#everyone should take black history or african-american history if you can

[thebreakfastgenie]

Seeing James Baldwin as like "the guy from that gay web weave quote" on tumblr is so weird. I was assigned The Fire Next Time in my African-American history class in college. That's how I think of him.

[whereconfusionisarhyme]

okay the way the fandom draws hobie brown is such an interesting indication into the way subconscious racial stereotypes play into characterization and it's,,,it's just interesting.

now, i spend A Lot of time in this fandom. and something i've noticed a lot of is hobie brown being drawn HUGE. like, they're making mans into a TANK. and he's just,,,not that??

like yeah, he has broad shoulders, and he's tall, but that's literally just most any black teen boy let's be honest. if you look at his actual canonical character design, he is LANKY. and yet everyone is drawing him super buff. now at first i didn't think much of it--people like buff men, and fanartists are always gonna take some liberties (honestly, i love when they put their special little twists on the characters). but as i saw it more and more, it bothered me more and more and felt a lot more indicative of some underlying biases within the fandom.

hobie being mischaracterized and stereotyped isn't shocking or new, but that mischaracterization leaking into physical depictions of him is! not to get too deep into it, but throughout american history*, black men have not been able to protect their loved ones in any way other than physical thanks to slavery and horrid mistreatment within an inherently racist system. thus gave birth to the trope of the big, aggressive black man who solves his problems with his twists. and after that, the big aggressive black man who is actually a sweetheart on the inside, but just has raging anger issues (and probably an abusive father as well).

*im aware that movie!hobie is not american and that not the entire fandom is either, but seeing as a large chunk of it is, and are going to be viewing hobie through an american lense, i think this is an appropriate connection to make. also, african slavery was very much a thing outside of america as well. also ALSO, the rest of the worlds perception of black men is affected by american (and english) views just because of how huge the two countries are within the global landscape.

now, the reason this was even bothering me at all in the first place is because when i first watched the movie, the fact that hobie wasn't overly muscular was super novel to me. i was glad that we got to see a black male character who was strong without taking strength from others, loud without obnoxiously talking over others, violent without being aggressive, assertive without being framed as forgetting this place or naive about the world. in terms of personal experience, it pisses me just that bit more than the last time whenever i hear my father insist to my (very sensitive and emotional) brother that the proper way to deal with any and every problem was by fighting. i was glad my brother (severely lacking in good black male role models) got to see this cool guy, someone you're meant to look up to, who is strong without being ripped and punching all of his problems. that black masculinity is more than how well you can fight.

so, the way a lot of the fandom forces hobie into this box, this preconceived idea of what a black man (or boy, more like, but the erasure of childhood from black kids is a topic all its own) should be, just. sits wrong.

[awakefor48hours]

Answering questions I get asked as a black person for Black History Month

"Do you get tanned?" Yes, I do. It can take a while but when I get tanned I can get 2 to 3 shades darker. I will admit I don't always notice this until I see my tan lines but I do get tanned.

"Do you get sun burned?" Yes, I do. Even though it's much harder for me I'm not immune to getting a sun burn. I'm still a human with skin and the sun is still a giant cancer beam in the sky. I just don't need the same amount of protection that light skin people do. If it’s bright or hot enough, I will occasionally put on lotion that doubles as sun screen and that'll be all I need for the whole day (and sometimes for the next day). I don’t need to continuously lather myself.

"Are your feet also light?" Yes, they are. This is actually something that everyone has but it's more noticeable on darker skin people like myself but my hands and feet are lighter than the rest of my body.

"Do you blush?" This is actually an interesting question because it's not a universal answer. While I do experience the sensation of blushing (hot cheeks and ears), my face doesn't change shades because I'm too dark. But not everyone is like this. You can see someone with a lighter skin tone blush but it's not beet red but more of an earthly red color. For a visual reference, something like this (hex codes in alt)

"Why are you wearing that headscarf?" For context, before I go to sleep I wear a bonnet (photo for reference, ID in alt)

It’s made of silk and it’s to avoid my hair from falling apart when I sleep. Natural hair requires a lot more work to maintain and nothing will ruin it more than just laying on it for hours. This helps to keep natural hair in the same state and lock in moisture. I remember once when my hair was in an afro, I forgot to wear my bonnet for about a week and my hair was a nightmare. It was matted, tangled, and took forever to comb out.

“Do you prefer being called ‘Black’ or ‘African-American’?” This is also not a universal answer and I do not speak for the entire Black community but please call me Black. White people aren’t called “European-Americans” so why should we be calling Black people “African-Americans.” I’m from the United States, my parents are from the United States, my parents parents are from the United States, I don’t have a single drop of blood from Africa. I am Black, Elon Musk is African-American.

But once again, I do not speak for everyone in the Black community. Some people do like “African-American” more as it does make them feel more connected to their culture and history. Some people just don’t care. There’s no one answer to this but this is my answer.

"Can I touch your hair?" NO! Unless you're related to me, my hair stylist, or if it's a matter of life and death, do not touch my hair.

[realjaysumlin]

Black History Month: Inventions Made by Black Slaves Denied Patents

The stupid idea that humans are a separate species because of skin colors is associated with declaring one's citizenship even though race is a flawed system to create a disadvantaged society based on the self identity of race.

Today taking the identity of African Americans can be a self identity of being an immigrant rather than being seen and accepted as an American Citizen. This is the idea that goes back to slavery in two parts, one being considered as not being a full human being and the other is not being a full American Citizen.

Many Black Indigenous People living in America were denied patents because they identified themselves as slaves and this was the ground work to deny patents because they were never considered as being an American Citizen.

Sometimes people can be given a bad idea of false illusions of self identity could mean you have equal rights even though they have excluded themselves from the benefits that should be entitled to them.

Everyone born on American soil is a Native American but not to be included as being Indigenous, even though Black People globally can claim their Indigenous rights when we use the Out of Africa Migration due to the irrefutable truth that science supports this proof.

