First, I would like to pass on my condolences to you for the loss of your friend. Your friend had someone there for her in her final days, as we all know, not everyone has that.
Secondly, you make a number of good points in your article, i enjoyed reading it as i do all your posts.
I would like, however, to point out what I believe to be some potential flaws in your arguments (and by extension of the speaker at the BLM event whom you quote).
It is one thing to say that these movements should largely be lead by those who have a direct/immediate stake in a particular cause or series of causes — in this case it may be people of colour — but it is quite another to suggest that, ‘white people’ have no meaningful role.
Throughout US history (and that of other countries) members of the ‘dominant’ group have played key roles in civil and human rights struggles. They have been beaten, imprisoned, harassed, intimidated and killed by government authorities and non state actors.
This includes the movements for indigenous people’s rights and black emancipation and human rights within the US.
To suggest that by the mere fact that people are ‘white’ means they can’t or won’t ever put their bodies, their liberty and their life on the line is both ahistorical and potentially alienating and marginalising of people who otherwise might be prepared to do so and who have done so in the past.
Class
I notice that there is also a key factor missing in the discussion and that is the discussion of class. Indeed, the class distinction between the ‘whites’ at the BLM rally and those who are targeted most ferociously by tate violence may be key.
Which is one possible reason as to why, something as blatant as racism towards ‘blacks’ is more likely to engender the ire and interest of middle class ‘whites’ for obvious historical reasons.
What do we know about the majority of ‘whites’ killed by the police?
What do we know about the majority of ‘whites’ who suffer from the draconian civil forfeiture laws?
What is their social and class background?
Could the fact that many of those who are ‘white’ at BLM events come from a bourgeois background as opposed to the number of ‘white’ victims of state violence who come from other social classes, be a factor?
Could simple ignorance and the failure of movements themselves (including by people of colour) in drawing the connections between oppression of different groups be a key factor in the lack of solidarity?
Every human bieng who is interested and motivated will be able to contribute something, some a lot, others not very much. The more interconnected the movements and the message the more people will be prepared to get on board and risk more.
Your right in saying that people who feel they have the most to loose and least to gain are the least likely to risk their future for for an action that will not lead to liberation (as that takes many actions over generations). But does that mean they have nothing of value to offer? Not time, not organisational capability, not money?
Should people be condemned or dismissed simply because heir white and middle class and arn’t prepared to be thrown into prison for what hey may feel is the sake of it?
Having informed and engaged middle class participants in human rights struggles is hardly something to frown upon. Why not alow each individual the opportunity to either impress or dissapoint on their own merits rather than dismiss them out of hand because of their ‘whitness’.
On ‘Race’
Thirdly, and I realise this is as much about American cultural norms and ways of speaking, than anything else, but referring to human beings as bieng members of different ‘races’ is quite dated and misleading.
Not to say you are doing this on purpose, but the very idea of ‘race’ is a historical and political construct and is itself a ‘racist’ concept.
It is a construct that was developed to serve specific power/class interests, and indeed what is and is not ‘black’, ‘white’ or anything else has evolved and morphed over time due to many factors including changing economic and political reality.
I enjoy reading your articles, I just returned from a full day event on BREXIT, Racism and Xenophobia which was very enlightening and was largely dominated by men and women of black African heritage.
The one thing I don’t recall hearing yesterday, was the dismissing of ‘white people’ as irrelevant.
M.A.E. Tweets on behalf of Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC) which can be followed on twitter at @CAMPACC_UK
This post is from M.A.E. in his personal capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views of CAMPACC as a whole.
