jenniferrpovey: closet-keys:thecringeandwincefactory:informative-feminist: (Source) This is - el
jenniferrpovey: closet-keys: thecringeandwincefactory: informative-feminist: (Source) This is - elucidating. I have a job (the repatriation of Native American human remains and sacred objects) that specifically involves the confrontation of these issues on a daily basis, so this is a pretty useful list for me for understanding exactly what I rub up against when I get static about what I do. I.e., I don’t always fully understand the parameters of why I face resistance to repatriation, or policy changes, or, shit, even just my own fucking presence a lot of the time. I guess I’ve noticed that, if you’re not White, even your basic frame of reference can set White people off simply because it’s not their frame of reference. This is probably really naive and stupid of me after 40+ years of experiencing this, but - it’s still fucking bewildering every time it happens. Every white person should read essays/research on white fragility. In order to start uprooting the roots of our racism, we need to be able to locate them and know how deep they go. Any time you feel uncomfortable when dealing with issues of race, that’s a sign you’ve found one, and an opportunity to unlearn whatever racist belief has been growing in you. Story time.I was in a McDonald’s getting food. There was an older (Fifties, maybe early sixties) white man sitting at the table next to the only free table. I sat down near him.Too late, I realized he was trying to get the attention of one of a group of young blacks - late teens, maybe high school seniors? Either way, they were teenagers.The teenager came over, with a girl three steps behind him. I assume she was his girlfriend, and she was trying to pull him back.This white guy, though, was yelling at him. I have no idea what the kid’s “offense” was, because the white guy never actually said why he was mad. And when I’d come in, the kids were chatting and minding their own business. The only thing I could see was that the kid had his pants down - you know that way some black kids wear them. He was decent, and while I personally find that fashion ugly…This continued, with the girlfriend trying to keep the boy calm, and me sitting in the middle.Then the white guy threatened to call the cops on the kid. Who, again, had done nothing.I finally had enough.I said “If you people don’t shut up, I will call the cops.”White man: Thank you.Me: On both of you. (Thinking back I should have left out ‘both of’ but I was pretty mad and just wanted to be left to eat in peace, and I could sense that this was in grave danger of going physical with me in the middle of it. I had my phone out, but I probably wouldn’t have called - they would probably have taken his side).He exploded. He started screaming at me.I told him his behavior constituted harassment.He stormed out. (While he was yelling at me, the black kid made his exit).The comment about “White solidarity” makes me think of this incident.Because that guy could not handle the fact that I, a white woman, might call the cops on him, a white man, for causing a disturbance.I was supposed to be:1. On his side.2. Nice and quiet and mouselike.It was clear that what I said was a major threat to his view of the world. -- source link