Our Beautiful Black African Ancestors populated earth wherever Indigenous remains of the past 60,000 to 50,000 are located. You can follow the shit people who call themselves white narratives about our Black Indigenous People history or you can embrace the irrefutable truth of the scientific evidence that supports our Black Indigenous History.

[crvvys]

I have maybe 4 books to read before giving an entire fully baked opinion on this but what some AfAm academics have contributed to social activism is tragic. at least in recent years. a lot of different academic conversations seeped online and made shit worse or annoying but this one keeps sticking out to me as of late.

the spreading of afro pessimism in certain circles which of course spreads to the internet and then the rest of the world. I won’t say afro pessimism is wholly responsible for ALL of the shenanigans bc that’s not true but the idea that a philosophy steeped in American exceptionalism and from what I’m coming to understand, misreadings of other black academics, gaining foot on a global scale to define blackness and the world’s relation to blackness…feels very wrong.

it also creates separation when there should be common ground among people with different backgrounds and experiences. and that isn’t always clear cut either bc some people do take and misinterpret and remove cultural context from words or situations which I also don’t like. but I still think there can be understanding and building between groups that suffer oppression. and afro pessimism severs this connection between oppressed people in the global north to help and stand with people in the global south.

I listened to an interview from one of the major proponents of afro pessimism, Frank B Wilderson III and I was so bothered by a lot of it. it felt very America knows best and better about everything including blackness. despite the fact that blackness in the US differs from other countries, African American history differs from other countries with African diasporas so the historical context can’t be applied the same way. and also AfAms tend to feel very insecure in our place in the world which at times has not led to…positive things. the whole fiasco with African Americans arguing with Egyptians about Egyptian history comes to mind. that is its own discussion but the gall you have to have to argue with people about history that’s not even your own? I understand the context of the argument and the African American perspective and I still think it was audacious.

the mindfuck that is being African American gives context to this stuff but it doesn’t excuse it. and I become more bothered by what we’ve put out into the world that ultimately may be black but is also still American and potentially harmful to others.

I just refuse to believe that anti blackness is this necessary social structure to all other societies. i feel like that’s a very narrow view of the world and ignores a lot of ethnic conflicts that are found everywhere and can often be much more intense than racial conflicts. racism against black people is found in many places obviously but I don’t think we are at the immediate lowest social rank in every society. I just don’t buy that.

i think every nation state has its own population of people whether for ethnic/religious reasons, whatever differs them from the accepted main society, that the state wishes to abuse or crush and those are the people worth listening to and seeking solidarity with.

not to mention afro pessimism seems to legitimise race as like biological almost? which I also don’t like? I just don’t believe that black American academics know enough about the world to make these claims that ultimately defines blackness for everyone else or if they do know enough, they’d admit that race is not static and that it has a historical context within the society that it develops. i have many undeveloped thoughts and criticisms on this though.

[weatherwhim]

One of the aspects I think everyone needs to recognize about bigotry is that public perception of "how bad" a particular flavor of discrimination is compared to all other kinds has very little to do with which groups are the most tangibly harmed or harassed, and a lot more to do with the oppressed group's ability to politically organize.

One of the reasons that specifically anti-black racism- in specifically the United States- is so recognized is because black people make up about 15% of the population of the US. In Europe, the issue is literally smaller- not because Europeans are any less racist, but because the portion of Europeans that are black is far lower (Wikipedia says ~1.2% in 2019, only counting Europeans of African descent). That's a much more convenient number of people for regional media to ignore. That's a much smaller number of bodies that can form a crowd to visibly protest in city plazas. It's fewer voices to shout out. And thus, it's a much harder task for protest organizers to win awareness for, even when anti-black racism absolutely exists all across Europe.

Without an education that is able to explain what discrimination is in general, how it systemically works, and how bigoted attitudes are able to take root in ordinary people (no, you are not exempt), any minority group that doesn't have the benefit of an active civil rights campaign with a footing in their home-region is going to continue to have their struggles swept under the rug, and their oppression outright denied by the same people who are oppressing them- even if those people think of themselves as good liberals who would never do that kind of thing to the specific groups whose fights against oppression they've been sold on.

We can make fun of Europeans for writing off their beyond-parody racist treatment of the Romani, but the reality is, without a general education about the inner workings of bigotry and systemic discrimination, we're just going to end up repeating it towards every minority group that hasn't specifically been singled out by an organized civil rights movement as "one of the oppressed people who we need to stand up for".

Think of how comparatively little anyone in America talks about the Americans Indians, who were subjected to such thorough genocide that they now make up a tiny fraction of the population of their native continent. Think of how much casual anti-asian sentiment gets thrown around in the United States. And if you want to turn back to Europe, think about how the recent immigrations of Middle Eastern refugees have almost single-handedly triggered a backslide into nationalist and isolationist policies. The United Kingdom choked so hard on its own Islamaphobia that it isn't even in the EU anymore.

Think about how oppression against groups with more ability to lobby is weaponized against groups with less. Consider Israel and Palestine. People forget to look at things as simple as where the bombs are falling, and on who. People talk about the horrors of the Holocaust as something that must be prevented from reoccurring as an argument for supporting a government that's literally filtering Palestinian civilians into concentration camps, and don't see the irony because it's different people from the ones in their history books. The horrifyingly disparate number of deaths among Jewish Israelis and Palestinians should be enough evidence by itself to demonstrate where the lion's share of the region's current systemic oppression is being directed, but people aren't looking at the deaths. Nobody can trace what "protecting ourselves from oppression" does or does not excuse, because it's become an abstract game of "avoid bigotry" that isn't based on bigotry's connection to tangible harm, only the public perception of it. That comes down entirely to which side has more ability to sway public perception.

