White Feminism: Disturbia Rant + Happy Ending

The battling discourses between Black feminism and white feminism are nothing new. But, being a black feminist in a world full of white feminism makes me tired. Black feminist scholars, artists, celebrities, bloggers, musicians, and youth have been promoting the radical notion of loving Blackness. I've never felt more blessed to be a Black woman. But in academic settings (or even online) I always feel a cold tensity come over me when I enter a dialogue about intersectionality and cultural studies with my white feminist colleagues in the room. 

White feminists having been inserting themselves in the critique of Black issues for too long. Being unhelpful as fuck. Trying to merge Black women's issues with all (meaning white women) women's issues. And I'm like how? Tell me how you know what is best for me? Yes, you read some amazing supplement journals and articles that introduced you to race, class, and gender, but that is it. That is not connecting, or living the true experience. White feminists have about 2 friends of color-- probably from a upper/ middle class and met them in college. White feminists who are queer think just because they possess that marginalized identity, that they have every right to critique the problems in the Black community. Nope sis, you get called out, too.

Your input is not only irrelevant, but violent. Black people cannot "just be vulnerable" Or whatever exclusive mechanism you find appropriate that has your privilege value on it. It is more than "just do it" solutions when there are systems of racism in play that do not allow us to "just be vulnerable" in any space. Any space determines the next breath of our lives. We don't need your comments or solutions, we need solidarity.

Buuuuut, this morning I was in the warm embrace of true accompliceship at the LGBTQA annual breakfast at my university. And the speaker, J Mase III, poet, educator, and founder of AwQward Talent, left the audience with some tips about what solidarity actually looks like:

Solidarity is

• Backing up
• Redistributing resources
• Asking how support is needed
• Understanding and owning your privilege
• Being more invested in justice than your own comfort

So please, take this bomb self with you in peace. Embrace the side line, girl it ain't that bad!