In matters of gender and sexual orientation...

27th August 2012

In matters of gender and sexual orientation oppression, there is one truism that those benefiting from unjustly-acquired privilege (in this case, men and so-called ‘straight’ folks) would do well to remember: When the oppressed speak from the heart about THEIR lived experience and provide a scathing critique of the societal apparatus that gives birth to their oppressed status, we—the privileged-
-would do well to sit down, shut the fuck up, listen and learn.

Afrikan women have called out Lupe Fiasco’s benevolent misogyny. And their case should be pretty clear to all thinking Afrikan men who claim to love their Sisters. Now, if I’m REALLY about respecting the Afrikan women, should I not also respect the critique that she brings to the table—even when it doesn’t stroke the enormous and fragile Black male ego?

Let’s not pull a ‘white boy move’ and dismiss our Sisters’ views as the fodder of some Black man-hating, Eurofeminist plot to destroy the Black Family. Let’s not loud-talk her into silence, the way that ol’ massa did to our enslaved forbears. We can and must do better by them. And for the sake of OUR humanity as Afrikan men:

Please, stop it.

— Junior Burchall (via sonofbaldwin)

Tagged: quotes critique gotta give credit where credit is due