When people in Europe look down on Americans for being racist against black people, then turn around and cheer for bulldozers to demolish Romani homes, and treat the possibility that some of them are just innocent people legally living in their country with contempt, that's because it's not the action of denying people human rights that they're paying attention to. That's not their conception of bigotry. Bigotry is only when it happens to the particular cultural or ethnic groups they've been told they have to defend. As long as this line of thinking stays in place, no minority group will ever have protections against bigotry any greater than their own individual ability to advocate for themselves. At that point, it's just a numbers game.

So pardon me if this is a silly idea, but maybe if we're trying to form a litmus test for what bigotry is that doesn't immediately crumble from the slightest lack of self-awareness, maybe a good starting point is the bombs and the bulldozers. If you want a specific type of person's home to be destroyed so that they have nowhere to exist anymore, that's definitely bigotry.

somebody will rightfully notice that europeans are really fucking weird about romani people and there will always be 1 person in the comments going "okay it's not racist, you just don't understand, bleeding heart americans, i promise my brother tony had an experience which proves they're all raping theives and hitler was right about them" and not seem to be aware of how much they sound like americans talking about black ppl

[bisluthq]

No offence but it’s not your right to say whether a country in the Middle East should be secular or not lmao. I too am not a fan of religious extremism but i at least recognise that my worldview is not an objective norm, and that it’s extremely paternalistic for westerners to decide what sort of governments they’d like to see in the Middle East. Or that they should be there at all. And it’s also not up to us to decide how much land Palestinians should have since all of it belongs to them. If you live in Israel you should be able to coexist with Palestinians, just like white South Africans were forced to have to interact with black South Africans after apartheid ended. You don’t get to call the fucking shots

idk I’m anti religious extremism - I gave a bunch of examples and specifically not only in the Middle East. I gave the example of certain American states following extremist Christian ideals, which I find morally repugnant and deeply problematic. Sure - everyone gets to decide what they want to do and who they want to elect and what represents them best but religious extremism harms people (often women and marginalized people in general). So yes I am anti religious extremism in any part of the world and of any kind 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t think it’s specific to one religion. Religious extremism generally leads, as I say, to measurable harm against women and queer people and often leads to genocides or violence against other religious groupings in that area. It’s not paternalistic to say that. It’s literally just a fact. Obviously though people get to make their own choices - if something works for them, okie dokes. Kinda sucks for the people it doesn’t work for but eh 🤷🏻‍♀️

regarding your point on land maaaan idk it’s really not as simple as you’re saying either. Firstly there is the issue of Palestinians versus Israelis in general. Israeli Arabs very much exist and occupy a number of senior positions in Israeli society. They are… Israelis… However, Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank (and here it gets even more complicated) are not Israelis. They are foreigners in Israel. So there’s yk that. Secondly, while it’s easy to call Israel a settler colony it’s not really that simple (West Bank is again a whole other issue and those are ILLEGAL settlements)? Israel is indeed a very racist place lol but it’s got a massive Mizrahi population (Jews who never left the Middle East) and who came to Israel as a result of forced expulsions from other Middle Eastern countries after the 1948 war. So like must a Jew of Iranian descent for instance “go back” to Iran? That’s not really gonna work lol I don’t think they’re gonna be very welcome there 😐 Like realistically it won’t work. So what exactly must happen?

I think it’s a VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE and no one is saying I - or anyone else for that matter - must “call the shots”. It’s also well and good to say everyone must coexist and sing kumbaya together but that takes us back to the religious extremism. If Islamic jihadists “win” they are, I can guarantee you, not going to want to sing kumbaya with the Jews there and where precisely do you want those people to go? Again, forget about like completely forget the Americans and let’s even forget the Holocaust survivors and the ex Soviet Jews who went there - where must the Mizrahi population go lol?

A two state solution would be ideal and fair or I suppose a one state secular nation where everyone coexists and sings kumbaya would be even better but while you have religious extremists ON BOTH SIDES - I’m not erasing the right wing Israeli parties - that doesn’t seem like it’d happen?

The comparison with South Africa is not the great one people think it is because those are 1) completely different histories 2) the ANC actually wanted to negotiate and when apartheid ended it was under a Government of National Unity and I’m not really seeing a situation where Bibi and Haniyeh and Abbas sit down and form something like that. Literally none of them are super reasonable people and none of them are especially interested in compromises 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ which is terrible because that just means civilians keep dying.

[bfxenon]

MozCon Field Guide: Exploring Summertime Seattle

MozCon 2023 is fast approaching (taking place August 7 & 8), and we here at Moz are so excited to see all the IRL and virtual attendees! As the event draws closer, we think it’s a great time to remind folks of everything you can do while visiting the Emerald City.

Nestled up in the corner of Washington state, surrounded by forests, mountains, and the Puget Sound, Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). It is home to industry giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Boeing and is the birthplace of Grunge music (think Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam — all from Seattle).

Whether you’re traveling from near or far, we’ve compiled a list of some of the amazingly fun, educational, and sometimes weird activities around the city. And if you haven’t bought your tickets yet, don’t worry! It’s not too late. Head on over to the MozCon hub to explore purchase options. Night Owl savings are available through June 30!

For the sightseers

If this is your first time visiting Seattle, or if you love more traditional “tourist” attractions, these stops should definitely be on your list.

The Space Needle

Often synonymous with Seattle, you can’t find a photo or piece of video footage of the Seattle skyline without this iconic landmark included. Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair (the inspiration for this year’s MozCon theme), the Space Needle now operates daily for visitors to take in a 360º view of the city. It is also home to the world’s first rotating glass floor.

Photo by Jared Lung

Columbia Center Tower

The Sky View Observatory of the Columbia Center is located on the 73rd floor of the “tallest public viewing area in the Pacific Northwest.” You can take in views of everything from Mt. Rainier to Bellevue from the viewing area and then grab a snack at the café.

