Racism in the Anti-Racist Movement

food for thought…

when white folks are getting mad props, respect, accolades, book deals, professorships, awards, etc. when white folks use the fact that they identify as white to gain a leg up on people of color in the anti racism industry/profession. then it is racism pure and simple.

a poc says something during a discussion of anti racism. the white folks ignore it. or guffaw. a white person says the exact same thing. whitie is the new messiah of anti racism. happens. like all the fucking time.

[Tim Wise] explains that he ‘opens the door’ for other poc to be considered leaders and experts in anti racism. why the fuck in the anti racism movement to we still need white gatekeepers? this is what gets me. it’s the anti racism movement! we dont have a bunch of men leading and speaking as the voice of feminism. we dont have a bunch of skinny chicas being the (body) of fat acceptance. we dont have a bunch of straight folks being the voice of lbgtqia ness. but in the anti racism movement. it is white folks who speak. so that white audiences with money are not required to listen and take seriously the voice of color. dear fucking god.

here’s the problem. if the anti racism movement. even the anti racism movement. perpetuates the same structures of inequality and white privilege as other movements do (feminism. anti war. queer). in that the leaders are white. mostly white. almost all white. then the anti racism movement. is racist. and if the anti racism movement is racist…then what the fuck is the anti racism movement about?

- Guerilla Mama Medicine, Anti-Racism: What Went Wrong

In the comments someone talks about how people who would only listen to anti-racist remarks from a certain race wouldn’t necessarily be in the position to confront their racism anyway. Interesting how even in issues of diversity, you won’t be taken seriously unless you’re in the “dominant” paradigm!