In the state of emergency that we all live in these days, fighting police brutality, gentrification, white supremacy …it’s a wonder that our health isn’t taking more of a beating; or is it? This is a call out for each of us to take the time to breathe in goodness and breathe out negativity. #fuckgentrification #fuckdisplacement #fuckgreed and be ashamed at the blatant disrespect towards the original inhabitants of North amerikkka…the true Indigenous.
artist: Oscar Guillen
“I was raised to not see color because we are all of the human race”… said NO educated POC ever. Must be nice to be so cozy in your white privilege but say some shit like that around me. I dare you.
http://www.forharriet.com/2015/07/we-have-to-dismantle-white-supremacy.html#axzz3xCiiI37v
Race is a touchy subject to discuss here in amerikkka because of the damage done by the original immigrants to this land. It continues to divide us. POC on one side, white people on the other and in the middle sits the white allies AND non-whites who choose to be socially unconscious. Discussion can be hard but it is so necessary if we are ever going to tear this corrupt system down. And we will.
As Terisa Siagatonu shares:
“Yes, the Polynesian Panthers was an actual organization that stood for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander unity by resisting anti-blackness and white supremacy. Yes, they modeled themselves after the Black Panthers. Yes, our people have forgotten about these shared struggles. But we have the power to remember and reclaim. Know history, know self. #BlackLivesMatter #OceaniaForJustice”
You’d be surprised the shit good intention white folk say to People of Color.. some of it blatant, some subtle but all of it out of pocket and in need of quick acknowledgment and correction. I think too long we’ve ignored these slights and for various reasons (maybe not to embarrass said white person, or not to make situation awkward for ourselves, or maybe we just don’t have the energy to teach yet another, etc) but it is our duty to help them understand that what they say is offensive. Ignorance is not bliss. So here are some examples from a few years back that should be studied and then removed from all dialogue…
When I’m speaking on white supremacy (which is the same as white privilege, just more direct) don’t assume that I’m only speaking of the amerikkkan whites who invaded Turtle Island… colonization happened globally and has affected ALL of us.
Young white man on Bart asks me, How can I help my community be more “inclusive”?(Thefvck?!) And without hesitation I replied, “By dismantling white supremacy in its entirety”. Wide eyed silence though I’m sure he had a whole dissertation to share on the topic.. except he didn’t see me coming. You sure you wanna come talk to me?
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/11/black-homes-matter-san-franciscos-vanishing-black-population/
Call me cynical but…
We live in a place where People of Color are not valued, where Children & Elders are not honored, where our Women are stolen and our Men are killed. Never turn a blind eye to amerikkka…
Please be more careful, white hipster dude.. I know that there are new bike lanes heading to the East from Lake Merritt, so you feel entitled BUT when you cut off a truck filled with Brothas and THEN mouth off, well that’s why they pulled over. To remind you that you were in Oakland.. not new Oakland, but regular ole ‘watch yourself’ Oakland. I know, it got a lil real, huh? Lucky for you I was there to relax these Brothas else I think that was about to be a whole different kinda scenario #yourewelcome
As I listen to gentrifiers AND those not originally from the area constantly complain about our food, sport teams, music, etc, I realize how fiercely West Coast I truly am. I mean, I was born and raised on Oahu and have resided here in Cali (both Southern and Northern) for decades. And yes, I have a love/hate for the ways that have transformed Turtle Island but again I am from this region.. West Coast and If you don’t like it here, go back to your snow or “real” City and make room for us locals that are getting pushed out.
As optimistic as I try to stay,
I have never forgotten that this is the land of the disposable vs. the privileged.
And over the years that I have spent living in the Bay Area, I have seen first hand how both live. These days most of us have been pushed out of San Francisco and are now systematically being pushed out of Oakland, by greedy landlords and what I like to call “new booty bay” those not yet self aware enough to call this place home and deep down they don’t consider this home, by the way they treat the surrounding community. Fortunately Natives to this area are fighting back.. as they should. So to those of you looking down your nose at those brave underdog warriors fighting the huge money hungry machine, y’all can fuck off.
this is Malia 