Occupy THIS, Bitches!: Where Were You When Black & Brown Folks Were Suffering?
I am so damn sick and tired of Occupy Wall Street. Every so called “progressive” I know of is riding the #OWS dick like it is going out of style. Me? I can’t stand the shit. For the most part, I see most of the protests that have been inspired by Occupy Wall Street to be strictly the work of some spoiled little (previously) rich brats who can’t handle the fact that the college education that mommy and daddy paid for did not get them the high paid cushy job that they truly believe they deserve. I would be willing to bet that almost all of those who are running around with signs about being the 99% would not give a FUCK about economic injustice if they were not directly impacted by it in the present moment. And I bet in five years, most of them will be sitting in some multinational corporation’s headquarters shaking their heads and chuckling about the days when they were “radicals”.
Can someone explain to me where the hell theses little towheaded recent college graduates were for all those years when there WAS no recession and it was only Black and Brown people who were getting the booty end of the stick when it came to economic justice? Oh, yeah…. they were wasting thousands of their parents dollars on a college education while spending their weekends getting drunk at the frat house and never even giving a second thought to how the folks who were not born into a upper middle class suburban white bred world were busy struggling to get by. Now all of a sudden, they want to play the victims and cry about how we are ALL the 99%….
Sorry folks, but I cannot see a protest movement that is composed of the top 10% OF the bottom 99% as having much legitimacy at all. Take for example, Hartford. I have been living here for 6 months now. Hartford is one of the poorest cities in the nation, with a poverty rate of well over 30%. Hartford is full of Black and Brown people whose resumes do not even get a second glance when they apply for jobs in their very own city. The same companies that refuse to hire Hartford residents run out to the suburbs to hire people who in turn run as quickly as they can out of the city when their work hours are over. I see it every day. I live in a neighborhood that is 90% POC. Each evening at 5pm, I see all of the white folks from the suburbs rushing to their cars, clutching their purses and nervously glancing around them like they are expecting an ambush.
The mayor of Hartford is constantly holding these meetings where he discusses “revitalizing” the city, and attracting new people to the downtown area. Of course, in a city that is only 17% white, guess where most of those white folks live??? If you guessed downtown, you get a cookie. Every time I hear some government official talk about downtown Hartford, and of the need to attract new residents and businesses to the area, it is obvious that they are using a really weak code to say… “We want more white folks!”
Anyway, getting back to Occupy Wall Street. There is an “Occupy Hartford” movement underway. There is a this tiny little park in Hartford where the Occupy Hartford people have pitched their $1000 tents and have been “occupying” the city for the past few weeks. Ocassionally, the protesters will march through downtown Hartford chanting their lame little slogans. They are actually pretty funny… the protesters, who are about 90% white and hail from the suburban areas, are marching down Main Street chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” even though they just arrived in the city from the lily white surrounding towns a few hours earlier. And, oh the irony of a predominantly white crowd walking through Hartford, a majority minority city, screaming “This is what democracy looks like!” while pointing to themselves!
And I have heard it is like this is almost all of the “occupied” cities. A bunch of white folks who are no longer quite as advantaged as they are used to being claiming to speak up for the 99% while representing only the top 10%.
And of course, the Occupy Wall Street protestors are very quick to put down anyone who dares to express the idea that the movement represents a very white, patriarchal agenda. Check out the experiences of Reena Walker, a Black woman who spoke about what she went through at Occupy Wall Street.
The days I spent at the Occupy Wall Street action in the park were harrowing to say the least. The racism is rampant. There is no regard for the need to factor in black issues or empowerment nor is black leadership in actuality encouraged or welcome, even though they claim it is. There are many white men there are very domineering, controlling, demeaning, sarcastic, condescending and do not make black women feel safe, welcome, empowered, appreciated or protected. They have no regard for black people or women.
Women are being molested in the park and there is no real viable system in place to handle it without the need for police intervention. There are white supremacists groups running around there. There are people smoking drugs there even though it puts the entire action at risk and even after being told that the General Assembly had consensus on the fact that there should be no smoking of cigarettes as they are not only a health hazard to everyone and gives support to the tobacco companies, but also a potential fire hazard, people continue to smoke with no regard for their fellow protesters.
There is a constant marginalization of women and I was even verbally and physically imposed on and threatened by a white man who was up in my face with his fingers pointing in my face because he wanted to dictate to people what he thought they should do. When I spoke up and said that he and two other white men are not supposed to dictate to everyone what should happen but that the decision should be made through consensus he got angry. He proclaimed that he called the meeting, as if that is somehow relevant. He also got angry because I as a black woman told him that he was wrong for trying to dictate to people. Not only that but I also offered to facilitate after other people didn’t step up as things were confusing and out of control. There was no complaint about my facilitation and we actually got down to there being three points to vote on after hearing everyone voice their opinion after I did. Of course another white man felt that he was the one who should be facilitating so I said “fine you do it” but I also asked if there was a woman who had facilitating training as well and the men started to all say why does it matter if its a woman?
After they began to facilitate, everything got out of control, the group split off into factions and there was no more cohesiveness. The man who called the meeting subsequently came over to me as I was standing on the side having a conversation with two people. He took a very domineering stance and was standing with his face right in front of mine pointing his fingers at me telling me that I will never facilitate again and he was in charge. I barely heard what he was saying as all I kept saying to him was “back up.” He was threatening and I could see that he wanted to actually hit me. I threw my bag on the ground and said come on if you want to throw down. Then people pulled us apart. He might have been able to hit me but I would have given him a run for his money. I was so angry and when a black man I met there came over I was telling him what happened. Another white guy steps in between us and proceeds to explain to him what happened in order to protect the other white man. I told him he is in no position to explain to anyone what happened to me and he is being rude. The arrogance of these men is just unbelievable! The black man and I walked down the street together and he calmed me down.
