So there was this article about how language matters in trying to persuade racists not to have racist thoughts. The tweet about the article mentioned that we should NOT call ‘racists’ ‘racist’ if we wanted to get our points across to them.
If you’re not new here, you might imagine, I had some thoughts on the subject. Feelings even, one might say.
While I did get the chance to speak briefly on my chief concerns on my triumphant (no one thinks that but me) return as co host of TWiB Prime w/ Elon James White
(start at 51:12), it turns out I had even more to say on the subject. Therefore, as I am wont to do, I turned to Twitter. Below is my tweetstorm, and beyond that is a lovely prayer that I hope we can all adopt, when ushering our white fellow-humans toward the work of dismantling racism. Enjoy:
Tweet storm incoming. Batten down your hatches. Re: “~Don’t call racists racist if you want them to stop being racist.”
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
Demanding that we speak kindly to racists presupposes many false facts:
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
1)That racism is logical.
Spoiler alert: it ain’t
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
2) That racism *isn’t* a fact-resistant disease.
Spoiler alert: it iyuh
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
3) That calling out racism only occurs in attempt to plead with racists.
Spoiler alert: every👏thang👏ain’t👏about👏you👏
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
3) (cont’d) #TheUnbareableIronyOfCenteringWhitenessInAFauxAntiRacismDiscussionDotMov
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
4) That it is the *job* of the victims of racism to convince racists to deem them human
Spoiler alert: nawl. You talk. I’m busy surviving.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
5) That it is the *fault* of the victims of racism for not convincingly proving their case (eg- hey! I’m a person!)
Spoiler alert: it ain’t
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
6) That there aren’t eloquent, patient, & knowledgeable writers already doing this work & being met w/ active hostility
Spoiler alert: 🙄
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
7) That victims of racism MUST treat those who discard them with respect while racists have no such duty
Spoiler alert: if you don’t get yo
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
8) That any form of oppression has ever been bested with only words.
Spoiler alert: just words don’t never not done nothin’ for not NOBODY
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
9) That victims of racism have no claim to the full gamut of human emotional response.
Spoiler alert: Our humanity is an objective truth
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
Finally: Demanding that the victims of racism transcend their own human emotions in order to confront their oppressors…
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
…actively strips them of their humanity even while pretending to tell them how to achieve it in the eyes of others.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
And now, a prayer from Qualms 23:4:
(4) Gather ye Beckys, friends. And gather ye Chips. Gather them into seats near and far.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
(5)Set them down and say unto them: Hear me, your brethren, and look upon your shit.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
(6)Collect your shit. Gather it near to you so that no other may trip upon it. (7)Snuff out the fire that burns atop it.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
(8)Scrub it well, so that we be spared its malodorous scent.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
(9)Yea, though you sit in the valley of the shadow of actual work, fear not: the tools of shit-clearing and racism-dismantling are with you.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
(10)They are thine, and your comfort doesn’t matter to me. Amen.
— TallBroadWithTheHair (@DaraMWilson) December 2, 2016
And there you have it, friends. All the truth and tools I have for you at the mo’. God speed. And don’t you ever recommend a marginalized group perform mental gymnastics to convince your pawpaw and meemaw (and their kin) that they’re worth caring about. Don’t be a monster.
Pz and hair grease,
Dara
This post is prescient!