“There is an article (or many many) circulating labeling SlutWalk and its organizers as white supremacists (and a few others things which we aren’t, like all law students). This article was written with reflection, analysis & some necessary criticism, but there are some criticisms we would bring to it also. We are not all white or white supremacists and it’s so sad that people truly think we are. SlutWalk’s representation has been predominately of white women or those who appear white - this is a valid and necessary critique. We may not have done as good a job as others would want and need to see in discussing race, racism or white privilege. We’re constantly working to learn more and do better. It’s important to bring different groups of women, in different parts of the world, who are experiencing sexual violence into the conversation as this article does. We always need to acknowledge the people, in unfortunate increasing numbers, who are being sexually violated. But SlutWalk started in Toronto without any idea of it happening elsewhere. We focused our message locally to discuss sexual assaults upon women, men, children and all genders in Toronto and in Canada. This includes discussing sexual assault experienced by people of colour including indigenous communities that have outrageous accounts of murdered and missing women in Canada, and the experiences of women and people of different abilities, of women who live in poverty and all people who experience exploitation and sexual violence, the experiences of students on campuses, people in their Canadian homes, queer people and the marginalization and violence they face and so many more.
We ARE some women of colour and have been working with many women of colour and people of colour as organizers, speakers, supporters, survivors and participants. Assumptions are being made based on names and photos. Do we need to do better to include more representation and address more issues critically? Yes. But is it okay to paint a big, expansive group of people with the same ‘white’ brush and tell them they’re all ‘white’ regardless of their skin colour, heritage, experience and community? No.
Please help us share this information and encourage people to engage in conversations with those involved in SlutWalk. We’re a diverse group of people and don’t believe in the supremacy of any identity.
”
—slutwalk (via grrrlvirus)
This response makes me feel as though these women didn’t read the entire article. Instead of getting defensive and starting off by saying that they are being labeled white supremacists (which they are NOT, I repeat, NOT being labeled as) why not respond to some of the issues being brought to question. The title about white supremacy is bringing up the point that the organization has found it better to use white leadership and the media has found it more appropriate to only interview white feminists on the merits of Slutwalk. This is subtle white supremacy because it reproduces the idea that white women’s stories are somehow more relevant, important, or worthy than women of color. The media also paints the picture that only white women have opinions of merit worth debating SlutWalk and that women of color might not have anything to say. And if women of color were more involved with SlutWalk, maybe the media might ask more feminists of color their opinion on the walks merits?
No one ever fucking called you a white supremacist. If you want to understand and learn more, know this. The very idea that you wanted to include women of color’s voices as a second option, the fact that you had to learn and listen to even begin thinking about women of color and their experiences, still expresses the values of white supremacy. Not because you are a white supremacist, but because you have the privilege to think of us as a second group, an after thought, an other. It is white supremacy and its very ideals and systems that make these disputes possible. That make it so that it takes hordes of women of color to say something before white women begin thinking about how they can be more pro-active.
I don’t think assumptions were being made just on photos. This article you are responding to makes note of the various women who are interviewed and get spotlight time over any kind of woman of color. You don’t see a problem with this? Furthermore, to not address the issue of the police and the fact that even if you decided to organize solely in Toronto, that police collaboration might not be the best way to create what seems like a safe space for women of color. The same women who you say experience disgusting violence and fear, the same women who also are likely to get less justice and service for that violence and fear, less access to healthcare for that violence and fear, less sympathy and access to someone to listen to for that violence and fear.
After I finish this, let me just say, its also a bad start to say we are also women of color. Let us hear the women of color. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FUCKING VOICES. We don’t need to meld into yours to have a voice. If the women of color in your organization feel this way, let them say this. Give them a voice. As a woman of color, let them say, this was not our intention, we did not mean to be to come off as exclusionary. They can share their stories about how the organization welcomed them and made them feel comfortable. And if those women of color don’t want to speak or tell their story, that is cool too. But don’t say, Oh “we are some women of color” and expect that to erase the critique and real substance to that article. Its like you are trying to discredit the critique that was made in the first place. Just as the article said that woman who was interviewed and complained about her spotlight time just had to condescendingly correct her did. Even if you don’t believe in the supremacy of any one identity, society does. And when women of color talk and explain ways to make us feel that you really want to get rid of that, maybe its time to just shut the fuck up and listen. This might be harsh, but I got pissed the hell off seeing this.
(via strugglingtobeheard)
Wait…what?! These words are FIRE! How did I miss all this??????
::sits up and pays attention::
(via liquornspice)
Poly People of Color