This is the type of thing that goes on, but its okay and sponsored because within the confines of this movement, white people are still acceptably in charge, arrogant and superior. In other words, you can have all of the experience in the world as an organizer, activist or facilitator but if you are not a white man then its a problem. If you are a white man, even though you don’t have any experience, don’t know how to run a meeting (which I saw happen several different times), are not very bright and don’t even know how to be an organizer, its acceptable and fine, even if the meeting isn’t fruitful and doesn’t result in anything.
They get bogged down in minutiae and say a million things at these meetings, yet there is no follow through on anything, which makes the meetings a complete waste of time and energy. If these people claim this is what they are supposedly fighting against, in the corporate world, then they have a very weird way of showing it. Their behavior makes one feel invalidated and it also doesn’t give a strong showing of support to the people who they are supposedly standing up for.
There was another incident with a group of white people at the west end of the park who, when I asked them to help get the area organized, (which was an absolute mess and a fire hazard) began to harass me, taunt me and verbally be abusive. I still went on to gather others who wanted to help with the huge task of organizing this filthy and very disorganized space and they continued to level verbal assaults. They continued to defiantly smoke and light up cigarettes and be obnoxious and continued to harass until I got fed up and told this one girl, who was pushing me to the limit, that she should step up and bring it if she wanted to fight. I went on to curse her out and I let everyone there know that I will not be abused by some stupid white bitch. I really could care less who doesn’t like it but if you push things too far they have to learn that it won’t be tolerated by everyone. They also have to learn that black people are not going to let them speak to us in any type of manner they choose. I don’t know what the agenda of these white people are but their paternalistic attitudes, constant invalidation, smart remarks and repressive behavior toward myself and other black people is not productive nor is it liberating.
There also needs to be said here something about the passive black people there who speak in a white vernacular and want to be white or sleep with white people so badly that they have no black consciousness at all. They really need a wake up call. They have no real desire to be supportive of black people nor do they want to be associated with anything that is truly about the struggle that REAL black people face and basically, will stand there and side with these white people even if they see another black person being attacked, and then blame the black person, which is what happened at the time that these white people were treating me this way. This black girl who was much darker than me, who spoke like a blonde girl on a beach, asked me to leave instead of even listening to me or finding out what happened. She was so concerned about keeping the white folks happy that she wasn’t even concerned about my well being or my position on the matter. Who stole the soul is right.
Another insulting situation that happened was a white man coming up to me at the GA giving me a flyer that read “Occupy Harlem”. I told him Harlem is already occupied by him and all of these white people coming uptown pushing black folks out of their homes and to word something like that in that way without consideration and then give me another flyer along with that with a bunch of white faces on it was highly insulting. He goes on to tell me he has lived in Harlem for years and his daughter is black, like that is even remotely relevant, and then refused to listen to my concerns because he lives in Harlem. Then he said he doesn’t understand why black people are attacking him when he presents this to them and he has been attacked five times already that day. I told him that the fact that he doesn’t understand why he is being attacked, is all the more reason why he shouldn’t be in charge of an action like that. This is another example of the paternalistic attitudes that exists amongst these white people who think they are automatically in charge and not only that but are somehow in a position to articulate my oppression as a black woman for me
I came away from this experience feeling unsupported, disrespected, maligned and even more oppressed. There is no real regard for oppressed black people there and many of these people are there at Occupy Wall Street for the novelty of it. They have no idea that this stance they are taking is dealing with very real problems that we as black people face every day. This is not a parade or a party or a game for us and if we are there, we are there because it is very serious for us and standing up to these companies and oppressive forces is about standing up for our lives. We don’t have rich white parents and communities to run home to after the whole thing ends. We don’t have safety nets like they do. The unemployment crisis in the black community is far more of a crisis for the people of our community than it is for them.
This disgusting display of white superiority and male dominance exists throughout this OWS movement. The only bright spot in all of this was the newly formed Women Occupying Wall Street (WOW) group. These women were informed, supportive and concerned about the issues I and other women raised and also had been subjected to abusive behaviors themselves. The meeting that was held by them was actually the only well run and sane meeting that I had attended the whole time I was there, outside of a few of the General Assembly meetings. I drafted a mission statement for them and gave some helpful suggestions. I wish them well and will give my support and I hope they can make a dent. It is unfortunate that I cannot participate any longer though because I have learned long ago to no longer remain in abusive constructs for the sake of unity. It is not worth my sanity or my health.
I say we as black people have to be self-determined and self-defined. White people cannot articulate our oppression. We cannot be a part of movements that are lead by them and be marginalized. We cannot continue to allow the rampant disrespect to continue in the name of some sort of unity. I say we begin to as BLACK PEOPLE and not, “people of color”, create define, organize and stand firm in our own movements to articulate our oppression and address it. Only then can we truly be effective and affect change.
Adding to my disdain for the Occupy Wall Street movement is the fact that all of a sudden, they want to profess support for issues that have impacted Black and Latino communities for years yet garnered nary a second glance from these middle class white protesters previously. All of a sudden, the Occupy Wall Street protesters want to express support for a movement to stop the NYPD policy of “stopping and frisking” Black and Latino people on the streets for no reason whatsoever. Where were these people a year ago, or ten years ago? Why is it that NOW they are willing to throw their hats in the ring to “express solidarity” with Black and Latino people. Could it be that they have HEARD the criticism of Occupy Wall Street leaving out people of color? Seems to me that this sudden show of support has more to do with recruiting some token Black and Latino faces for their movement than with actually supporting the fight against this police policy.