Pike Place Market

This market is quintessential Seattle. Located near the downtown waterfront and founded in 1907, Pike Place is a must-see stop. It features local businesses of all kinds, including the infamous flying fish of the Pike Place Fish Market (featured in the opening credits of Real World: Seattle) and the first Starbucks. And for those with more time to explore, below the stalls of the street level is a maze of brick-and-mortar stores like Golden Age Collectibles (the world’s oldest comic book shop).

Photo by Farid Briones

Kerry Park

Located in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, Kerry Park is the go-to place for majestic views of the city and Mt. Rainier. Commonly used for shots in TV and film that establish Seattle as the location, it’s a great place to catch the sunrise or sunset.

The Seattle Great Wheel

At 60 meters tall, this ferris wheel is the largest of its kind on the west coast. And if you’re scared of heights (like me!), it’s still a great site to see. Especially Friday through Saturday night when they light it up with a fun light show!

For the lovers of learning

Seattle is home to a plethora of places to help expand your knowledge! Whether you’re into art, books, or history, there is something for everyone.

SAM

The Seattle Art Museum features art from around the world with both ongoing and featured exhibits. The featured exhibit for August will be Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks, which officially opens on July 13. If you’re planning a visit to SAM, be sure to keep in mind that they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Seattle Asian Art Museum

Located at Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is another location of SAM. The upcoming Renegade Edo and Paris: Japanese Prints and Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit officially opens on July 21. This museum is open Friday through Sunday.

Northwest African American Museum

Self-described as “... an anti-racist, pro-equity, affirming gathering place of hope, help, and healing for the entire Northwest region that is building intergenerational cultural wealth,” the Northwest African American Museum is open Thursday through Sunday. Be sure to check out the Freedom of Expression exhibit on display until September 3.

Museum of Flight

Seattle has a rich aerospace history, and you can learn all about it at the Museum of Flight. This museum is larger than life, featuring exhibits about space and air travel which include real planes (and a space shuttle full fuselage trainer!).

Photo by DreamArtist

MoPop

Located below the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, aka MoPop, will be the location of this year’s MozCon Closing Party. This museum is such a fun experience! It features exhibits about music, science fiction, indie games, and the world of fantasy. These exhibits are filled with relics, props, costumes, and more from your favorite films and TV shows. It is a must-see for any pop culture fan! You can even make your own music in the Sound Lab. And guess what? You’ll get to explore some of these exhibits at the after-party!

MOHAI

The Museum of History and Industry is located on the edge of Lake Union, and features exhibits all about Seattle’s history.

University of Washington

Seattle is home to the University of Washington, which has a beautiful campus ready to explore. Check out Drumheller Fountain, the quad, and Suzzallo Library before heading over to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture or Frye Art Museum.

Seattle Central Library

The stunning Seattle Central Library is located in the middle of downtown Seattle. The glass building was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and features art throughout – a must-see for any book lover!

Photo by Edward Palm

For the foodies

Seattle and its surrounding areas are chock full of amazing restaurants, cafés, breweries, wineries, and more.

Food

No matter what you’re craving, there’s a restaurant for you somewhere in Seattle. If you’re looking for a place to start, check out Seattle Met’s 100 Best Restaurants list. Some personal recommendations:Rocco’s Pizza, Cactus (Southwest), and Barrio (Mexican), Mighty O Donuts (Vegan & delicious!), and Dick’s Drive-In (a Seattle staple). If you’re looking for ideas of where to eat while at the conference, be sure to ask a Mozzer!

Coffee

Although Seattle is home to Starbucks headquarters, there are tons of independent and locally owned coffee spots to check out. Some include Fuel Coffee, Caffe Ladro, Cherry Street Coffee House, and Herkimer Coffee. Looking for more suggestions? Check out Eater’s list of Essential Coffee Shops.

If you’re interested in learning about the science and history of coffee and brewing, Seattle has you covered! Check out the Coffee Chemistry event at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill. They also offer various tasting events if you’re looking to try something new.

Breweries

Breweries are abundant in this area. And whether you’re looking to do a tasting flight or just grab a pint, the possibilities are endless. Right downtown, you have the Pike Brewing Company, and just up on Capitol Hill you have Optimism Brewing Company. If you’re able to venture beyond downtown, you have options like Reuben’s Brews and Fremont Brewing. More into cider? Seattle Cider Company and The Woods Tasting Room has you covered.

For the outdoor adventurers

When people think of the PNW, they often think of the great outdoors. And for those who enjoy spending time outside, we sure do have a lot of opportunities to soak up the sun! There are lots of hiking and walking trails around Seattle, including the Washington Park Arboretum (which also features a Japanese garden!).

If you prefer the water, you can rent paddle boards and kayaks to explore Lake Union and Lake Washington. Or, if you’re planning on attending MozCon in a larger group, you may want to think about renting a small electric boat to tool around in.

Have a picnic overlooking the water at Gas Works Park – featured in the iconic paintball scene from the film 10 Things I Hate About You.

Photo by Fernando Reyes

If you’re looking for places to explore that offer an outdoor experience, be sure to check out the Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center or the Olympic Sculpture Park. Or take a stroll near the Ballard Locks to see one of the busiest lock systems in the country. You can also spend some time at their botanical garden and see the fish ladder. Pro tip! Wondering how the locks work? You can learn all about it at MOHAI!

Photo by Chris F

For the sports fans

Want to catch a game in a different city? Seattle is home to plenty of professional sports teams!

Baseball

T-Mobile Park is home to the Seattle Mariners. They’ll be in town playing the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles.

Soccer

OL Reign (Seattle’s Women’s Soccer team) will be playing Portland Thorns FC the Sunday before MozCon if you’d like to catch a match. They will be playing at Lumen Field, which is where Seattle Sounders FC (men’s soccer) and the Seattle Seahawks (football) also play.

Basketball

The Seattle Storm will be home at Climate Pledge Arena to play the Atlanta Dream on August 10 in case you want to check out the four-time WNBA Champions.

