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You know, I think that a lot of the discourse around "allyship fatigue" is sort of missing something.
I don't think it's fatigue, per se. I think it's a kind of dysphoria brought on by the cognitive dissonance of being directly confronted with the ineffectuality of protest.
I don't think it's fatigue, per se. I think it's a kind of dysphoria brought on by the cognitive dissonance of being directly confronted with the ineffectuality of protest.
Most white folks were somehow given the impression that marching with signs actually does something. Or even that voting is enough (or really? anything).
For a lot of them, this is their first experience with direct action even second-hand.
For a lot of them, this is their first experience with direct action even second-hand.
There can be something really distressing about learning the world doesn't work in the way you think it does.
They all basically just learned that Santa Claus isn't real, and that's giving them some real issues.
They all basically just learned that Santa Claus isn't real, and that's giving them some real issues.
Like, yes, that was a privilege. Many of us (especially BIPOC) don't have the luxury of being politically unaware.
Heck, plenty of not-very-marginalized people and even cishet white dudes have done the work to gain that awareness well before now.
Heck, plenty of not-very-marginalized people and even cishet white dudes have done the work to gain that awareness well before now.
I just think we're doing a disservice to our movement when we're telling them "March!" or "Donate to a 'non-profit' organization regularly!"
The whole reason these people are getting worn out is because those don't DO anything.
The whole reason these people are getting worn out is because those don't DO anything.
They don't know the other background stuff that actually helps and actually gives you a little boost of accomplishment, because they only just started on the *marching* a month ago!
We haven't been telling them the good work that keeps you in the fight!
We haven't been telling them the good work that keeps you in the fight!
We need to get them attending city council meetings and shouting directly to accountable powers. We have to get them on community-based or at least directly-distributed mutual aid. That kind of thing.
Yesterday's "Venmo a Black person for Juneteenth" was actually a great start!
Yesterday's "Venmo a Black person for Juneteenth" was actually a great start!
White people are used to the things they do getting things done, because 90% of them have never meaningfully challenged power before.
They don't know about dual-power because most of them *have never needed it*.
They don't know about dual-power because most of them *have never needed it*.
Am I saying it's Black folks or even other POC that should be teaching them this stuff?? Heck no!
But I KNOW there's enough decent white Leftists out there we should be able to teach them ourselves.
At the very least we trans people know a thing or two about mutual aid.
But I KNOW there's enough decent white Leftists out there we should be able to teach them ourselves.
At the very least we trans people know a thing or two about mutual aid.
It only makes sense they're demoralized.
But here's the thing a lot of you aren't seeing in your dismissiveness:
That demoralization? That's exactly the moment for these people to be radicalized.
When they realize marches and letter-writing doesn't work?
Show them what will.
But here's the thing a lot of you aren't seeing in your dismissiveness:
That demoralization? That's exactly the moment for these people to be radicalized.
When they realize marches and letter-writing doesn't work?
Show them what will.
