"Not being racist is not some default starting position. You don’t simply get to say you’re not a racist; not being racist — or a sexist or a homophobe — is a constant, arduous process of unlearning, of being uncomfortable, of eating crow and being humbled and re-evaluating. It’s probably hard to start that process if you’ve been told that every thought you have is golden and should be given voice, and that people who are offended by what you say are hypersensitive simpletons."
"If white American feminist theory need not deal with the differences between us, and the resulting difference in our oppressions, then how do you deal with the fact that the women who clean your houses and tend your children while you attend conferences on feminist theory are, for the most part, poor women and women of Color? What is the theory behind racist feminism?"
-Audre Lorde (via soydulcedeleche)
Or if they do acknowledge us then it is only in a monolithic sense because there are dichotomies and complications between the black female community as well. Just like there is for white women. But white feminism, sees us as one conglomerate unworthy of true critical thought.
(via daniellemertina)
(Source: bad-dominicana, via ladypolitik)
Debunking the “Islam is Not a Race!” Argument - Muslim Reverie
Islamophobes think they have it all figured out. After they read the works of anti-Muslim pseudo-intellectuals and propagandists, they become self-proclaimed “experts” on Islam. The message they absorb from their favorite Islamophobe stars can be easily summarized as: “Islam is evil and must be wiped off the face of the Earth. Furthermore, every single Muslim on the planet is plotting to take over the West (read: world) and any Muslim who claims otherwise is lying. Yes, this includes your Muslim friends, who you shouldn’t be friends with anyway.”
I’ve seen some Islamophobes embrace the term “Islamophobia” because they proudly admit being fearful of Islam. “Yes,” they say, “We are afraid of Islam, which is why we want it destroyed.” Dang. Geert Wilders has never been shy in stating he wishes for the Qur’an to be banned (Nazi-style) and for Muslims to be massively expelled from the West (Spanish Inquisition-style). Clearly, these views are appalling, dangerous, and racist. However, as odd as it may sound (at least to people who abhor racism and oppression) Islamophobes justify their racism by claiming they are not racist. Hence, the argument, “Islam is not a race. I cannot be racist.”
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard Islamophobes and some well-intentioned non-Muslims make this argument whenever Islamophobia is addressed. The purpose, of course, is to derail conversations about Islamophobia and racism. I’ve noticed the pattern of this response for quite a long time in workplaces, classrooms, on internet forums and blogs, etc. You can picture the scenario involving an Islamophobe telling a Muslim that “all terrorists are Muslim.” The Muslim is insulted and calls the remark “racist.” The Islamophobe steps up into the Muslim’s face and says, “It’s not racist! Islam is not a race, idiot!” He turns around and walks away, claiming victory for himself and starts high-fiving his buddies, who are like, “Oh man, you are so effing awesome! You shut that Mozlem down!”
I wonder how Islamophobes expect Muslims to react after they make this pathetic argument. Are we supposed to look surprised and realize, “Oh my God, Islam is not a race? Really? You mean I’ve been practicing Islam this whole time and didn’t know it was a religion?” Yes, thank you, Captain Obvious, we know full well that Islam is not a race. We know Islam, like any religion, is open to people of all racial backgrounds, including to those who are white (*gasp*). However, what is also true is that Islam is racialized by white supremacist settler states, which means Muslims are cast as threatening racial Others.
Read More - (The article gets very interesting)
(via whatgodzillasaidtogod)
: I'm holding a racial reality bakesale.
Native American people are holding cupcakes in a room.
White people enter the room, and each get to take a cupcake from a Native person. Then, they kill the Native Americans, and corral the remaining empty-handed Native Americans into a corner.
Then, they go into another room and force black people into the white (formerly Native) room. They make the black people bake more cupcakes, but they can’t eat any of them. They are also not paid wages for baking the cupcakes. Further, they are not allowed to buy any cupcakes for themselves.
After some time, the black people are allowed to receive payment for the cupcakes they bake, but only a little, and first they have to request a loan to acquire the necessary ingredients and to use the ovens owned by the white people. Thus, in reality, black people are now paying to bake the cupcakes, which they still cannot eat.
Meanwhile, some Asian people ask to enter the room, but the white people don’t want to let them in, so they only allow a small number. If any of them succeed in purchasing cupcakes, the white people resent them.
As time passes, the black people gradually acquire increased freedom in their cupcake-making decisions. Some of them make enough money to buy a cupcake, but many do not. Within a very short time, the white people start asking the black people why they don’t have more cupcakes of their own. They don’t understand why black people don’t have as many cupcakes as them. After all, everyone now has the equal opportunity to purchase cupcakes.
Then, some Latino/as come into the room, and the white people agree to let them sweep up the cupcake crumbs for low wages.
Some white people think maybe the price of cupcakes should be lowered for the black, asian, latino, and native american groups, but the other whites complain that this isn’t fair, and that cupcakes should cost everyone $1. They worry that someone will steal their cupcakes. And if any non-white people manage to purchase cupcakes, they feel deeply that this must represent an injustice.
A little simplistic, to be sure, but this still gets the point across just fine.