When I spoke with an organizer of the Occupy Hartford movement, I saw this type of thing very clearly. There have been protests against the MDC (the company that manages the water and sewage systems in the city) for about two months now. Minority contractors and Black and Latino citizens have been protesting the fact that the MDC has not been hiring enough minority workers, and is giving jobs to people from out of town and even out of state instead of hiring Hartford residents. The entire group for the earlier protests were Black and Latino. All of a sudden, when the white folks of Occupy Hartford decided to start their protest, they wanted to run down to join in the MDC protest to “show solidarity”. In truth, they were on a mission to recruit some Black and Brown faces they could put in front of the news cameras so that they could pretend to be reflective of the community of Hartford. The organizer I spoke to expressed his desire for the protests to “look like” the city of Hartford, and even tried to use an event that we were working on in the North End of Hartford (which is almost entirely Black) as a recruiting tool for Occupy Hartford. When we were attempting to plan an voter’s education forum for formerly incarcerated people on the North End of Hartford, this man had the nerve to talk endlessly about his role in Occupy Hartford and express his desire to use our event to publicize his.
Add to all of this the fact that often, the rhetoric used by protesters involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement is patently offensive and racist, and the only conclusion I can come to is that Occupy Wall Street is just as lily white and racist as the Tea Party. Except, of course, not quite as blatant. So, no, I will not be joining in the mindless adulation shown in progressive circles towards Occupy Wall Street. I have better things to do with my time than join up with some folks who are upset because a tiny percentage of their privilege is slipping away.
SUGGESTED READING: Occupy Wall Street, & Why People Of Color Should Get Involved
*dead* I don’t even know what to do with this….but I sure do feel you!
For those of us that don’t use facebook (not a member), in summary what did Ms. Reena Walker say? And what say you about Occupy Wall Street being inspired by the black & brown that started “The Arab Spring”?
Good question. Surely “Arab Spring” wasn’t racist nor was the idea of non-violent protest as practiced by Gandhi before MLK copied it.
Hmmm…. have you heard of the genocide against Black Afrikans in Libya brought about by the so called “rebels”??
In the interest of equality, I’d like someone to show me one movement that was exclusively ”Black” that was successful. I don’t know, but maybe I read the wrong history books. Hell, I thought it took a coalition of all people that came together to benefit society at large.
Further, I think it does marginalized people of color a disservice to discourage people of color from participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement.But hey, I guess with all these so-called black movements” that have been around for ages, surely they’ve done a fine job, no?
Finally, I know you’re entitled to your opinion. But, it’s kinda hard for me to take seriously anyone who refuses to be a part of the political process, as the author of this post has made clear in previous posts. The truth of the matter, is that I can only surmise that some people just don’t get it. Sorry, but this piece coming from a white woman who was raised in a “lilly white” neighborhood who went to college much like the very “lilly white” protesters cannot be taken seriously
First of all RiPPa, I am starting an organization with some colleagues that is addressing the issue of racial justice. It is open to ALL PEOPLE who have a sincere desire to address racism, and, obviously, since I am involved in it, will NOT be an “exclusively Black” movement.
The problem with OWS and Occupy Hartford is that it is largely composed of people who DENY that racism impacts the lives of ALL POC. By saying “We are all the 99%”, the protestors are ignoring the very important fact that WITHIN that 99% there are HUGE differences in circumstances, and unfortunately, the BOTTOM of the 99% is composed disproportionately of people of color.
THIS IS AN ISSUE!
And the refusal of MOST OWS supporters to even ADDRESS the role that race plays in economic disparities is a SERIOUS problem.
The fact that OWS is seen as beyond reproach and not worthy of criticism is just SAD.
The difference between ME, and the OWS protestors is that I have not taken up the mantle of racial justice simply because it will help further my own agenda. AND, I do not keep my head in the sand and refuse to see what I am doing in my activism that may be harming others.
I commend you and what you’re trying to accomplish with your organization in Hartfort. But the truth is: your org doesn’t, and will not have the impact to address the concerns that OWS is about. Secondly, it’s a pretty stupid statement to assert that the “white folks” of OWS “deny” the impact of racism. But I suppose you can provide me with evidence to support this other than simple conjecture.that is long on typical self-loathing white folks rhetoric. Sure even among the 99% there are wealth disparities; but, does i6 really matter? Are corporations on Wall Street selective of how the exploit everyday working people based on said disparities? No they don’t, and that’s why I said you just don’t get it! It’s funny I don’t see you addressing the apathetic Black folks who don’t even give a rats ass about what’s going on. No, instead, as a white woman, you attempt to find favor with Black folks (as you often do) by railing against white people. Well, you might feel the need to do that, but as I said, you’re doing marginalized people more harm than good by discouraging them to participate by painting the entire movement that is OWS as racist. If anything, you make a better point of labeling Wall Street as racist for being willing to throw people of color under the bus in pursuit of corporate greed. I dunno, but that’s what I think since this is a system and not an ideology as you present it. But hey, you’re the person who is of the belief that all white people are racist, remember?
Joanna, we don’t have time to get into pissing matches with know it all bloggers. We’re actually doing this work.
I agree. I’m not a part of OWS because I feel uncomfortable with it for some of the reasons stated above, but there’s no way that all of the people involved are the top 10% of the 99%. Some of them took out loans, for example… I can’t get behind power-tripping white dudes (like why are all of the leaders of Occupy Philly white men, for example?) who seem to be at the head of all of these protests (especially with the slurs that were thrown earlier at the Occupy Philly camp) but a lot of this post seems generalized. I’m a big proponent of social justice and equality for all but how am I supposed to prove that to you except knowing you personally?
Right! That’s the problem with labels. It’s easy to toss out the label of a person or group as racist. But one should be prepared to back up said claim with clear evidence to support it. This post falls short in that area. And in all honesty, baseless claims such as this makes it hard to fight real racism.
RiPPa, you are seriously wearing blinders. I have provided plenty of “evidence” to back up my opinion that OWS is problematic when it comes to racial justice. You choose to ignore it all, because you are just so damn excited about this movement. In fact, you totally misread my article and try to say that i have tried to dissuade POC from joining OWS, meanwhile I never told anyone what they should or should not do.