Football

Preseason will have started just in time for MozCon! The Seattle Seahawks will be playing the Minnesota Vikings on August 10 if you’re looking to root your heart out.

For the pop culture aficionados

If you’re into pop culture and are looking for some interesting stops to add to your Seattle tour list, we’ve got a few ideas for you.

Jimi Hendrix Statue

Although its real name is The Electric Lady Studio Guitar, it’s fondly referred to as the Jimi Hendrix Statue, and you can check it out in the Capitol Hill neighborhood on the corner of Pine and Broadway.

Fremont Troll

This infamous statue is located under the George Washington Memorial Bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. It’s been featured in films like 10 Things I Hate About You and the TV show Once Upon a Time.

Fremont Troll. (2023, May 30). In Wikipedia.

Bruce Lee’s resting place

If you’re a martial arts fan (or a fan of The Crow), you can pay tribute to Bruce Lee and his son Brandon in Volunteer Park.

Kurt Cobain’s bench

Are you a Nirvana fan? Then be sure to add Viretta Park to your list of places to visit. This park is near the home of Kurt Cobain, and although you can’t see his house, there is a bench there that has become a memorial to the musician and is covered in fan messages.

KEXP Gathering Space

KEXP is a beloved non-profit radio station here in Seattle. You can stream them anywhere in the world through their app (and I highly recommend you check them out – they have amazing themed shows each night of the week). They have a public gathering space in Seattle Center which features a café, record shop, and a window into their studio. It’s a great place to relax and have a cup of coffee.

SIFF Cinema

Movie buff? Seattle is home to one of the largest film festivals in the world – Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). Although the festival won’t be at the same time as MozCon, they offer year-round showings of movies from around the world. If you’re looking to check out a unique film that you may not get to see on the big screen elsewhere, check out the showtimes of the SIFF Cinema Uptown Theater or SIFF Cinema Egyptian Theater.

For the eccentric explorers

We can’t wrap up this list without including some of the outside-the-box activities and locales. So here are a few things to check out if you’re looking for something outside the standard fare.

Gum Wall

Although technically part of Pike Place Market, this attraction deserves its own entry on our list. The Seattle Gum Wall is exactly what it sounds like - a wall of gum. People come from all over to stick their gum to this brick wall hidden down an alley of the market. Fun (or maybe gross?) fact: the wall has only been cleaned off twice in its history – in 2015 and 2018. The cleaning occurred to help preserve the wall itself.

Fremont neighborhood

We’ve mentioned a few places in Fremont already (the Fremont Troll and Fremont Brewing Company) but if you have time to explore this neighborhood more fully, it is a fun and quirky area that doesn’t disappoint. Not only is it home to lots of fun shops and restaurants, but also a statue of Lenin, the Center of the Universe sign, a rocket, and dinosaur topiaries. Be sure to take a walk by the Waiting for the Interurban statue, too. It’s tradition to dress up the figures for different occasions and holidays.

Photo by Meghan Pahinui

Underground Seattle Tour

Back in 1889, a fire destroyed a large section of Seattle’s downtown. The citizens of the city opted to rebuild – on top of the existing city! Now there is a network of buildings and tunnels below present-day Seattle from the original city. You can take tours of Underground Seattle in Pioneer Square.

Seattle Pinball Museum

Like pinball? Feeling nostalgic? Check out the Seattle Pinball Museum — and bring some quarters!

Hat n’ Boots

Hat n’ Boots is a set of statues in Oxbow Park that include a 44-foot wide cowboy hat and a pair of 22-foot tall cowboy boots.

Photo by Meghan Pahinui

Photo by Meghan Pahinui

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re from the Seattle area or you’re coming in from out of town (or country!) we hope you discovered some fun ideas to bookend your MozCon adventure. If you haven’t purchased your tickets just yet, be sure to check out soon so you don’t miss out. And if you’re having trouble convincing your boss (or yourself) to send you to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, check out our Convince Your Boss blog post and initial agenda to learn even more about the event. Hope to see you in August!

We hope you’re as excited as we are for August 7th and 8th to hurry up and get here. And again, if you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet and need help making a case we have a handy template to convince your boss!

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[ai-satires]

Reparations NOT for everyone. Only if you deserve it Cant have  the money if not affected by it. Yes slavery was VERY VERY VERY HORRIBLE! But reasonable people MUST admit there was some good that came from it. I feel that they should ask themselves if they would have been better off never being forcibly brought to the USA? Some may have and I have to assume many wouldn't. I don't think someone like the greatest basketball player ever, Michal Jordan, would have hundreds of millions of dollars and fame had his ancestors never come over. And let's not forget the fact of how much enjoyment he has brought the world. How about Oprah, imagine a world without the good that she brought to the USA! How about Beyoncé, President Obama,  etc...so MANY American Africans have been Blessed here, from entertainment, sports to corporate America and in between.

*** I just don't think reparations should be for EVERYONE ***

Here is what I was thinking and I am far from a racist, just a thought based on fairness & facts. Who should get reparations :

*** YES, Reparations for anyone bought here against their own free will, and that has NOT succeed in the USA with NO fault to them and have REALLY tried to take advantage of being in the USA., so YES they get reparations***

- NO Reparations for anyone that has not succeeded by NOT taking advantage of being in the USA and not REALLY trying. - NO Reparations for anyone that has succeeded in the USA. Why, if you are doing good be grateful for being here and the past that you hate, well that brought you success! - NO Reparations for anyone that has broken the law on any level, from petty theft to murder.

Reparations can also apply to: -Mexicans for taking their land? -Arab/Middle east (Christian & Muslim and everyone that even looked Arab, including --Jewish, Mexican, Indian, etc) for the bad treatment since 9-11? -Asians for the bad treatment based on corona? -Jewish people for the Holocaust (Europe & the USA should pay?) AND I do NOT  think anything can compare to the HORRORS of the Holocausts. Yes slavery was shitty, but the holocaust,  was on another level of shitty! -Native Americans, other than the land we gave them, do we still owe them? *** My point is where does it end and WHO REALLY deserves it. ****

Also let's be fair here, if you want something, how about it being BOTH ways: Like reparations being paid back to taxpayers from the crimes, burdens and havoc that was caused by ANYONE in our Country. I guess this is another topic. GOD BLESS.

