Chris, from the perspective of another white “woke” woman, I would never take the position that it’s NOT okay for people of color to express their frustration and yes, anger, over our contributions to white supremacy. When PoCs call us “yts” or blaming us for what we are responsible for, it is not our place to argue with them, it is time for us to listen for a change. It is important to recognize that every single white person benefits from white supremacy, and as such is a directly responsible for it. It is natural for us to want to defend that which raises us up, that which affords us privilege, but we must rise above that ‘nature’ and fight against it.
White people can express their indignation, shock, etc whenever they want to, but they need to be called out for doing this, too. America places a higher value on the opinions of white people, their feelings, than they do on the lives of Black people and other PoCs. And so we have the popular yet never as popular as it ought to be, “Black lives > white feelings”. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind for all of this. We may be conflicted but we have the privilege of being so. Black people have never had this privilege. Black people live their daily lives at the ever-present threat of violence for existing. White people face backlash at expressing their feelings. These are not equivocal. You have every right to feel however you feel, but you should always allow room for PoCs to express their reactions and opinions.
Also, SURJ has been on the problematic list for quite awhile. You may want to reconsider your affiliations. I found this easily, but there are many more sources, as well: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/whites-only-surj-and-the-caucasian-invasion-of-racial_us_58dd5cf7e4b04ba4a5e25209 This is not to say that SURJ has never done anything useful or helpful (see: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/21/showing_up_for_racial_justice_offers_thanksgiving_hotline_for_trump_related.html ) but it is extremely pertinent that we listen to Black activists before coming to our own conclusions, and I have heard many voice disgust over SURJ’s modus operandi.
Note: I used parentheses on the word “woke” because it is my belief that white people should not coopt AAVE and that throwing around the word “woke” as though it is our own is doing exactly that. I generally call myself an intersectional feminist, although some argue that is taking the accomplishment[s] of Black women and claiming them as my own. I don’t know if there’s a right answer, but I do know that we should always defer to PoCs and their knowledge and opinions. I abhor White Feminism and use intersectionality as a way to describe how I operate and think, as well as to distinguish myself from those who place the opinions of whites above those of PoCs.