NO ACTIVIST of MOVEMENT is above reproach. MAYBE, just MAYBE, someone who is involved in OWS or wants to be can LEARN FROM my criticism of the movement, and make the changes that need to be made to make OWS a truly inclusive movement! Did you ever think about that? I mean, your wholesale dismissal of my critique will provide VERY GOOD FUEL for those who like to deny that racism not only exists but it pervasive in this country EVEN AMONG “PROGRESSIVE” movements.
But, you know what, arguing with you is kind of pointless, after all, you were the one who thought that there was no injustice in the pathetic verdict reached in the MURDER of Oscar Grant
I completely agree with you that no activist or movement is beyond reproach. However, the sheer scale of Occupy is, in my eyes, to be admired. Why are you making the assumption that all Occupy movements are exactly like Occupy Hartford? I also disagree that racial justice (a term I hate – race is a social construct), economic inequality between ethnicities, and the inclusion of people of color are being completely ignored. Occupy Philly, despite the problems I mentioned above, have daily workshops about ableism, racism, inclusion, women’s groups, and shit like that. If it’s not enough, why not hang around and bring up your ideas? (That may not be possible at OH, in your opinion, but I still think it’s worth checking out.) I’m sure that like-minded people are already there trying to do the same stuff. And I’m not a part of Occupy Philly, by the way.
Your assumption that all of these people don’t care about or don’t realize the differences in economic inequality between ethnicities is way oversimplified. Like I said before, how are people supposed to PROVE to you that they cared about this before now? The answer is, they really don’t.
Those workshops you mention in Philly are also being conducted in NYC – we’ve covered that on this site in recent weeks. as a matter of fact, one of the contributors to this site attends OWS and reports on developments quite frequently. I’m really glad you pointed that out because it’s easy to assume that the movement has no purpose or direction. As you correctly stated, there’s a little bit ofg everything for everybody. To me, that’s the beauty of this leaderless movement. In it’s organic state, it just seems more real, and democratic to me.
Thank you, Jen, for stating the obvious. Just because there is an Occupy movement, it does not necessarily follow that all Occupy movements in American cities are exactly like Hartford’s.
I agree that some of these people have problems around color and women. Let’s acknowledge it and fight it, but let’s not get side-tracked. Many whites in the Occupy movement are not middle-class whiners, but haven’t been able to get a job in ages and cannot pay their student loans. Meanwhile, their parents are probably subsisting on one two-bit salary, on food stamps, and are facing foreclosures. This is no snide laughing matter. They are now POOR. They may have only their white skin to fall back on, but they are fucking POOR. Now, they know how many people of color feel.
Tomorrow is the Oakland strike called by Occupy Oakland, called also for the police attack on Scott Olson and hundreds of others last year. (For your information, Scott Olson is from Wisconsin, a former vet, and worked in IT in the Bay Area.) Occupy Oakland is multiracial and multifaceted, and includes students, former military, and the unemployed. Some of these people have never been actively political in their lives, and that even includes young blacks whose grandfathers were sympathetic to the Panthers. So please, watch it, folks.
RiPPa’s comments about Joanna refusing to be a part of the political process are quite amusing to me, as Joanna and I are working together with another brother to launch the Hartford Racial Justice Alliance. She has also been involved with the Community Party (http://www.facebook.com/CommunityPartyAction) , a group that I founded two years ago which is currently working to pass our amendment to Connecticut’s racial profiling law (http://www.facebook.com/PennAct) and pushing a people’s budget campaign which is aimed at addressing racial economic disparity in Hartford and statewide. Joanna is a constant presence at community meetings with city / state officials and politicians. She has totally immersed herself in the political process since she moved to Hartford.
Good to see you take apart my argument. Oh, so this is about Hartford and not the claim that OWS is racist? Good luck fighting Wall St. corporate greed and the income disparity – not to mention wage stagnation – from Hartford. :-/
Sit around and pay attention to silly shit like #OWS being racist and miss this:
http://www.youtube.com/user/democracynow#p/u
And this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNif3r8sOO4
So, it is perfectly reasonable to examine and talk about racism in every other story and event, but NOT to examine the OWS movement? Good to know!
I find it interesting that when you spoke of the Tea Party, you frequently mentioned racism within the ranks of THAT movement, yet want to deny that there IS racism within the ranks of OWS!!! The Tea Party may be a little more blatant with theirs, but OWS shows many signs of refined racism, which you are choosing to deny and dismiss. Similarly, you basically try to tell me that I am wasting my time focusing on the “minor” issue of racism within OWS, yet you spent the ENTIRE DAY yesterday discussing Herman Cain and allegations of sexual harassment. And I would be willing to bet that if he was a Dem, you would have been defending him to the nth degree. When are you going to realize that in the political spectrum, the Dems and Republicans are pretty much the same? You go to most other countries and they will look at you like you are crazy when you name supposed “liberals” because to them they are STILL way too far to the right!
Joanna, it is well documented with empirical evidence that white supremacist groups are within the Tea Party. Hell, you didn’t need a study as was conducted t6o see that – all you had to do was read their fucking signs! Now, again I ask, where is such evidence in reference to your claim of OWS being racist?: Do you see how foolish this reach of yours looks? I mean, if I were you organizing a movement as you are in Hartford. I’d be damned if I would be runningoff at the mouth and deriding one of the largest social ( and political) awakening that this country — and by extension the world — has seen in a long time. To do so as you have makes you look petty, and very ignorant to what’s really going on.
If you’re going to make the claim that OWS is racist… PROVE IT! Oh, and using the experience of one individual isn’t fucking proff either. That’s the goddamn point you’re missing, and it does more damage to you as an organizer. Why sghould anyone listen to anything you have to say if you can’t fucking prove it? Does white privilege exist? Fuck yeah! It is without question that the majority of the people at OWS are privileged by virtue of them being white. However, privilege does not equate racism, or them in particular being racist. It’s common sense actually…. I suggest you stop listening to silly Black Nationalist who in many way are just as dangerous as White Supremacist/White Nationalists.
