[video]
http://noire3000studios.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/naked-black-justice/
“Hate is like you drinking poison and expecting me to die.”
“Yes, I know who my father is.”
“I am not a thug.”
“Prejudice is injustice.”
“I am a college grad.”
“Black love does exist.”
“I am not a nigger.”
“I will not let hate get me on my bad side.”
“I am not suspicious.”
“Racism is mental illness.”
“Let your haters be your motivators.”
“I am not a drop-out.”
“Disrespected but never destroyed.”
“My child is not a target.”
“I am not a lazy person.”
“<3 is stronger.”
“I say it loud: I am black and proud.”
“I am beautiful” “I am an American too.”
“America was built on our backs.”
“I am the future.”
(via dreaminginspanish)
[video]
[video]
This is why I think wearing bindi if you’re not a part of the culture is a form of cultural appropriation:
- If it’s in the context of a form of cultural exchange (i.e. an Indian, Hindu, or person of any other race, religion, culture, or ethnicity which wears bindi) than that person is giving you the privilege of allowing you to wear it. But if you take it upon yourself to put it on you’re taking something of culture significance to someone, to an entire culture/ethnicity/religon/race of people, and bastardizing it for the sake of fashion.
- There are a lot of Hindu and Indian women who aren’t offended by it, but I don’t think it’s fair to justify cultural appropriation by pointing to the people who aren’t offended- what are you going to say to the many people who are offended?
- To the people who want to make the argument that they hold little cultural significance anymore: that is because white people stepped in and decided they were a fashion statement therefore robbing bindi of their cultural significance.
- And- maybe this is just me- but the whole “it’s not cultural appropriation because I know the ~significance~” thing strikes me as bullshit. To me it sounds like: “bindi are so pretty and cool and trendy I want to wear them but to avoid being called racist I’ll read the Wikipedia page about their significance and only listen to people who tell me they’re not offensive oh see now your argument is invalid and you cant touch me because I know the ~meaning behind them.~” See, I think that’s convoluted thinking because your intention there is wearing them as a fashion statement- so you learn about them to justify wearing them because they’re pretty, instead of say, learning about the culture, what bindis mean, then taking an interest in wearing them (on that note: having interest in a culture and their practices doesn’t give you permission to step in and steal something of importance to said culture.)
That’s all I really have to say about the issue. I’m not and won’t to claim to be incredibly well educated regarding the subject and obviously I can’t lend much perspective because I am white, but when people of the culture you’re taking something from say that what you’re doing is offensive and wrong? I think you should listen to them.
Here are some posts regarding the issue from PoC’s perspective that I think you should read if you’re interested:
http://bonjoursex.tumblr.com/post/12983003733/darkjez-ask-you-say-cultural-appropriation
http://earth2snowflake.tumblr.com/post/23068174279/underwhelmingly-white-girls-who-want-my
http://insanepoet9.tumblr.com/post/23024257231
http://2girls1truthblog.tumblr.com/post/23648121418/free-lies-daughterofhungryghosts-so-today-we
http://earth2snowflake.tumblr.com/post/23104872838/evomit-studies-and-is-very-interested-in-the-culture
That last bulleted point for ALL the cultural appropriation and just about everyone who defends it with that argument and the mentality behind it.
(via rectal)
Call me in 31.69 years.
“The only reason white people think being called a ‘white person’ is racist, or harmful or wrong is because they are used to the privilege of just being seen as a ‘person’ without their race or color being an issue for them. You see, when you call them ‘white,’ suddenly, they are not just a person, but now they have a color. Suddenly, they are no better than a PoC. And that scares the shit out of them.” — Omar Sankofa (via sonofbaldwin)
(via bookishboi)
“Neo-Nazi US sheriff candidate guns down toddler and three adults in suicidal body armour-clad killing spree” —
Gilbert mass shooting: Jason JT Ready guns down toddler and 3 adults in Arizona | Mail Online
this is a headline in british media. what is the headline in US media?
In Mesa, J.T. Ready as a documented gang member because of his involvement with the National Socialist Movement, according to Sgt. Ryan Russell.
never you mind that the national socialist movement is a neo-nazi white supremacist organization and engages in “gang” like activities like arming whole groups of men to then show up on the us/mexican border and hunt down mexicans with high powered rifles, on horses, etc.
NEVER YOU MIND.
this is SOOOOOOOOOO not a white supremacist organization. THIS IS A GANG.
(via marshmallowmegamama)
This hurts.(via angrybrownbaby)