more thoughts on, "i can say whatever i want (because i'm white, ya know!)"

these conversations always contain something like:

“either you want multiculturalism or you want segregation.”

“if you want to be equal stop separating yourselves.”

in a society where whiteness is normative, only whiteness is allowed to have a flurry of expressions within it…what i mean is, “whiteness” is allowed to have various expressions of humanness.

because the cultures of people of color are not normative, society generally determines there is an acceptable way for us to express ourselves. we are not allowed the various expressions of humanness that white culture contains, because normative whiteness only normalizes “whiteness” as “human.”

so our expressions of ourselves are “particular.” this is threatening to someone who does not understand their normalcy, because their normalcy is, well, normative. therefore, “diversity” and “multiculturalism” must also become normative…this is typically achieved when POC assimilate into white culture.

assimilation is not equality. our resistance to assimilation is super threatening because it challenges normative whiteness, which challenges white privilege.

i can, and will, demand equal rights and just treatment while maintaining my uniqueness as a black person. i will pick my afro all the way to revolution.

Source: ashesforjustice