SPOT ON, SPOT ON, SPOT.ON! Thank you.
On so many issues, I agree with you Joanna, so it’s tough for me to state that I disagree about your stance here for any number of reasons. The main problem that I have is that the Occupy movement is not a “White” movement. Any more than it is a “heterosexual” movement. I’ve heard from different people that OWS ought to address “x” or “y” – but what it is really addressing is *economic inequality* caused by greed by big banks and corporations married into politics. Last time I checked, economic inequality affects people of color, too. Living in Atlanta, I can tell you that there was/is a huge presence of Black & Brown folk – and I do not think that’s just because of some “population ratio factor”, as I’ve heard ’round here from people who haven’t bothered to go downtown and check it out for themselves. And I can’t speak to other occupation locations, but the issue of racism *IS* discussed here, but not as a central topic. It is discussed *in conjunction* with the myriad other areas of discrimination that the 99% face as a direct result of economic inequality. I share your hatred of ignorance and racism…and in my own small way I fight against that (remind me at some point to share with you the letter sent to the Atlanta Journal Constitution that was never printed…naturally). I also detest misogyny and homophobia, and other forms of hatred that are rooted in ignorance. Thing is…we can’t -not a single one of us- boil the ocean. None of us. We have to take what *we* care about and are passionate about, and work toward resolution of those things (as Gandhi said, “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”). Likewise, we cannot expect that every “movement” will take on every topic of social injustice as a central cause. That is where I see a definitive line between what OWS stands for, and the frustration you’re expressing here.
“I’ve heard from different people that OWS ought to address “x” or “y” –
but what it is really addressing is *economic inequality* caused by
greed by big banks and corporations married into politics. Last time I
checked, economic inequality affects people of color, too.”
This right hear speaks to the very base of my argument…. economic inequality affects people of color disproportionately and always has! This is the issue with OWS…. not just the number of POC represented (though that is problematic in many areas) but the fact that it is composed of many people who never gave a second thought to economic inequality when it was seen as a “Black” or “Latino” issue! Now that it is impacting the white middle class, it becomes an issue. Meanwhile, Black and Brown people have been suffering from severe economic inequality for centuries and NO ONE PAID ANY ATTENTION!
And, I have yet to hear someone involved in my LOCAL Occupy movement address the fact that Hartford, which is majority Black and Latino has been one of the poorest cities in the country for A LONG TIME, yet none of them were out here protesting about it until white folks started to feel the pinch.
I actually had one woman involved in OH try to tell me that she, who makes $80,000 a year, was “poor” because she was helping out her sister and brother in law. IN A CITY THAT HAS A POVERTY RATE OF MORE THAN 30%!!! And when the OH people were interviewed on the local news, you heard all of that “Save the Middle Class” crap and very little about poverty.
Are you ignorant to the fact that this is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression while Wall Street are seeing record profits? What you say about racial disparities in equality is very true. However, going with your logic, where is YOUR criticism of POC not rising up and forming or starting their own “occupy” movement? No, you don’t say shit about that. Instead, in your not-so-unique, albeint predictable response, you make claims about white people. I guess you being white makes this easier – or at least you may feel it’s more convenient to do just this to find favor with Black folks and other people of color. So having said that, what policy issues would you (or your org) advocate in attempt to deal with the obvious existant plutocratic favored distribution of wealth. You see, it’s easy to talk shit and throw out race cards. But it’s another thing to have a plan of action. So again, with OWS being racist as you say, what can your “lilly white” self do, or recommend be done using Wall Street as your target?
*nodding* It is a difficult thing to express, the understanding that many POC (and White folk in support) who work during the week are only *able* to occupy on the weekends – again, I can’t speak personally to outside of Atlanta, though video footage elsewhere shows a similar pattern. Partly *because* POC are disproportionately affected by poverty makes this simple fact true – they’re working their asses off to keep food on the tables for their families and simply do not have *time* to get to the protests, even if they were so inclined.
I understand Jo’s points, but am frustrated sometimes, too because I know that she’s not the only White person to get angry with the abominable circumstances in this country that get meted out to POC simply because of an artificial standard of expectation that has (for good or ill) been considered the norm for…oh hell, since the inception of the U.S., come to it. Still, it’s like I said in an earlier comment, for OWS to truly be effective, no single topic can be central outside of the financial plutocracy on Wall Street – all other matters stem from that one central issue. *nod* Heck, I have my passion, too…and am working toward that…no matter how comparatively minor. No one person…no one group…can boil the ocean. That is what is SO beautiful (to me) about OWS and all the solidarity occupations around the country and globe. Whatever my personal passion is, that is what *I* work toward, as an individual…and carry that passion with me in support. And to me, that isn’t a matter of color, sexual orientation, gender, religion…all of those divisive things that ARE truly relevant, but that don’t play a central role in the big picture discussion when we talk about what we have in *common*: Our Humanity.
This is one of the many reasons I so enjoy reading you. And promoting your writing. *nod*
I know that economic inequality affects people of color disproportionately – but where I reject the idea of what always *has* been and what *should be* is a comment a friend of mine made – “… the “you didn’t feel my pain so any future opinion is invalid” doesn’t hold water…” – and she is not a *White* person any more than I am. That said, our “White” exterior appearance masks a LOT of different things, such as my Hispanic background, as well as hers…if you follow.
What has already happened cannot be changed, and Rippa’s right – this is the worst economic fall since the Depression. That it’s now “pinching” White folks is not the issue. Take my family for example. We’re *not* hurting financially, and we’re not claiming that we are. I won’t ever claim to be poor unless I am (and I have been…very much so…so I really appreciate what we have now). Thing is…I don’t buy the idea of just because of my fortunate position now that I should EVER forget what it was like on the other side of that coin, nor will I ever forget the wonderful souls who helped me through it – and that, Joanna, was *nothing* to do with color…or cultural background. It had to do with being human…flesh and blood.
