White Supremacy Isn't A "Black Issue." Clearly.

I'm talking about all the good and bad revelations I've had over the last 7 days, with ATL and Denver, and what I'm doing with my anxiety. Let me know if any of this can help you manage yours, too!

I don’t know about you all, but the last seven days have been HARD. As a person who lives in the United States, all the bloodshed of the last few days has made it hard for me to function. For those who have been following the Heart to Arts Instagram account, I apologize for the inactivity. I will probably write another article at some point about the benefits of taking a social media break, but that is not today. Instead, I’d love to take a second and talk about some of the things that I realized over the last few days of tragedy and how we can fight against the powers that be, both as individuals and as a community.

3. White supremacy isn’t a Black issue; it’s a everyone-who-isn’t-white issue

For most of my life, the fight against The Man was framed as a Black issue. Even the Civil Rights movement was framed as a Black right’s movement, but none of that is true. Historically, all people of color have been fighting against the same villain known as white supremacy, but of course history books don’t talk about that. The Black and Native communities have a long history of solidarity not only because of their simultaneous oppressions but also because of the support they were able to give each other during times of intense persecution. For example, there is a loooong history of Native and Black solidarity during colonial times (check this out) and Asian Americans publicly partnered with prominent Black civil rights leaders to show support to the cause (this twitter thread highlights so much Asian American history linking back to the 1800’s that I never learned about). 

seriously. read the links. i promise you don’t know everything that’s in them.

The framing and marketing of white supremacy as a Black issue creates a “divide and conquer” situation that only benefits white people. If someone robs your family’s house and all your family members are telling each other to get the thief instead of banning together to take the intruder down, who wins? The robber. 

Yes, white supremacy and anti-Blackness are two halves of the same coin of global oppression. This coin defines who is on top and who is on the bottom but that doesn’t mean that everyone “in the middle” is safe. The “model minority” myth about the Asian community is still a form of racism and it is a tactic to separate POC communities and prevent a total mobilization against white supremacy. It’s difficult to fight the guy on top if we are all distracted by fighting each other. 

What happened in Atlanta was terrible and disgusting and another example of the dangers of gun violence, racism, and white supremacy (we can throw fetichism in there but that’s just an extension of racism). I don’t know what it will take for things to actually change in this country, but I know it will only change by force and if we (all people of color) fight hard together.

3. I don’t want to have kids in this godforsaken country

I had a long talk recently with one of my besties about what I want in a partner and in my life, looking forward. You know, it’s springtime so the possibility of wanting to start dating again is tickling my brain in between reruns of Chopped. One of the questions she asked was about if I wanted kids. My immediate response was “no” and here’s why: I love kids and kids love me (honest to Black Jesus, I’m like the toddler whisperer) but I refuse to bring a Black child into the experience of being Black in the USA on purpose. My time here was hard enough and I have no evidence that things are getting better, so I don’t feel comfortable bringing a kid into a system that I already know isn't safe. All of my concerns (educational, financial, environmental, relational, health-wise, etc.) are all fundamentally racially based concerns. I won’t get into the details of this in this article, but I have survived multiple assaults (physically and sexually) and my PTSD reminds me that my feeling of safety is paramount to being functional. I look at what happened in Boulder, Colorado, and it’s just part of a pattern. I don’t remember a time before mass shootings and that’s not healthy, but it is normal for this part of the world. So, I have decided that if I am to have kids, I will have them when I can live permanently and happily in another country. When will that happen? Hopefully soon (I’m very actively working on it).

3. I am currently living for escapism

And not just me. I think about all of the sci-fi novels and Marvel shows and trash reality tv and art pieces about anything but the here-and-now that have risen to prominence and I can say that escapism is the new black (especially in the USA). Now, I have come to LOVE reality tv (everything from the utter trash to the informative and fascinating). For my own entertainment, I will talk about my current favorite reality tv show that is my anti-plutarchy and anti-oligarchy wet dream: Airplane Repo.

Imagine repossessing whole airplanes, superyachts, and sports cars from the 1%. Imagine the looks on their faces as their 2.5 million dollar airplane is being stolen off of their heavily guarded private property. Imagine the camera-people who have to dive into alligator infested waters and dodge bullets all for the sake of my entertainment. If all of this sounds like a show you could unbuckle your pants to, then you are welcome. There are currently 5 repo teams that are followed by the Discovery Channel team for 3 seasons. I am shamelessly obsessed. I will say that this show is VIOLENTLY caucascious. Like the unseasoned tuna casserole levels of causcasity in this show is unlike anything I have ever seen. Obviously all of the repo professionals are straight white men with an adrenaline addiction and it is absolutely impossible for any person of color to have their job. Watch one episode and you’ll understand why. 

I say all of this to say 1. Please watch this show so I have someone to talk to about  this and 2. Literally everyone has a show that gives them this feeling right now because our reality is terrifying. I recognize that my need to #GetOut is definitely feeding my wanderlust, but mark my words, I’m finding a way out of here and not even these student loans will stop me. Good luck finding me, Joe. 

4. Safety is an illusion so why not live?

I know that I want to feel safe somewhere, which is a basic human need. I also recognize that safety can’t be guaranteed by anyone. So, with that knowledge, let’s fight like hell for each other. Let’s do the right thing. Let’s live a life so full of (socially distant) adventure that we feel full. Let’s leave the world a better place then we entered it. Which means it’s time to eat Jeff Bezos.

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FULL DISCLOSURE

I didn’t have the emotional space to do an interview this week (sorry peps) SOOO, instead, I will remind everyone of the awesome Black Woman Owned Small Businesses and discounts that are already linked to the newsletter. All the discount codes and specialty items are still available so reach out these business and get yourself a springtime treat :)

1. It Is Random (20% off all products)

2. Glorie’s exclusive HTA earrings

3. Lovelee Wine (15% off all products)

4. Hibiscus Flower Shop ($5 off your order)

5. 237 Fitness (free consultation AND/OR 6 free sessions)

For the discount codes for all of these businesses, you gotta subscribe to my newsletter and drop $5 per month.

Also, I make no promises, but I might have the world’s first Black woman owned tequila-maker on here soon so stay tuned!