The topic came up on Twitter tonight, so thought I’d throw together a quick reminder for y’all. We’ve tasked white “allies” with no longer allowing their family’s casual racism to go unchecked…after all, that kind of silent compliance is what made way for the wide acceptance of Trump. But in turn, we Black folks need to take it upon ourselves to do the same with our own families. While many of y’all will get on social media and talk about how white people silently let their family spew white supremacist rhetoric, a lot of y’all are at currently at home, doing the same with your relatives.
Reminder that 13% of Black men voted for Donald Trump…we can’t erase the fact that his xenophobic messaging resonated among many of us. And I’d wager that his message wasn’t even entirely repulsive to all of the Black folks who voted for Clinton. Also, we can’t pretend like anti-Mexican/Latinx/Asian/Arab/etc rhetoric doesn’t commonly slip from the mouths of our elders…or that we didn’t have to deprogram it within ourselves.
And while we’re at it…”woke” cishet Black folks: please check your fam on the LGBTQ-phobia that’ll be casually leaving their lips, because we already know there will be no shortage of that in the vast majority of Black households during this holiday season…whether Black LGBTQ folks are present, or not (hence one of the reasons I don’t go home for the holidays).
It’s important that we not give white supremacy a pass, even among our own. We may not have the power of enacting oppression, but we’re certainly capable of feeding into the harm of white supremacy…and it should end with us. If you’re not comfortable calling your people out at the dinner table or in an otherwise open setting, pull them aside for a one-on-one. Even send it in a text message if you have to. Just say something.
If you’re in a position where you can’t fully confront people (perhaps you’re still financially dependent and fear possible repercussions), that’s fair…just do whatever you think you can safely do.
Let’s try to do what we can to ensure that white supremacy doesn’t get propagated throughout our communities past this generation.
Hope you all have a safe, fun and happy (whatever it is you’re celebrating)!!!
With love (and tea),
Marq
-ABH
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