I can’t speak for other Occupation locations, honestly – I’ve only been to the one here in Atlanta – and the Black (and all shades of Brown) voice is strong here – powerful, articulate, intelligent, and make NO mistake – cognizant of the racial divide. I live in Forsyth County – that may require some googling to understand where I’m coming from on that, which is a point I have personally brought up while at the Occupation – so I *also* get the reality – and I get the “privileged insider” view of the White perspective where I live that holds the ENTIRE Occupation in utter disdain as dirty, smelly, drug-using, alcohol-abusing college kids and hippies (regardless of color) – yet I have photographs that show a VERY different picture of the reality.
I care very much about poverty (and put my money where my mouth is) – and my passion happens to be sex education – which, if we were to look at outcomes among the same disproportionately affected population, our numbers would probably line up. That doesn’t mean I back away from working toward trying to find answers simply because it hasn’t been done before, or because I’m White, or because the powers-that-be are now fighting women’s health with a vengeance that lights my hair on fire…I do it because it matters.
So does OWS. Or Occupy*wherever*…it’s global now. You’re going to tell me that the people in different South American countries are only standing in solidarity because the folks up here that are White are behind the idea? (Which is also incorrect, because the idea didn’t even originate in this country, but that’s a topic for another day) What about people in every continent where White isn’t the “standard of ideal” who are standing in solidarity with OWS? Are they wrong too because of *our* background issues with race and inequality?
While I was thinking about it this morning, I remembered to pull up the letter that I sent to the AJC – sent on 21 August, and has never been printed. I’ve shared it in a few different places, but mainly in my blog, because I wanted to keep the date firmly locked in one place…dunno if the html carries in comments, but the link should still attach…
Prismatic Perspectives of a Single Incident
I wouldn’t be surprised if many non-whites felt exactly the way you do. But I would hate to see you miss an opportunity because of that. I suppose I’m what you would call “middle class’ because I’m white, I have a job, and I have a house (that the bank owns).
For years I have been extremely irritated by all the blah-blah about the “middle class” as if they were the only important people in the world. I grew up in a housing project in Newark, NJ. Then, I was what you would have called “white trash” (and I still am). I’ve known all my life that the media framed everything to advantage the rich. In the ’60s I lived in a neighborhood that was almost all black, and during the riots I knew that what the press put out was bullshit. It wasn’t about race-it was about poverty! But framing it being a race thing set one group against another. Divide and conquer!
We all know that the Civil Rights Movement only got a window dressing solution. Racism is still there and discrimination is still rampant. The problem didn’t go away.
That’s the way it always has been. So this time I say join ‘em. Haven’t you ever heard that the enemy of my enemy is my friend? This Occupy… thing has visibility, and that’s an opportunity to strike back. Use this and anything else that’s happening for whatever you can get out of it. The blacks and Latinos in America are a powerful force if they get mobilized, and if they sit this out, things will go back to business as usual and we’ll all be worse off. Same thing goes for poor whites. I have no love for selfish yuppies, but I don’t cut off my nose to spite my face. The political parties in this country are no help, so there isn’t a lot of choice. I am really disappointed when I hear someone saying to pass on an opportunity simply because of prejudice. If you’re waiting for a savior, it ain’t gonna happen. Bottom line is everybody out there is out for themselves. But if enough emotion gets built up behind this thing, it can be useful to teach people who their real enemies are. But if you’re a victim of reverse racism, then you wind up a loser by default.
This thing has no defined issues and no defined leaders. I say give it your best shot.
Man this post is so full of inaccuracies and venom posing as “logic” I don’t know where to begin.
I’m going to have to write my own article, the list of bullshit here is too long…
1) for one thing, re OWS supporting Stop and Frisk: THE “Stop Stop & Frisk” OWS working group, comprised of Harlen-based activists ASKED OWS TO SUPPORT THIER CAUSE! The proposal to give OWS’ total support to Stop and Frisk was passed UNANIMOUSLY at a OWS general assembly. The next day, Stop Stop and Frisk got more coverage than it has since it began its campaign.
2) that whole meme of stereotyping OWS protestors as recent, “spoiled college graduates” is completely wrong — something the mainstream media, headed by Fox News) has attempted to to put out. a trip to an occupation would quickly reveal this to be a fallacy. I have been at OWS almost everyday since day 9, and I can tell you, I have met people from all walks of life: Young, old, uneducated, educated, black brown, asian — they’re all there and they’re all welcome.
3) One of the LARGER OWS working groups is the People of Color (POC) working group. One thing: it’s being KILLED, not by spoiled white kids, BUT BY ONE BLACK FEMALE who insists on fomenting division whenever others don’t agree with her. She calls people “barbies” or “not black enough” and has become such a joke that no one takes her seriously anymore. She tried that white shit with me and I asked he if my brown dick was white. She becomes verbally violent with others and then accuses white men of threatening her EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT TRUE! I have seen her do this several times and called her on it.
4) OWS uses a “progressive stack” policy, meaning that facilitators are instructe3d to give priority to traditionally silenced or marginalized voices. IOW, if there’s a white man with his hand up and a black woman, the black woman will get preference. White men actually agree with this plicy (at least most do and those that don’t get shut down quick).
5) Whenever I talk to people of color about OWS, they seem to come with preconcieved assumptions about the movement. When I challenge them to “do something” rather than whining about white people, they don’t have shit to say. If I ask them to tell me about what they’re doing so I can join THEIR cause, they have nothing to fuckin say.
I’m convinced The Last Poets, one of which was a Nuyorican, were right: Niggers are scared of revolution.
