Michelle Obama Watch

Names4Things hits points which resonate with me… there is an individual responsibility for each of us to own whatever privilege and/or blind spots we may have, and a community responsibility to work for justice and awareness for all of our fellow citizens.

Hmmm…I’d love for white people to be offended at the attacks against Michelle and the weeMichelles. I want them to explain to white folks who fancy themselves to be liberal (I’m thinking about the New York Times coverage that rikyrah and Admin point out) why constantly portraying Michelle as a “strong (meant perjoratively), angry Black woman” is horribly racist and sexist–the opposite of the connotation of a “liberal.”

What I wouldn’t love is for white people, thinking that they’re being well-intended, got a degree in African Diaspora Studies and feel like they got the “authority,” or whatever reasons they may have–dictate to PoCs, especially us Black women, what *we* should be offended at, as if they can set the agenda. IMO, allies ask if and how they can help–and listen to the answer given, even if it’s painful to hear–not presume that they can and should and not listen at all. Two white allies I can think of who’ve taken umbrage at the attacks are Tim Wise and Cara at the Curvature.

And not just white (and straight) people. Why not white LGBTIQ folks? Straight and LGBTIQ Latin@s, Asian Americans, American Indians? Why not disability activists of every race/ethnicity and sexual identity? Why not size-acceptance and age-acceptance activists of every race/ethnicity and sexual identity? What about people fighting to redistribute US wealth? These are just to name a few who could be allies as well…

Offensive behavior is offensive behavior and no matter what color, religion, creed, sex or sexual orientation you are you should be able to speak out with authority and legitimacy against offensive, abusive behavior no matter who it is happening to. White people or anyone else can be as offended as they want to be and speak loudly and proudly about how real Michelle is being treated. The treatment she is receiving is simply reprehensible.

The class of abused and exploited can’t be the only ones who claim the “legitimate” ability to express the depth of our insult and outrage on behalf of each other. What if the people of Darfur decided that they were the only ones to “legitimately” be appalled by their situation or who could “credibly” speak to their depth of suffering?. Would they get as much help if no one else had permission to speak on their behalf? Same goes for victims of child sexual abuse and other abused and mistreated groups of the world.

If we are to overcome the societal abuse it is absolutely essential that others, not like us, feel our pain and be able to epathetically speak out on our behalf in a way that reaches other, who are also not like us, so that a critical mass is touched, inspired and driven to join the struggle. Speak on my non-black sisters. and brothers…speak on.

ADMIN said: “Your personal values drive what offends you and I don’t need permission to be offended about anyone or anything.”

hehe. `I’m lovin’ it. Well said, ADMIN !