There's going to have to be an active disruption in co-opting our voices. White supremacy and anti-blackness require us to be removed from our own ideas and even bodies. Lambasted for the same things others are praised for and ideas lauded when coming from non-white voices. Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez pioneering "butts" in the larger cultural lexicon. AOC wearing hoop earrings and I won't even get on all these acrylic nails that were always seen as low class and ghetto being artistic and edgy now. The 1st step is not viewing black women as a commodity for consumption, imo.
Apr 20·edited Apr 20Liked by Austin Channing Brown
This is an amazing piece. Thank you. Thank you for saying this. I've learned that a shortcut to a better America is to simply LISTEN TO and FOLLOW Black Women. Full stop. Especially as a straight cis white male (Iike myself,) ESPECIALLY if you’re someone who may not know all the ins & outs of the different issues & social problems going on (because of privilege) - a powerful & quick way to start making a positive difference is to make your default one that believes & supports what Black Women say and do. I've been saying for a while now that *Listening to and Following Black Women* is a CHEAT-CODE to a better & more humane nation, and world.
Black women, womanists in particular, know this country better than it knows itself, for no one knows better the power of a hand, the abuse of which it is capable, than those who have been repeatedly slapped by it.
Thank you. I am a white woman who has spent many, many years NOT listening - or not listening enough. Or not TRULY listening. I have a very long way to go, but I try to filter things I here or see through the lense of "what would this look/feel like if I was a Black woman." I realize that I can NOT possibly know, but I try. And I read. And I listen. And YOU are an important guide in my life. I'm sorry that you have to be. But I am eternally grateful.
Well, as an old white guy who loves the Lord and who is in agreement with what you have said here, where does that leave me? One commenter says here “I hope many will read your words and do something about it”. But what does an old white guy do about this in the last few days of his life? I’ve spoken out many times about the respect and value that black women have and I rarely have been heard, just immediately categorized as a white supremacist or stupid and ignorant just because I have white skin. I’m talking here about my career as a prison chaplain, talkin to men, mostly black men about respecting the females of their race and not saying the things they do. I could go on, but I won’t. My head is spinning right now. Not every white person is an oppressor looking for victims. God help us.
I appreciate this. Thank you. It's simply laid out but such a tall order. I can only testify as to how deeply toxic mindsets are baked in - and how changing these narratives is crucial to gaining justice that's not dependent on how people in power exercise their discretion to enforce or ignore laws. In his book, "My Banned Black History Sermons," Rev. Amiri Hooker of Lake City, SC wrote: "No amount of legislation can grant you equality if a nation doesn’t value you." While the modern civil rights movement focused on changing laws, that was just a framework for justice. It seems even more daunting now - in today's polarized America - to take on the task of changing hearts and minds. This is so embedded that the culture shift needs to occur even within movements. As the quest for marriage equality shows us, for one example, not all change has to occur in the corridors of power and in capitol buildings. Normalizing and internalizing this mantra is our great task and I believe it begins with underscoring how all of us are stakeholders in being successful at this and having a sense of urgency about it.
Thank you for giving it to us straight! The list of all the things/institutions Black women have studied especially stood out for me. Those out of power have to become experts on how power works in order to survive and attempt to thrive -- that is so true. Thank you for all you do!
There's going to have to be an active disruption in co-opting our voices. White supremacy and anti-blackness require us to be removed from our own ideas and even bodies. Lambasted for the same things others are praised for and ideas lauded when coming from non-white voices. Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez pioneering "butts" in the larger cultural lexicon. AOC wearing hoop earrings and I won't even get on all these acrylic nails that were always seen as low class and ghetto being artistic and edgy now. The 1st step is not viewing black women as a commodity for consumption, imo.
This is an amazing piece. Thank you. Thank you for saying this. I've learned that a shortcut to a better America is to simply LISTEN TO and FOLLOW Black Women. Full stop. Especially as a straight cis white male (Iike myself,) ESPECIALLY if you’re someone who may not know all the ins & outs of the different issues & social problems going on (because of privilege) - a powerful & quick way to start making a positive difference is to make your default one that believes & supports what Black Women say and do. I've been saying for a while now that *Listening to and Following Black Women* is a CHEAT-CODE to a better & more humane nation, and world.
AMEN!!!!
Amen.
oh my, Austin I really love this and can relate to it!. Well I love all the posts, especially today.
Keep on Speaking Sister, I'm listening!
Black women, womanists in particular, know this country better than it knows itself, for no one knows better the power of a hand, the abuse of which it is capable, than those who have been repeatedly slapped by it.
Thank you. I am a white woman who has spent many, many years NOT listening - or not listening enough. Or not TRULY listening. I have a very long way to go, but I try to filter things I here or see through the lense of "what would this look/feel like if I was a Black woman." I realize that I can NOT possibly know, but I try. And I read. And I listen. And YOU are an important guide in my life. I'm sorry that you have to be. But I am eternally grateful.
Thank you for these words. I love that your words have both Power and Grace.
💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
Well, as an old white guy who loves the Lord and who is in agreement with what you have said here, where does that leave me? One commenter says here “I hope many will read your words and do something about it”. But what does an old white guy do about this in the last few days of his life? I’ve spoken out many times about the respect and value that black women have and I rarely have been heard, just immediately categorized as a white supremacist or stupid and ignorant just because I have white skin. I’m talking here about my career as a prison chaplain, talkin to men, mostly black men about respecting the females of their race and not saying the things they do. I could go on, but I won’t. My head is spinning right now. Not every white person is an oppressor looking for victims. God help us.
I appreciate this. Thank you. It's simply laid out but such a tall order. I can only testify as to how deeply toxic mindsets are baked in - and how changing these narratives is crucial to gaining justice that's not dependent on how people in power exercise their discretion to enforce or ignore laws. In his book, "My Banned Black History Sermons," Rev. Amiri Hooker of Lake City, SC wrote: "No amount of legislation can grant you equality if a nation doesn’t value you." While the modern civil rights movement focused on changing laws, that was just a framework for justice. It seems even more daunting now - in today's polarized America - to take on the task of changing hearts and minds. This is so embedded that the culture shift needs to occur even within movements. As the quest for marriage equality shows us, for one example, not all change has to occur in the corridors of power and in capitol buildings. Normalizing and internalizing this mantra is our great task and I believe it begins with underscoring how all of us are stakeholders in being successful at this and having a sense of urgency about it.
Thank you for giving it to us straight! The list of all the things/institutions Black women have studied especially stood out for me. Those out of power have to become experts on how power works in order to survive and attempt to thrive -- that is so true. Thank you for all you do!