[Edited] Oh yeah, and I am part of the OWS movement and belong to three working groups: Structure, Facilitation, and Direct Action. I am also an activist, and have been for years, OUTSIDE of OWS. Also, it’s ridiculous to not use the leverage OWS currently has as a way to collaborate. If you have a cause, but look to exist in a vacuum, then good luck with that. NYC unions, for example, who HAPPEN TO BE OVERWHELMING PEOPLE OF COLOR, work with OWS.
Wait, you mean you’ve actually been to OWS more than once? No fucking way, bro!
I am sure you know that OWS is more than what is going on in NY. I am also sure you read in my first paragraph where I referred to “most of the protests that have been inspired by Occupy Wall Street”. I have heard the experiences of people from various cities across the country that had Occupy movements. I have personally observed the Hartford movement. When I first heard of OWS I thought it was a wonderful thing. HOWEVER, the OFFSHOOTS of the original protest are showing some SERIOUS issues, as is the original protest as well. I am NOT telling anyone whether they should or should not participate. I am simply stating my opinion and making it clear why I do not participate in it. What your experiences have been in NY are all well and good. However, it does not negate the experiences of others! It does not erase what I witnessed with my own eyes from OH. I am really trying to understand why this is looked upon as almost a personal attack! There is no reason to get upset about my commentary and DENY experiences people have had. If what I am saying does not apply to you, then don’t get all worried about it. It DOES apply to MANY of the OWS protests in many cities, and to many of the OWS protestors in NY. RACISM EXISTS EVERYWHERE, so why is it so hard to swallow when I point out how it is mainifesting in OWS???
Face it you are a self hating fat white chick who got kicked to the curb many a time by white dudes so she now hates her own skin. Everyone but you can see the “hate yourself” badge you wear is ridiculous and a severe indication of mental illness. You will never be accepted as a fat black chick you are a fat ugly white chick. Any other human emotions and reality you would like to combat? Maybe you should start an organization against birds for shitting on people, happens all the time.
That was uncalled for and unnecessary.
Oh, no, now I need to go home, bury myself under the covers and cry!
Pffft *hugs you* …ignore ad hominem. We all may have different perspectives, and disagree on *topics*, but there is no call for personal attack. Ignore “JennyCraid” (even while your response appears nicely sarcastic
)
Times like this, I think that I should go get a leash and a crate so I can have my very own pet troll
I think many of us who half-live in the blogosphere get that feeling from time to time…lol
PLEASE! the MAJOR bulk of your article is a cut-and-paste from a woman who never even engaged the OWS site in NYC!
And I CHALLENGE your assertion that that people of color are being marginalized at OWS sites across the country. YOU have NO WAY of knowing this for sure, for example, though you attempt to state it authoritatively.
I have MET with and communicated with EXTENSIVELY with people from the Oakland, Philiadelphia, Chicago, Maine, and occupiers from Greece and Italy., How? Because all these people are coming to the OWS site to either learn from or share what we have learned at OWS. IN FACT, the most common phrase I’ve heard from people from the various OWS sites is that the NYC site, whether we like it or not, is the labortory, the incubator and many other sites are looking at us as a model.
I know, for example, that ALL of the sites I’ve DIRECT communication with struglle to reach out to, and make welcome those kost marginalzed by socual policies. I also know they ALL use progressive stacks in the General Assemblies AND working groupos. I also know for a FACT that there is almost always at least one person of color co-facilitating the general assemblies.
We’re holding workshops, led mostly by veteran activists of color and women, on patriarchy, oppression, and are constantly looking for ways to create MECHANISMS in order not just to say we’re diverse, but actually ACT OUT on those peinciples.
Racism and all forms of oppression exist everywhere, but what SHOULD separate progressive movements from the larger society in which they operate is a willingness to look at, unpack, and address issues of patriarchy, racism, ableism, homophobia and all the other shit we ALL (including YOU) carry to the table. THIS is part of what is called MOVEMENT BUILDING. A movement doesn’t come together in a moment of bullshit kumbaya in which everybody YOU see or perceive will immediately agree with YOUR worldview.
A movement is nurtured, cultivated, cared for, supported by bringing in people who normally wouldn’t take a critical stance on the status quo. that means that it’s a difficult, frustrating, sometimes even infuriating process. It also means being open and fearless enough to enter that process without succumbing to the same race-baiting and disinformation tactics used by mainstream outlets such as Fox News. And that’s what your article was — DISinformation. I don’t give a rat’s ass whether you engage the movement or not — ultimately that’s your choice. What I’m calling you out on is YOUR CHARACTERIZATION of a whole movement based on nothing. You show NO documentation other than the bullshit “people I’ve spoken to” and with that you broad brush and demean work that is very important and as far away from racism you can get.
THAT’S bullshit and I’m calling you on it.
First of all, I did not cut and paste that woman’s word into my article. I had a link to her post in my article, RiPPa added the text of her article to the post for people who do not have access to Facebook.
And you and Rippa have seem to really got things twisted. I never once said that anyone should stay away from OWS, I critiqued what I, and plenty of others, see as flaws in the movement, and expressed that I will not be joining up, particularly since here in Hartford, the organizers have resisted any attempt to address these issues. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
As for “documentation”… that is a joke! Do you know how many cops have gotten away with racial profiling because there “were no witnesses” or “racial bias could not be documented”? How many racist teachers have been allowed to continue teaching children because there was no “documentation” other than the reports of their students that they have been engaging in racism? How do you “document” racism within the movement other than listening to the experiences of people who have come into contact with that movement?
