Tag: racism

The Blackface Scandal

This turned out to be a very brief post today. I’d thought to write about the “Blackface Scandal” currently enveloping the Canadian federal election… but the truth is I’ve got nothing to contribute.

Oh, I can share my personal experience of shock and dismay, but that’s not much different than every other white person’s reaction over the past couple of days. I can express my concern that this will impact the election (which of course why the images were released; this is textbook ratfuckery) and that we might end up with a Scheer government but that seems crass and political. I can even say “I love and support my PoC friends and they shouldn’t have to suffer this” which is true… and in fact so true that I shouldn’t have to say that. It should be one of those self-evident things like how awful it is to dress up in fucking blackface.

But frankly, none of that breaks new ground; it’s not helpful, it doesn’t present a radical new angle, and it isn’t even particularly relevant. The last thing this scandal needs is another white pundit interjecting his opinion into the situation. So what I’m going to do is use this platform I’ve got to amplify the voices of people of colour.

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What We’re Doing Wrong

I’ve noticed some worrisome trends in the anti-hate movement in Hamilton and I feel that its time to address some of those concerns before they grow too big to handle. I’m going to start with a caveat: This isn’t directed any any specific individual. If you feel like I’m talking about you, well, suppress the urge to be outraged and ask why you feel singled out. It’s not my intention to upset folks, but there are issues developing within the movement that need to be addressed.

I’m also going to add a second caveat: This is not about me virtue-signalling, which is nine-times-out-of-ten a pejorative term used by the alt-right and other bad-faith actors in order to shut down legitimate criticism and necessary self-examination. I’m speaking, throughout, as a white cis-male activist who’s got twenty years of experience in progressive circles, and mea culpa, I still fuck up more often than I’d like.

This post is intended as constructive criticism, with a definite emphasis on constructive. But it still needs to be said and from the basis of someone with experience, I’m going to step forward and say it. And frankly, if it pisses you off then it pisses you off… but do us both the courtesy of honestly examining why.

First, let me address what we’re doing right: We’re keeping the pressure on the fascists. We’re refusing to allow fascists, racists, homophobes and other organized hate groups uncontested access to public spaces in Hamilton and elsewhere… and while it might seem like a sisyphean task, it’s an essential one. The hate groups are trying to outlast us; we simply cannot let that happen.

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