out here ON MAIN doing the work for so many of y'all to be like 'but what should we do???'
Not in your privatized spaces.
Not only when you want to be like 'LOOK AT MY RECEIPTS THO'.
There are too many out here ON MAIN doing the work for so many of y'all to be like 'but what should we do???'
look at what your other non-black peers are doing, right now, on main, that is getting black praise.
Do that shit and stop playing in our face.
Do that shit and stop playing in our face.
re: money-many of us also have PayPals, Ko-Fis, Venmos, what have you.
Miss me with your need for morality tokens. You can donate to us direct. Nah you can't claim us on taxes but you can look like you care about US. But don't think we haven't deduced the reason you choose --->
Miss me with your need for morality tokens. You can donate to us direct. Nah you can't claim us on taxes but you can look like you care about US. But don't think we haven't deduced the reason you choose --->
<--- charity over direct every time is because you get a kickback plus you can throw it in our face when we ask what's good. Creators are on the ground doing work too.
Stop being coy.
Stop being coy.