How is it Ok for a “progressive” to walk around with signs comparing debt to slavery when you know damn well if people in the Tea Party were seen with the same sign they would be called out for racism, rightfully so? Please tell me how it is so easily overlooked when a progressive engages in racism as opposed to a conservative? How is it wrong for me to refer to racism within OWS but it is OK for the blog owner here to talk about Tea Party racism? The racism is there is both movements, the OWS racism is just more refined and more palatable, as evidences by RiPPas rabid defense of OWS and his assertion that critiquing the movement is “idiocy”
Err… that “documentation” thing? I think Eddie is referring to “documentation” of incidents of racism AT OWS. I could be wrong and be horrible in my comprehension. But That’s what I think he was referring to. But like I said earlier: there is enough “documentation” and evidence to support the claim that the Tea Party is racist. But maybe racism is subjective. I mean, you have expressed the opinion that ALL white people are racist, no? That being the case, I suppose I as a Black man, by not teaching this to MY kids, are setting them up for failure, right? I mean, debt is in fact slavery – or at least being a slave to the banks. But again, that could be wrong too. But then again, I know the difference between a “debt is slavery” sign and a “Obama will create White Slavery” sign. See where I’m going with this? Context can be a bitch. But then I suppose you’ve seen signs at OWS or OH with signs with pictures of people of color with nooses around their necks like they did at the Tea Party, right? Listen: you’re delusional, and once again your claim of racism at “occupy” is a pathetic reach.
If you’re too ignorant to understand the difference in protesting because a Black man is president and protesting a financial system centered at Wall Street that has destroyed the economy, and left folk struggling. Then, I feel sorry for you because you’re lost. But like I said: keep listening to all these Black Nationalists you hang out with and continue to be ignorant.
Now you’re getting ridiculous. For one thing, the analysis of debt, a major function of capitalism, and it’s relationship to slavery has been well documented by many scholars. Manning Marable, in his “How cpalitlaism Undermined Black America,” and Walter rodney’s “How Capitalism Undermined Africa,” booth trace capitlaism’s roots in slavery.
So, are you telling the rest of us here that Manning Marable, one of the most respected black intellectuals, and Walter Rodney, a revolutionary black intellectual who gave his LIFE fighting for the cause against anti-colonialism, are racist? Do you even understand that without slavery — the first “commodity sold on Wall Street — capitalism wouldn’t exist?
Pfffft!
and your critique is bullshit because you DON’T ACTUALLY DOCUMENT ANYTHING. All you stated is that you visited the OWS in Hartford and imediately demmed it racist, then added a link to one women’s experience here in NYC who visited the OWS here ONCE. InFACT, the bulk of your “argument” is based almost SOLELY on that link.
I have shown how your perception is biased and flawed and not much different from the attacks coming from the right wing: essentially you’re DISinforrming the public and I called you on that bullshit.
As for racial profiling? that’s a non sequitor. NO ONE has asked you for documentation on racial profling, not me. I have actually EXTENSIVELY documented racial profiling here and elsewhere and I am currently part of a campaign that will be working in collaboration with OWS attacking the systemic practices and policies of the NYPD:
http://www.policereformorganizingproject.org
I am also in the process of creating a multicultural OWS working group addressing the prison/ industrial complex and, guess what? MANY OF THE WHITE PEOPLE AT OWS ARE ANXIOUS TO BE A PART OF THAT.
When I asked for documentation, I was asking for actual documentation regarding your claims that “many” people of color are being discriminated against at OWS sites.
You obviously have none and I’m done with you until you actually are backing up your statements about racism at OWS sites across the country. Fuck that, PLEASE show us actual instances of racism at Hartford. You haven’t even done that.
Did you say something about a black female who likes to debate and twist up words to cause conflict?? Ooooh…I like girls like that…planned on coming to OWS last weekend before snow-a-palooza came through. I will see you soon, Eddie..just point out this People of Color group. Sounds interesting…maybe I’ll go and see about them..
Yeah. She’s from the “You’re not black enough” nazis. LOL! and the funny shit is that her name is Ashley and she’s from Northern California! Her accent is more “barbie-like” than the people she tells ain’t black enough.
She tried that shit with me and I told her to go fuck herself. She had a look of confusion on her face.
But this is her MO: She disrupts the general assembly, disobeys the process (anyone else — especially a white person — who does this is immediately reminded NOT to disrespect the process). she knows some whites, perhaps feeling guilty, or fearing that they will be branded as “racist,” will let her carry on. Then she becomes verbally abusive, totally disses everyone who doesn’t agree with her.
The next day, she then states that she was the VICTIM of verbal threats and disrespect, though I have NEVER seen ANYONE threaten or disrespect her. I called her on this and have been telling whites that co-signing her bullshit because she’s black is WRONG and condescending.
I ABHOR WHEN PEOPLE OF COLOR USE RACE OR OPPRESSION AS AN EXCUSE TO GAME THE SYSTEM.
A progessive stack policy…sheez you people are just totally insane. Are you deaf by any chance? If so I heard about you.
Was wonderin’ when you’d weigh in!
I’ve been busy doing some independent consulting (gotta pay the rent) and spending most of my free time at the OWS site.
In searching for a specific committee, I came across this. I mentioned in an earlier comment that combating racism is a topic discussed here at the Atl location – but I didn’t know that there is an actual committee dedicated to it. Just an FYI.
See my post on racism and OWS I wrote yesterday. OWS is the ONLY place actually owning up to and attempting to address the forms of oppression and how to unpack it.
*nod* I read it yesterday (and shared it in facebook, I think). I am glad for the different committees, and am doubly glad that there is one here that *specifically* addresses racism.
Blacks are only a finger on the hand of Humanity. It will take an entire fist this time to knock out the oligarchs of this age. OWS IS late to the struggles of POC however, better late than never. Only this time, we must continue our connection beyond this fight on Wall Street. Politics is where we must ENGAGE and be Full participants. If we cant get political representatives OF the 99% then all is LOST. Occupy all streets, City Halls, Schools that are failling, Privatized prisons etc. I was at Zuccotti Park yesterday and the question was how do we expand…OUR OWN MEDIA, Relentless Demonstrations, and people willing to run 4 office.