It doesn’t really, because we still wouldn’t see it treated the same as Black mothers.
It’s less a comment about White people taking over the protest and more on how we treat the people doing a thing based on the colour of their skin.
Do you really think that the media would be so sympathetic to Black mothers singing lullabies in the face of this violent gang? Or would it be two seconds and then onto Sports and Trump’s latest word-salad as a “new tone?”
I hope it leads to a lot of moms calling their federal paramilitary sons this week and asking them if they really believe in what they’re doing.
Weaponizing White Innocence is brilliant, tactically, but why do we believe in that and not the Innocence of Black mothers?
I was talking about the extended discussion there, not just her comment. I’m not saying she’s right, she was pointing out one aspect of what’s happening (white people acting as shields, being seen more by the press - also that naked chick the other day) as a larger strategy. I agree that we still need to think about how that is problematic.
I agree.
But as she noted, there are black women leading this group but the media is focusing on the white mothers, in part because the leaders have avoided being on screen due to safety concerns, but also because that media is so used to focusing on white women’s pain and ignoring Black women’s pain.
It’s a pretty complicated set of problems that involve both what’s happening on the ground and how the media is telling this story as it is happening. Unfortunately, much of the strategizing won’t be fully understood until someone has done the histories here of that.
Because we live in a straight up racist society and we should be pointing that out over and over until people get it, that we treat Black and white women very differently. This is a perfect example of that. But at the same time, sometimes you have to use tactics in the short term that aren’t perfect… but you do have to wonder if they have just end up reinforcing what you’re trying to dismantle…
This is exactly why I put this in this thread. It’s the kind of messy thing that involves more automatic assumptions and less “screaming slurs” racism.
The assumption of White Innocence. The erasure of Black Leadership. How to weaponize White Privilege while decentering Whiteness, and is it possible? Issues and questions we need to confront if we’re going to move forward.
I want to fix everything, but do we have to fix everything at once?
As pointed out in the thread, part of white allies listening has been to put ourselves in the way of harm, especially to protect POC. Now the message is, “don’t?”
I think it’s less about that and more about how the media handles these things. 
I don’t think the message here is “don’t” it’s more look at how the media promotes the innocence of white women, but ignores the pain of Black women. It’s a fair and accurate point.
In that case, I totally agree. In the Twitter thread, it sounds more like criticism of the protesters.
White supremacy has made the world complex and how to address it difficult to come to terms with. More than anything else, we should not shy away from that, even if it makes us uncomfortable.
That’s not what is being said at all.
Nobody is saying not to do this, but even the good it’s doing is taking place in a culture that prioritizes Whiteness.
And unless we remain acutely aware of that, we’re just going to end up perpetuating the problem. Unless we recognize what is driving the narratives and work to counter them, we’re not going to change anything. Until we as a society are willing to grant Black women the same humanity and deference we do White women, we’re not fixing the problems, just papering them over.
And nobody said it has to happen all at once, but if we don’t think about these problems now, when is a good time? What would be a convenient time for you, as a white person, to consider them.
I know that’s not the message that you are intending to send, but it’s the same language that gets used time and again to dismiss marginalized peoples’ concerns. Somehow, there never seems to be a convenient time. The questions don’t get considered, because there’s always something more important (to those with more privilege) to deal with.
That’s the difference between goals, strategy, and tactics. The Mom Bloc is a tactic; undermining the racist message of “urban violence” is the strategy; with the goal of defunding and/or abolishing a fundamentally, structurally racist police force.
I re-read Zoe’s thread, and agree we have to keep it all in perspective. That the tactic is using white privilege against white power. I don’t like the posts that criticize the protesters - and those posts are there, and they are kinda ugly.
She lost me at the notion that putting up a BLM sign on her front lawn was so that Black people would feel “safe” as they walked by.
She never really even started on the journey.
I want one of these signs but have been waffling. http://austinkindness.org/ should I waffle on the side of no?
It wouldn’t be to make Black people feel safe in my neighborhood. That’s kinda odd. I thought the point of the signs was to help Black neighbors feel less besieged and, mostly, make the owner of said sign feel good. Like political stickers on cars. I would like to signal to the Black neighbors I don’t personally know that there’s an ally in this house (I have been more explicit with the ones I do know) and also to stick the cop down the street in the eye. He took down his big Blue Line flag but still has a little one on his jeep. I haven’t caught him outside yet. I would like to tell him that flag makes him look pretty racist and untrustworthy. My husband does not want me to talk to him 
He might have a point.
But yeah, the sign would be mostly for me and one more convo opener with my 3 year old. It’s not real help. For that, I’ve been putting my money where my mouth is. Mostly to the ACLU. And doing my best to raise my white kid well.
Protesting is not an option for several reasons, unfortunately.
I also like these care bear stickers. Mostly because they tickle my fancy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/556781884/united-we-care-bumpersticker-original?ref=shop_home_feat_4&bes=1
Personally, I would hope it had the same meaning as the Safe Place signs they have for children, because I would most certainly give refuge to a POC who is being harassed or unfairly interrogated in my neighborhood.
I have, so I know I’d do it again. And I’m sure you would too. But I’m not convinced a lawn sign in general really proves anything about what the occupants of that home would actually do if push came to shove.
Kappa PiPi.
Handy graphic from the National Museum of African-American History and Culture:
“Aspects & Assumptions of Whiteness and White Culture in the US.”
That’s a great list! Thanks!
