http://mashable.com/2016/02/27/people-of-color-marginalization/#C7u3K.jD1mqp
Talking about race isn't easy, especially as your conversations surrounding the topic grow deeper and more complex.
It's simple to point out overt racism, but confronting the subtle ways people of color are marginalized, even when you're an ally or racial justice advocate, can be challenging.
A lot of people "shy away from talking about race because they're afraid of saying the wrong thing," says Raquel Cepeda, host of the podcast About Race. Even when you mean well, the fear of sticking your foot in your mouth could stop you from talking at all — and that's no way to achieve progress.
To have more substantial conversations about race and racism, it's important to hold yourself and others accountable for the ways we treat the experiences of people of color.
Educate yourself on these six marginalizing actions, and use them as starting points to help you become an even better ally.
1. Failing to "see race"
It's common for allies to tell people of color, "I don’t see race" (or, if you're Meryl Streep, "We're all Africans, really"). Despite possibly good intentions, this denies the unique experiences of people with racial differences and important aspects of their identities.
It's important to acknowledge that while we should all be treated the same, people are indeed treated differently based on the color of their skin. When you refuse that, you continue to place people of color on the margins, when their stories deserve the same attention and care as mainstream white experiences.
"I'm part West African. I have Indigenous blood. I have European blood. I am a woman of color and
if I'm going to be comfortable in my own skin, I have to acknowledge all parts of me
if I'm going to be comfortable in my own skin, I have to acknowledge all parts of me," Cepeda, who is also the author of Birds of Paradise: How I Became Latina, tells Mashable.
You should be able to acknowledge racial, cultural and ethnic differences without allowing it to detract from their humanity.
Instead of ignoring race completely, you can say something like, "I wish race didn't have an impact on the way people are treated." This acknowledges that racial differences do exist and affect how people navigate the world, while still expressing your belief that everyone should be treated the same.
2. Erasing racial experience with other forms of oppression
When a person of color tells their story and you insist on bringing your own into the conversation, that is oppressive. That takes away space and time that they very often don't have to control the narrative of their experience.
"There's power in being able to tell your story," Zellie Imani, a New Jersey educator and community organizer, tells Mashable. "And
a function of oppression is to deny the oppressed to tell their stories
a function of oppression is to deny the oppressed to tell their stories, let alone control the narrative."
For example, when an Asian person points out the racism they face, you don't have to remind them about the simultaneous oppression of LGBTQ people. When a black person discusses employment discrimination, you don’t have to remind them women also face discrimination in the workplace. This ignores intersectional identities of LGBTQ Asians and black women, and oversimplifies the issues people face.
Vocalizing their experiences with race doesn't mean people of color aren't aware of other forms of oppression; they may even experience some of the other forms themselves. Pointing out that there are white people in the world who suffer, for example, merely pushes their concerns to the margins.
"A white gay man will not suffer the same oppression as a black man, gay or straight, because he still benefits from white privilege," Imani says.
If you are truly concerned with intersectionality, address how other forms of discrimination can create unique oppression of people of color, rather than derailing a conversation about race.
3. Prioritizing the white presence and voice in communities of color
Allies often assume people of color will not achieve anything in the struggle for racial justice without the help and inclusion of white people. Regardless of the desire to help, it's important for white allies to realize they're not owed a place in communities of color.
When you tell people of color your presence is necessary, you rob them of the agency to act and speak on their own behalves. Without realizing it, you're exercising your white privilege, undervaluing power within communities of color. White people are not entitled to having their voice centered, actions acknowledged or feelings prioritized in an environment where people of color are the focus.
While this may seem like exclusivity, acknowledge that this type of exclusion is often a tool to create a safe spaces of solidarity, where people of color can connect without the interference of prioritized voices or actions of white allies.
This, of course, doesn't mean you're a bad ally if you've done or felt these things, nor does it mean you should abandon the idea of helping at all. But it's crucial to know when to take a backseat and show up when needed, rather than asserting your dominance over people of color. Regularly remind yourself, "This is not about me."