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[penguinlover27]

While I am loath to share an article from a right wing propaganda site, I think that it is important for anyone who stands to the left of Attila the Hun to read this.

We often talk about the persecution complex that seems to be part and parcel of the conservative movement. The author of this article outright tells the sheep who read the “news” on this site, that all of the products that they buy are manufactured or produced by people who hate them.

It is a very unusual position to take, especially for a Republican. Does a private enterprise not have the right to market its products as they see fit? If they did not think that sponsoring a trans woman and using her to help promote their beer would yield results and increase revenue, they would never have done it in the first place.

All of this over beer. I wonder if they feel the same level of outrage when the manufacturers of Kool cigarettes use African-Americans frequently in their print ads. Does that mean that only Black people can smoke them? No! It is just that they chose to market to that specific demographic. It does not mean that white people can’t smoke them too if they want to.

Ditto for this crappy beer. If you like the beer, then continue to buy it and consume it. If you don’t, then don’t buy it. It really is that simple.

When I see an ad from a car company marketing a truck, using a voiceover with a man’s voice with the personality of an “rugged” man, it does not make me think that unless I am just like that that I could not buy or drive such a vehicle. The car company is hitting it’s target demographic, nothing else.

Conservatives make it clear every single day that they are simply not capable of living in a diverse society, alongside people who live and think and believe differently than they do. They are overly paranoid culturally. Everything is a conspiracy. The whole world is out to get them.

These little tantrums that they throw occasionally never really yield a whole lot of actual results. I will say, that they have had some success with this latest one, but I don’t expect it to last. People who were fans of Bud Light before will more than likely after the noise is over come back and purchase and consume it again, as if nothing happened.

Do I think that everyone has a right to boycott something that they do not like? Absolutely! However, the reasons they state for doing so are frankly absurd.

I would cite this is yet another example of the death rattle of white supremacy and conservatism, as we have known it for most of American history. This is the backlash to all of the progress that minorities have made over the past century. The good thing is that there are fewer and fewer people who buy into their nonsense.

I have thought a lot about what conservatives could do to make themselves happy. I have a solution: look at what the Amish did.

The Amish decided that they did not want to participate in modern society. They have chosen to segregate themselves into their own communities and live the way that they want to live without imposing those choices and beliefs on everyone else. They even have special carveouts that allow them to deny their children an education past the eighth grade, as well as to drive their horse-drawn carriages and carts on public highways. Generally, they are kind, polite and well behaved people when interacting with others. But they live their own values and express their own culture within their segregated community. This is an example that radical conservatives should consider following.

We hear repeatedly that the white supremacists want a “homeland” of their own. Sure. Why not?

What about this scenario?

Let’s take the least populated states, merge them into one large territory, allow them to move there and take control, and then build a wall around it. They don’t want to live among the rest of us. They feel as if we are imposing values on them, that they simply cannot except. So, rather than tear this country apart and launch a new Civil War, let’s just give them what they are asking for.

Let them have Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, etc. Take all of those states merge them into one large territory and let them have it. If you can’t hack living alongside blue America, then go to your new state and leave the rest of us alone. Pass as many backwards, retrograde laws as you want. Ban abortion. Ban gay marriage. Ban non-Christian religions. Do it in your own territory and leave the rest of us the fuck alone.

And then, when, inevitably your society collapses, don’t come back to the United States! You made your bed, now lay in it.

Conservatives are going to have to learn that they are simply one group among many in this country. They are not the majority. They do not have as much control as they used to, and that is why they are so angry, paranoid, and have such a persecution complex today.

They have equated the loss of privilege with persecution. They don’t really seem to have the mental capacity to look beyond their own hurt feelings and see our society as it is today. They want to turn the clock back, because if they did, and were successful in doing so, they would undo every bit of progress that has been made for non-white, non-Christian, non-cisgender, non-heteronormative people.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of this shit. If they don’t like it here in the United States, as it is today, then they are more than welcome to leave.

Most of them are really in favor of the type of government that they have in Russia with an autocrat in power. Fine, let them go there! Take your orange moron with you! Get the fuck out of the land of the free, and the home of the brave! This is not “your” country anymore.

[r-ehomesolutions]

Must-See Attractions Around Charleston, SC

Charleston, South Carolina is steeped in rich history, stunning architecture, and breathtaking views. A must-see for any visitor to the area is Charleston’s historic district. In this part of the city, you can explore cobblestoned streets lined with stately buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The district also features a number of grand antebellum homes that were built before the Civil War.

Another notable attraction in Charleston is Rainbow Row. This iconic cluster of 13 houses was built back in the 1700s and are now brightly painted in pastel colors. During a visit to Rainbow Row, you can take a stroll along the waterfront and admire these delightful buildings.

If you’re looking for shopping and entertainment options during your stay in Charleston, look no further than Market Street. Here, you’ll find a lively street filled with boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and more. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth taking a walk here just to take in all of the energy and activity happening around you.

The Battery is another must-see attraction located near downtown Charleston. This area boasts dramatic views of Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney located out in the harbor as well as incredible examples of 19th century architecture situated along tree-lined streets – including some grand mansions that were once homes to wealthy families.

For even more beauty and history within Charleston’s boundaries, visitors should consider exploring one or more of its many plantations such as Boone Hall Plantation or Magnolia Plantation & Gardens which both boast stunning landscapes and centuries-old structures set against lush gardens filled with blooming camellias and azaleas throughout the year. From historical landmarks to architectural marvels there are plenty of attractions for anyone visiting Charleston – making it one of America's most beloved cities!

You might want to visit an amazing neighborhoods!

