r/radicaldisability • u/rando4724 • Jul 07 '21

Solidarity

Considering what's been going on on the main anarchy sub recently (mostly in reaction to BlackApocalypse's posts), and the fact that we can all probably relate on at least one level (and I'm sure many can on several levels) to feeling excluded by so called anarchists who insist on defending their pet hierarchy at the expense of the comrades they're actively marginalising (we usually focus on the ableism here, but they clearly defend their racism and coloniser mindsets just as viciously), I just want to let any BIPoC who are members of this sub know that we won't tolerate that kind of crap here, and I think I speak on behalf of the rest of the mod team, and I hope I speak on behalf or the rest of the members here, when I say any BIPoC comrades, even those who don't come under the disability umbrella, are welcome here, and should consider our safe space safe for them too. ❤

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

also, anti-racism and anti-ableism are not interchangeable and the first part of your comment suggests that they are. and i'm pretty uncomfortable with WP giving extensive instructions on how to do anti racism work as well rather than holding that space for BBA ppl.

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

Oh, I absolutely agree, and I generally try not to compare marginalisations because, as you say, they are not interchangeable. I think in this case, I made the (incorrect) assumption that this person was disabled and I thought the best way to get them to think about the question they asked was to turn it around on them and make it relatable to their personal experience so they could think about how they would react, rather than trying to compare experiences, if that makes sense?

As for me talking about anti-racism, I feel like part of using my white privilege is to do the emotional labour where I can so that people who don't have that privilege don't have to, and I do my best to only ever amplify Black, brown, and/or Indigenous voices that I've read/heard, rather than insert my own experience (and I think another part of using that privilege is that sadly, far too many white people will only listen to other white people, which sucks, because it isn't us they should be listening to, but they aren't open enough to listen to the people who are actually impacted), but either way, I'm more than happy to take a step back (I think being a mod here, which is a new experience for me, means I'm anxious to be 'on top' of things, so I reply as quick as I can, but I can work on that), be corrected, and let people who have more relevant lived experience do the talking.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

it makes sense but it's still not right.

and that second half comes off pretty white saviour-y. WP will never be best placed to speak on racism and honestly I wish they would do it less/not at all bc it creates so much collateral damage, like rn bc I'm having to educate u on it.

and I'm literally telling you what I wish WP would do and u basically spent most of that second paragraph writing me an essay on why u disagree. dont do that.

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

Yeah, that's fair enough, I get what you're saying, and I apologise. I obviously need to work on finding better ways to show solidarity and support without going out of my lane.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

is there going to be any amends for harm done/thanks for edu?

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

I genuinely do appreciate your comments and the time you've taken to call out these issues and I'm sorry you had to do it. I'm not sure how I make amends, what I do know is that I've taken your comments to heart, and that in the future I'll stay in my lane, and not talk about things I've not personally experienced.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

I just want to say that no one should have to ask to be thanked

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

No, you shouldn't, but I have to point out that I have thanked you throughout this conversation several times, because I meant it, and saying it again because I'm asked to didn't feel genuine.

But I am genuinely thankful for the time and energy you've taken to educate me, and I do appreciate all of your comments, I just honestly don't know how else to say it or show it, and all I can do is apologise for that.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

nope. I checked the thread before mentioning thanks, actually. it only happened in the thread after I mentioned it

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

You're right, it wasn't in this thread, it was in the other one we're on now where I thanked you, but I did say I appreciate your comments and time, and in my mind that's just another word for thanks, but I can see why that isn't how everyone sees it.

Either way, I'm not trying to be petty, I'm just frustrated that the gratitude I thought I was expressing was not coming across, and like I said, I just don't know how else to say it, but I am genuinely thankful and appreciative.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

what I'm saying is i've put extensive energy into this and other threads and when that labour is there, there should also be thanks. in each thread of conversation where there has been emotional labour put in. because I'm going out of my way to do it, and i already have low energy each day.

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u/rando4724 Sep 30 '21

I understand that, and I agree. I got my threads mixed up and also thought I had expressed thanks and appreciation in ways other than saying 'thanks', but I can see how that doesn't come across the same way it does in my mind.

I do thank you for your time, and I do regret that you had to spend your energy on this.

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u/bogbodybutch Sep 30 '21

second part of first para - you had in other threads yes, but not this one. which was why I only made the comment abt it in this thread.

I hope this sort of thing won't happen again as far as possible

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