Talking about race isn't easy, especially as your conversations surrounding the topic grow deeper and more complex.
It's simple to point out overt racism, but confronting the subtle ways people of color are marginalized, even when you're an ally or racial justice advocate, can be challenging.
A lot of people "shy away from talking about race because they're afraid of saying the wrong thing," says Raquel Cepeda, host of the podcast About Race. Even when you mean well, the fear of sticking your foot in your mouth could stop you from talking at all — and that's no way to achieve progress.
To have more substantial conversations about race and racism, it's important to hold yourself and others accountable for the ways we treat the experiences of people of color.
Educate yourself on these six marginalizing actions, and use them as starting points to help you become an even better ally.
1. Failing to "see race"
It's common for allies to tell people of color, "I don’t see race" (or, if you're Meryl Streep, "We're all Africans, really"). Despite possibly good intentions, this denies the unique experiences of people with racial differences and important aspects of their identities.
It's important to acknowledge that while we should all be treated the same, people are indeed treated differently based on the color of their skin. When you refuse that, you continue to place people of color on the margins, when their stories deserve the same attention and care as mainstream white experiences.
"I'm part West African. I have Indigenous blood. I have European blood. I am a woman of color and
if I'm going to be comfortable in my own skin, I have to acknowledge all parts of me
if I'm going to be comfortable in my own skin, I have to acknowledge all parts of me," Cepeda, who is also the author of Birds of Paradise: How I Became Latina, tells Mashable.
You should be able to acknowledge racial, cultural and ethnic differences without allowing it to detract from their humanity.
Instead of ignoring race completely, you can say something like, "I wish race didn't have an impact on the way people are treated." This acknowledges that racial differences do exist and affect how people navigate the world, while still expressing your belief that everyone should be treated the same.
2. Erasing racial experience with other forms of oppression
When a person of color tells their story and you insist on bringing your own into the conversation, that is oppressive. That takes away space and time that they very often don't have to control the narrative of their experience.
"There's power in being able to tell your story," Zellie Imani, a New Jersey educator and community organizer, tells Mashable. "And
a function of oppression is to deny the oppressed to tell their stories
a function of oppression is to deny the oppressed to tell their stories, let alone control the narrative."
For example, when an Asian person points out the racism they face, you don't have to remind them about the simultaneous oppression of LGBTQ people. When a black person discusses employment discrimination, you don’t have to remind them women also face discrimination in the workplace. This ignores intersectional identities of LGBTQ Asians and black women, and oversimplifies the issues people face.
Vocalizing their experiences with race doesn't mean people of color aren't aware of other forms of oppression; they may even experience some of the other forms themselves. Pointing out that there are white people in the world who suffer, for example, merely pushes their concerns to the margins.
"A white gay man will not suffer the same oppression as a black man, gay or straight, because he still benefits from white privilege," Imani says.
If you are truly concerned with intersectionality, address how other forms of discrimination can create unique oppression of people of color, rather than derailing a conversation about race.
3. Prioritizing the white presence and voice in communities of color
Allies often assume people of color will not achieve anything in the struggle for racial justice without the help and inclusion of white people. Regardless of the desire to help, it's important for white allies to realize they're not owed a place in communities of color.
When you tell people of color your presence is necessary, you rob them of the agency to act and speak on their own behalves. Without realizing it, you're exercising your white privilege, undervaluing power within communities of color. White people are not entitled to having their voice centered, actions acknowledged or feelings prioritized in an environment where people of color are the focus.
While this may seem like exclusivity, acknowledge that this type of exclusion is often a tool to create a safe spaces of solidarity, where people of color can connect without the interference of prioritized voices or actions of white allies.
This, of course, doesn't mean you're a bad ally if you've done or felt these things, nor does it mean you should abandon the idea of helping at all. But it's crucial to know when to take a backseat and show up when needed, rather than asserting your dominance over people of color. Regularly remind yourself, "This is not about me."