Little Rock Baptist Church

Exploring Little Rock Baptist Church means learning about its history and traditions. It is a church with a long past that is full of interesting stories and special customs. The church has been a place of worship for African Americans since the Civil War. Its history includes the first Black Sunday School, community programs such as the Little Rock Scholarship Fund, and even serving as a refuge during the civil rights movement.

The church is also known for its spirituals and gospel music. From traditional hymns to soulful songs, this church offers something special every Sunday morning. Whether you are looking to experience a traditional service or sing along to new favorites, Little Rock Baptist Church has something for everyone’s tastes in music.

Little Rock Baptist Church also provides many opportunities for helping those in need. From feeding those who are hungry to providing clothing and toys to families in need at Christmas time, this church is a place of giving and sharing.

The church also has many recreational activities for members, such as youth sports teams, educational classes, and health programs. There are even special events for adults to get involved in such as movie nights, retreats, and seminars. Little Rock Baptist Church truly offers something for everyone!

Ultimately, Little Rock Baptist Church is a place of community and hope. This church’s mission is to provide spiritual guidance, encourage growth amongst its members, and most importantly offer a safe space for worshiping the Lord. It provides an opportunity to share faith with others who have similar beliefs while learning about new customs and traditions that are special to this great church.

If you are looking for a place to belong and find joy in your faith, Little Rock Baptist Church is the perfect choice. Come join us and experience all that this church has to offer!

Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery

Visiting the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery is a truly unique experience. Located in the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina, this hatchery is dedicated to preserving and protecting threatened and endangered fish species. It is open to the public year-round, and visitors can learn about the variety of fish species found there and the efforts underway to protect them.

At Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery you will find displays of some of the species that inhabit the area, including redbreast sunfish, shiners, suckers and other native fish. You will also have an opportunity to view how hatchery staff raise endangered species of fish from eggs or larvae to adult fish for release into the wild. Visitors are encouraged to observe how these endangered fish are cared for in their natural habitats.

Another highlight of visiting Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery is its educational programs. The hatchery offers interactive presentations on aquatic ecology, fish identification, conservation status of different species, water quality testing and more. In addition, there are guided tours which help visitors learn more about the activities that take place at the hatchery as well as gain a better understanding of how it works.

The hatchery also provides visitors with opportunities for recreational fishing as well as picnic areas where they can relax and enjoy their time outdoors. Amenities at Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery include equipment rental such as rods and reels, bait buckets and tackle boxes so visitors can enjoy their own fishing experience while onsite. There is also a gift shop with souvenirs that make great mementos from your visit!

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[ausetkmt]

NORFOLK, Va. – Maury High School junior Kaiden London believes an entire course on the contributions and culture of Black people would be beneficial for everyone.

“I think it’s important to know,” London said. “It’s also part of my background.”

An elective course in the works for high school students on African American Studies, however, is now under scrutiny by the state of Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) has called on state education leaders to review the AP course after concerns over the curriculum.

“Calling a review on it is just nonsense because to me, it just feels like he’s trying to erase our history,” said Norfolk City Public Schools parent Ashley Harris.

Youngkin’s office said his administration wants to make sure the curriculum falls in line with his state policy dealing with race.

In a statement, Youngkin’s spokeswoman, Macaulay Porter said, "After numerous reports about draft course content, the governor asked the Education Secretariat to review the College Board’s proposed AP African American Studies course as it pertains to Executive Order 1."

That order bans “inherently divisive concepts” including critical race theory (CRT) in all schools.

The Virginia NAACP education chair and others in the civil rights group are angered by the move.

“We see the erasure of Black history in any school – public or private but especially public schools – as an affront,” said Virginia NAACP Education Chair Dr. Amy Tillerson-Brown.

The Virginia NAACP said the governor’s call to review the AP course is an attempt to erase certain parts of history and Democracy, adding doing that can be dangerous.

“We see it as anti-Democratic,” Tillerson-Brown said. “When you only give one point of view, then you don’t allow people to choose and to think critically about the history that is our American history.”

Ashley Harris,whose daughter is a junior at Maury High School believes the AP African American Studies course should include all aspects of history even the painful parts.

“It’s still part of our history in this country so trying to take that away from the knowledge of the children is not a good thing because it’s almost like it’s one sided,” Harris said.

The state review comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned the course’s curriculum.

Last month, the College Board, which drafted the curriculum, said it was accused of “downgrading” some historical topics, including the Black Lives Matter movement.

Gov. Youngkin does not have the authority to ban the AP course. The governor’s office said it’s the local school districts not the Department of Education that decides what AP courses they want to teach.

[kob131]

Okay first off-

-Jewish people are not white. That's factually just not true. They do not originate from Europe, which is the region where the group of 'white people' come from. They literally come from Israel. So if people native to Israel are not white then the Jewish people as an ethnicity as not white. And in fact, have been discriminated against in 'white' circles for decades if not centuries. I mean, remember all those jokes about rich white clubs that had the rule of 'No Blacks or Jews'? Yeah, that actually rings true.

-The argument for the Jewish people being native to Israel not 'helping' '''indigenous struggles''' should not affect you. You are arguing a moral standard, you must apply said moral standard in all applicable situations regardless of if it benefits you. The entire point of arguing a moral standard is that it helps makes things better for everyone- basically going 'this doesn't apply here because it fucks me over' is surrendering the moral argument. You just want an uneven playing field, not to be moral and principled.

All of this ignoring that if you can just strip the Jewish People of their 'native' card- Well...what's stopping other countries of stripping their natives of their own status? What's stopping the USA from looking at the Natives and saying 'Since no one alive in your communities actually lived during the time that they owned the land, it's ours now' and then just killing them? The whole argument for natives is that other cultures got the chance to build up their own histories so they should too. If said histories no long matter because *insert bullshit here* then anyone can make anything up to justify it.

