If you want the short version to this, this is not our moment and this is not our movement. Yes, we are a part of it. Yes, we have been oppressed. Yes, this issue affects every single one of us, whether we want it to or not.
However, that does not mean that this is our time to rise up and demand changes to how we are treated. The focus on divesting from police and investing in each of our communities is enough for now. Why? Because we cannot attempt to join or drown out the voices of other minorities by stealing their spotlight. These are issues that have been affecting black and brown humans for years, and this is their time and moment to be heard, not ours.
The most effective thing we can do right now is write our representatives, join protests – whether via social media or by marching with other movements – and join the numerous voices calling for an end to police-based communities and a start to investing in the integrity of our communities. That change has needed to happen for some time, and we need to put the focus on making that change, not using this moment to our own benefit.
What you do ultimately is up to you, but bear in mind that what you do WILL reflect on the entire MAP community and act responsibly.
I generally agree with this post, but still I feel some aspects could have been phrased better.
Undoubtedly, it is wrong to divert attention about the oppression one group experiences and direct it to another oppressed group. If any MAPs are doing this I’m opposed to that.
However, the reason for that is not (!) because I believe MAPs (or women, disabled people, or any other marginalized communities) would need to wait until the liberation of one discriminated group is over before they can start their own struggle for liberation.
At least in my impression, though, your post does this when stating:
“that does not mean that this is our time to rise up and demand changes to how we are treated.”
I believe it is always time to rise up and demand change, no matter which or how many oppressed groups you belong to. The only condition for that is that you do so without stealing anyone else the spotlight. Is this possible? I think yes.
All struggle for liberation is connected, which in my view means that, for example, protesting against racism indirectly helps to reduce prejudices against MAPs. Likewise, protesting against prejudices that exist about MAPs indirectly helps to combat racism. It might not always be obvious how helping one oppressed group is helping another oppressed group, but ultimatevly, as long as a single person is unfree, no one is really free.
Therefore, I believe it is best for people to struggle against whatever form of discrimination they want to struggle against in a particular moment, whatever struggle is best for their mental health. I think right-wing people often attempt to shame people who fight for e.g. environmental protections or marriage equality by saying “shouldn’t you instead fight for more urgent problems like [insert any other problem in society]?” I’d say this is meant to create a perspective that those issues can’t be struggled against together, and that one would somehow have to choose between one and the other. So it’s meant to separate people, I feel.
For me, black liberation, gay liberation, MAP liberation, and all other forms of liberation are definitely not “the same”, but nevertheless so much intertwined witch each other (according to intersectional theory) that it would be harmful to think of them as completely unrelated.
Accordingly, in my opinion anyone should be free to protest against any prejudices they want, provided they don’t silence other voices by doing so. The fact alone that a person has the strength and courage to fight against any discrimination is amazing and all to rare. So then telling them that they need to only do one particular form of activism at one particular moment in one particular way is doing more harm than good I think.
Many white MAPs are skilled in doing MAP activism, but don’t know how to effectively support the struggle of people of color. I think one good and easy way to for these white MAPs to help people of color in their fight, is to focus their MAP activism on support for MAPs on color, to address and to fight against racism within MAP communities, bring attention to the voices of MAPs of color, to listen to MAPs of color, to learn from MAPs of color, and to follow the advice of MAPs of color. All of these things are things that both help people of color and MAPs. I think any MAPs who complain that now they would have to “wait” for others before they can again struggle for MAP liberation need to become aware of these things. They don’t have to wait at all.
Anyways, my perhaps somewhat long comment hopefully didn’t give the impression that I don’t like the post. I just believe we have to be very careful with language, lest we risk reinforcing the very systemic oppression we are speaking up against.
Violence to “create change” is by definition terrorism. And it leads to civil war. If one group rises up against another, the other group, or groups will also “rise up!” And, … WTF for what do you want to replace what we have? Think about it! Think also of this. You can hate the “whitie” for all the ills of America, but the whitie is who created the modern America. Without the whitie, America would still be a tribal country like Papau New Guinea. African Americans would also still be in a pre-science tribal community. You might claim, Well they would have catch up. I’m sure they would, but catch up to whom? Answer: To the dead white European white man. What technological innovations have come from Africa, or the native Americans? Answer: None!. This is NOT racist, it’s the ugly truth. If not, tell me the innovations made independently of modern scientific knowledge. In addition, anything they’d innovate would still be founded on European science. I want equality, not a racial war! For BLM to be so resistant to ALL lives matter indicates not only the terrorist claim, it is also RACIST. This is also by definition. They exalt one race above others. I doubt any of you have read all the way through this. Mostly because you can’t tolerate any opposing viewpoint that may challenge their worldview. Please consider this logic.
Perhaps I will consider it when you begin using logic instead of racist rambling.
I think it is a good idea to focus on MAP of colour. I’m neither, just bi, disabled, and half French. Oh yes and female although to be honest for all the gender discrimination I have suffered I find myself suffering more from discrimination against my various disabilities and my sexual preference. At once time growing up a big deal was made out of my nationality but after that it was hardly remarked on at all thank goodness. I guess all us minorities would do best by looking out for each other and for those that cannot speak for their rights at all such as foetuses and other animals.