“So Woke”: Navigating Activism, Identity, & Positionality

[roseinbloom]

I’m worried that people won’t come in here and talk about this because of the thread starter: me. I have been accused of presenting myself as superior and snide, of missing the compassionate and sensitive mark, and I am pretty sure that most people read me as being super judgmental and high-handed.

That being said, I think this is an important discussion to have and an important space to cultivate. I hope by assuring people that although I am the OP…and someone admittedly with a hot-headed deep and burning interest in this subject matter…I promise that I am not starting this thread to lord over it as an advisor, arbiter of judgment, or as a place to affirm my superiority and stroke my ego. As I have just pointed out, I am aware of some of my failures as an activist, and I will surely be continually confronted with others. And I have to be, given that my career field is one where I have to constantly face the inalienable fact that my phenotype and heritage is one linked with traumas of colonialism. (And if it is any reassurance, I’m in a period where I have to devote a lot more attention to this work and am unlikely to be a constant presence anyway).


Okay, so what kind of space and discussion am I actually trying to demarcate with this thread?


I hope this is a place where we can talk about how we engage as activists. Through personal stories or working through anecdotal problems, it would be great to address topics such as:


When are we silent? Why are we silent? What does this mean for others and for us?

How does our skin type, dress or material goods, grammar/vocabulary/accent, or other indicators of social status and identity affect our activism?

What are our “frailties”? How do we think about these in terms of self-care or in terms of how we go about addressing other people and taking their frailties into account?

How does audience play a role in activism?

What “privileges” do you have? How can you leverage these in positive ways?

Does guilt or shame (inherited, cultural, or neither) motivate you? When is it used as a powerful force, and when does it impede your ability to act?

At what point does solidarity trespass into the realm of appropriation?

How are you being affected by criticism? Is there anything painful you want help working through?



Thank you for coming in here. All best.

[roseinbloom]

I’ll be vulnerable here. I have white guilt and white frailty so bad. Some people have a fear of saying or doing the wrong thing that inhibits their actions. I’m the opposite. I burst out with comments and then internally hand-wring that I said something wrong, that I offended someone or hurt someone, and that no one likes me and my life serves no purpose to anyone—especially the people I am trying to support.

I know that by starting this thread and walking away, I am using my privilege. I know that I can choose to be involved or to hide away whenever I want. I feel so guilty about that. And I feel so guilty about being such a fragile little “activist.” It is so draining. But the people who have to deal with it never get to walk away and never get to say, “this is draining. I need me time!” and then have the privacy, financial security or money, and sometimes even personal safety to engage in some of the things I do for “me” time.

The thing I find most difficult to balance or the most difficult to address is knowing when to step in and bear support and knowing when I need to step back and listen. When does saying something bring relief, and when does it become the privileged person taking over?

[roseinbloom]

Apr 18, 2017 18:13:40 GMT -5 @pineappleoranges said:

roseinbloom what exactly are you looking for. Break it down for me

We talk a fair bit about activism on TCF in general. Whether you are newly aware of social inequalities or not, people (on here and IRL) have often said things like, "I don't know what to say," or, "I don't have the answer, but something has to change." How people think they will be perceived (the judgment over someone who suddenly posts everything to social media, the person who seems to only post when it gives them social currency) can be inhibiting to some. Maybe someone has wanted to speak up IRL situations, but is scared they said the wrong thing or froze in the moment and let something bad happen right in front of them. This stuff happens all the time--how many stories have we heard where probably generally kind people said nothing and did nothing?

I'm hoping people will open up honestly about what kinds of tensions they deal with as activists--the kinds of things to be aware of in daily life. And in doing so, help others--new activists or not--feel more comfortable and confident in themselves about their actions. If we work through problems here, it will give others a chance to envision how they might act if such a scenario came up in the future, or a needed reminder that activists aren't perfect, or some practical help on how to best address a longstanding situation the activist has trouble sorting out and knowing where they stand on the issue or how to act.

That's all. Sorry if I wasn't clear...I hope I am now.