Part 2: I Made a Little Time for White Feminism, but Only to Explain Why it's the Worst
White feminists take on the mantle of feminism, but not the responsibility to educate themselves on any of it. Generally, a white feminist is the one correcting me on my experiences. While I know this blog, and me being so open about my life and feelings is a little tokenistic (speaking for a whole) I acknowledge my experiences are my own. Even using studies or statistics to back my claims up, (I promise I do, but for a blog I'm not often quoting studies and am focused on myself) not everyone is the same. So when a white feminist wants to change my narrative for the sake of they don't agree with it because they haven't had the same experiences, it's clear that this is not the person to keep in my life.
Another glaring problem is one common among white people. When I find something personally problematic, or when someone else does, and a white person continues to do it (like saying nigger over and over again, even if a Black person is uncomfortable with it) or even gets mad at being called out. I am mad that you all invented tuna casserole (Washington, 1930s) but this is the first you're hearing about it. I get no one wants to be racist, but nothing looks more racist than someone getting mad at a PoC because they feel uncomfortable. (Especially if it's because they don't want a racial slur said in front of them repeatedly.) It might suck, but if you-- PoC or white-- are called out for something that you're doing to make someone uncomfortable, please just stop. For the most part, the person calling you out, especially if it's a PoC (because guess what? We do it more than we want to), knows there wasn't malicious intent behind it. But also, we don't have to put up with racism; intentional or not.
For the white feminists that want to educate yourselves, STOP GOING TO POC. There's college for this shit, if you want it for free, there's the internet. We aren't your teachers. I usually never mind sharing my experiences for the sake it might help a white person understand intersectionality. I want to help people to the best of my ability; but understand, it's exhausting. This blog is so fun, and I love ranting about living in a white supremacist state and sharing my life, but it is emotionally exhausting. Other PoC might not be as open or enthusiastic as I am, so going to them to ask "why do Black people hate when I say nigger?" is not the best idea. It can also be triggering for people who experience a lot of racism on a regular basis. (I KNOW I don't have to explain the consequences of racism on an individual, right?) Also, you might be asking a question that that PoC can't answer. They might not have the experience or the tools to answer you properly. Say a white-passing PoC being asked about racial profiling. They may not have ever experienced racial discrimination and may not be able to tell you how they feel about it. Even through education, the best bet would be to find a study or first person narrative. There are lots of resources for you to research race and gender and all that fun stuff. Marginalized peoples, again, are people and not a personal teacher.
Another glaring problem is one common among white people. When I find something personally problematic, or when someone else does, and a white person continues to do it (like saying nigger over and over again, even if a Black person is uncomfortable with it) or even gets mad at being called out. I am mad that you all invented tuna casserole (Washington, 1930s) but this is the first you're hearing about it. I get no one wants to be racist, but nothing looks more racist than someone getting mad at a PoC because they feel uncomfortable. (Especially if it's because they don't want a racial slur said in front of them repeatedly.) It might suck, but if you-- PoC or white-- are called out for something that you're doing to make someone uncomfortable, please just stop. For the most part, the person calling you out, especially if it's a PoC (because guess what? We do it more than we want to), knows there wasn't malicious intent behind it. But also, we don't have to put up with racism; intentional or not.
For the white feminists that want to educate yourselves, STOP GOING TO POC. There's college for this shit, if you want it for free, there's the internet. We aren't your teachers. I usually never mind sharing my experiences for the sake it might help a white person understand intersectionality. I want to help people to the best of my ability; but understand, it's exhausting. This blog is so fun, and I love ranting about living in a white supremacist state and sharing my life, but it is emotionally exhausting. Other PoC might not be as open or enthusiastic as I am, so going to them to ask "why do Black people hate when I say nigger?" is not the best idea. It can also be triggering for people who experience a lot of racism on a regular basis. (I KNOW I don't have to explain the consequences of racism on an individual, right?) Also, you might be asking a question that that PoC can't answer. They might not have the experience or the tools to answer you properly. Say a white-passing PoC being asked about racial profiling. They may not have ever experienced racial discrimination and may not be able to tell you how they feel about it. Even through education, the best bet would be to find a study or first person narrative. There are lots of resources for you to research race and gender and all that fun stuff. Marginalized peoples, again, are people and not a personal teacher.
~I am no race expert.~
When I post each blog, the most important audience for me is PoC (especially adoptees, but I'm not picky). Not white feminists that need guidance. Not to say white people shouldn't read my blog, because 1) while it's extremely racially driven I think it's totally accessible and 2) I think it does help white people gain perspective aside from being entertaining. Yes this blog post spent a lot of time yelling at white feminists, but it's yelling at them in the sense of road rage and yelling at a car that cut you off. They can't hear you, they don't care. This is how the intersection on Race avenue and Gender road gets so many incidents.
Thanks for reading my post! What do you want to see next? If you think it's relatable or know someone who needs to read it (if you’re using it to call out someone's racism) feel free to share! 살있어
-thesometimesasian
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