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In "White Fragility," Robin DiAngelo writes that white liberals often grasp their privilege the least because they consider themselves evolved already.
I've thought about that recently while reading one cringe-worthy quote after another advocating for @ewarren to be VP.
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I've thought about that recently while reading one cringe-worthy quote after another advocating for @ewarren to be VP.
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It began yesterday when I read @danpfeiffer and @AlyssaMastro44 minimize Kamala Harris as someone who would help win the election, but that Elizabeth Warren would be "the best person" to be President.
It continued today when I read the news below: 2/ https://www.chron.com/news/article/Warren-allies-send-letter-urging-Biden-to-pick-15340045.php
It continued today when I read the news below: 2/ https://www.chron.com/news/article/Warren-allies-send-letter-urging-Biden-to-pick-15340045.php
Again, the assertion that Warren is "the best."
It includes this disgraceful, inexcusable comment from @tribelaw about why Warren should be VP above WOC:
"I think African Americans above all would be the first to say they are more interested in results than cosmetics."
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It includes this disgraceful, inexcusable comment from @tribelaw about why Warren should be VP above WOC:
"I think African Americans above all would be the first to say they are more interested in results than cosmetics."
3/
I've followed & enjoyed @tribelaw. If you go to his TL it includes all the support for Black Lives Matter & the protests & justice & equality you might expect. I'm certain he, like @danpfeiffer & @AlyssaMastro44, considers himself an evolved liberal.
But, like DiAngelo writes 4/
But, like DiAngelo writes 4/
it's these very evolved white liberals who struggle to realize just how un-evolved they really are.
Imagine, knowing Biden is considering many WOC, rushing to speak to the media to say "hold up, this white lady is the best, and better for minorities than an actual minority." 5/
Imagine, knowing Biden is considering many WOC, rushing to speak to the media to say "hold up, this white lady is the best, and better for minorities than an actual minority." 5/
But that's not even the heart of the white privilege happening here: it's the notion of what makes someone "the best," and not realizing that in our society the best tend to be minority women who have gone far BECAUSE they had to be twice as good as their white counterparts. 6/
Unlike many of my friends here, I'm not particularly focused on Kamala Harris as VP (although I'd be delighted).
Starting with her, however, let's just think about what it took for the daughter of two immigrants to become the first female AND first African-American AG of the 7/
Starting with her, however, let's just think about what it took for the daughter of two immigrants to become the first female AND first African-American AG of the 7/
largest state in the USA and then the 2nd black female US Senator in American history.
Let's think what it took for Val Demings to rise through the ranks of the Orlando Police Department to become the first female Chief.
Let's think what it means for Tammy Duckworth to have 8/
Let's think what it took for Val Demings to rise through the ranks of the Orlando Police Department to become the first female Chief.
Let's think what it means for Tammy Duckworth to have 8/
become the first Thai-American woman AND first woman with a disability to have been elected to Congress after having sacrificed so much for her country, also serving as a senior member of the VA and now Senator from Illinois.
And on & on. These are just incredible women, the 9/
And on & on. These are just incredible women, the 9/
country would be lucky to have them as VP, and to dismiss any of them as "cosmetic" in place of a white woman isn't just insulting to them and (IMO) totally false on the substance, but completely ignores the role privilege plays what it took for the white candidate to get to 10/
where she is versus what it took these WOC. They had to do so much more. They had to be, to use the same phrase used to advocate for Warren, "the best."
It would be one thing to say, "I think Warren has the deepest knowledge of financial regulation & restructuring & because 11/
It would be one thing to say, "I think Warren has the deepest knowledge of financial regulation & restructuring & because 11/
those are the most important topics to me, I personally would like Warren to be the choice."
Instead it's "she's the best." Even worse, it's paired with minimization of WOC as "cosmetic," "symbolic," "politically advantageous," whereas she must be "the best."
By all 12/
Instead it's "she's the best." Even worse, it's paired with minimization of WOC as "cosmetic," "symbolic," "politically advantageous," whereas she must be "the best."
By all 12/
means, they can advocate for her as a personal preference or list why they think she's most qualified, but when people pair advocacy for her with minimization of WOC as @danpfeiffer, @AlyssaMastro44 and @tribelaw did, that goes beyond advocacy & into actively racist territory 13/
It's even more galling knowing how evolved and "woke" so many of these people consider themselves.
There's nothing woke about minimizing incredibly accomplished women of color who had to work twice as hard and be twice as good as their white counterparts to get as far as 14/
There's nothing woke about minimizing incredibly accomplished women of color who had to work twice as hard and be twice as good as their white counterparts to get as far as 14/
they did, and there's nothing woke about ignoring the privilege that allowed a white woman be considered "the best" without a particularly broad list of accomplishments or exec experience.
Anyone can advocate for whomever they want. I'd vote for Biden if he put a rusty nail 15/
Anyone can advocate for whomever they want. I'd vote for Biden if he put a rusty nail 15/
on the ticket.
But if people are serious about soul searching about structural racism, white privilege, and trying to become anti-racist, going to the press to casually minimize, dismiss & insult candidates of color as symbolic or cosmetic vs. substantive is a bad start.
/end
But if people are serious about soul searching about structural racism, white privilege, and trying to become anti-racist, going to the press to casually minimize, dismiss & insult candidates of color as symbolic or cosmetic vs. substantive is a bad start.
/end