-I think that if you were to apply that standard to everyone- You would quickly find the world screeching to a halt. Native tribes murdered and conquered each other too. Same with African tribes, who then sold their prisoners in the slave trade. We can't focus on every single atrocities committed because the number of atrocities exceed human comprehension.

-What's even the point here? That you would get sunburned from living in Israel thus it means you have changed so much that you no longer count? You do know that if I dropped you in the middle of Africa, you'd likely die of exposure right? Does that mean all African Americans have no rights to live in Africa?

This is such a dumb argument. Especially if we take the simplified version of 'This happened so long ago that it no longer counts' because to a human, 2000 years and 158 years aren't that different. You basically made the argument 'The US and Europe are off the hook for slavery'.

-And that's the problem isn't it? This isn't about 'what is indigenous?' It's 'what is beneficial for me?' You side only with the people who are a part of your argument. You care only for advancing your own privilege and ensuring everyone else is below you. The same mindset that caused the evils of imperialism.

The African Jews, ironically, have even less of a right to Israel than the 'White' Jews. Because the 'White' Jews have an actual ethnic history there, the African Jews don't. If you actually believed in the standard of 'Ethnic people deserve to have their ancestral home' then you would care more for the Jewish people you disregard than the religious Jews you support. Again, you only care about them because you see it as increasing your own privilege.

-It's literally more of a claim that the sub groups you support by your own logic but okay.

-Gonna be honest here-

You are native to America.

The only reason I accept this conflict in the slightest is because both groups have lived and grown up in that area. They accept that area and it's ideals, culture and beliefs. They are actually native to that area. Your hypothetical does not apply because you did not grow up in England. You did not accept that culture as your own. You do not have a right to it because you never earned it.

The Arabs and the Jewish People in Israel did.

-'still black ppl enslaved in the US-'

Literally been illegal for 158 years, dumbass. To such a point it's not even a part of fringe political discourse. And no, the prison system doesn't count- that isn't slavery.

-'And the discourse around Jewish Indigineity to Isareal won't change anything for other indigenous groups nomatter which way the wind blows.'

Well if the argument that 'being separated from country of origin for X years means you no longer count' is accepted- You're gonna quickly find yourself up shit creek without a paddle.

Gentile leftists, this is a PSA, and I am begging you to listen. Sharing claims that Jews aren’t indigenous to the land of Israel, that Jews don’t come from the Middle East, and/or that the Zionist movement wasn’t created in response to centuries of antisemitism & genocide is fringe revisionist history with a long antisemitic history. These aren’t anti-imperialist or anti-colonial stances. They are just antisemitic conspiracy theories.

And on the flip side, acknowledging the simple fact that Jews are indigenous to the region currently occupied by Israel & Palestine does not imply any opinion about the modern states of Israel & Palestine, their governments, or the conflict in the region. This post is not voicing support for Zionism or the state of Israel. This is literally just historical fact: both Jews and Palestinians are indigenous to the region where modern day Israel & Palestine are.

If you make this about the politics or conflicts of the modern states of Israel or Palestine—if you comment or send me asks to that effect—you will be blocked.

[theycallmebriiii]

Chapter 10 Fieldwork: Social Class Theories

Marx’s theory of social class:

Article: https://wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/north-carolina/durham-food-history/sharecropping-black-land-acquisition-and-white-supremacy-1868-1900/

My intake…..

The article above primarily discusses the Reconstruction period (1865-1877). This was a point in time when there were a lot of political, social, and economic demands; this was also during the time when nearly four million were formally enslaved people were freed with no land, jobs, money, or right of citizenship. In Savannah, Georgia 1865, the government had asked freed slaves what they wanted for themselves and the spokesperson Garrison Frazier told them that they wanted to be granted land so they can work on it and make enough money to be able to buy it and own it for themselves. After a few days later the government ordered the redistribution of 400,000 acres of land however, the demand was overturned. During this time period Black or white, there were very few people who owned farm land. In order to bypass this they came up with something called sharecropping. Sharecropping was when there was a tenant who owned the property and whatever crops the person living on that land grew they had to give the tenant the money brought in from the harvest as rent. During the late 1800’s Black people started to own land for themselves. This alone was a big step for African Americans because now they were able to have a stable income for themselves without being under someone else. This article relates back to Marx’s Theory of social class because Marx believed that those who owned property were of higher class due to the fact they had people working for them and or had there own source of income coming from the harvest, he called these people the bourgeoisie. In the very beginning only white people were bourgeoisie’s until the late 1800’s when black people started to acquire land as well. Those who performed labor to make money to pay another were known as the proletariat’s. A prime example of being a proletariat are those who were sharecroppers. 

Weber’s theory of social class:

Article: https://www.ml.com/articles/investing-in-one-of-our-most-valuable-assets.html

My intake…..

Max Weber theory of social class was centered around how prestige, similar to wealth and income, can have a huge affect on accesibilities. Weber also mentions that he believes big life opportunities are determined by your access to social and financial resources. In other words, the more assets you acquire the more wealthier you are. In this article the talk about how everyone should invest in valuable assets to add to your portfolio (increase in net worth), one of the most valuable ones being farms and timberland. They also mention how owning things such as land and timberland generates multiple sources of  income you can use today as well as build on to over generations. This article was a great example of Weber’s theory on social class because they talk about how you can recive multiple sources of income increasing your net worth. Once your net worth has increased it grants you the ability to have a lot more accesses to social and financial resources. 

Bourdieu’s theory of social class:

Article: https://www.mosaiec.org/how-college-choice-and-major-affects-pay/

My intake…..

In this article they indicate that sometimes the best route to take is with a major that has the least debt coming out of college, however they only make around $42,000 per year. They also mention how there are several other college majors, such as those in STEM, that pay the most money right out of school, but they come with more risks. Overall, the article discusses how important it is to choose the right major and school for you because it has a significant impact on your future employment salary. This article is related to Bourdies theory because he discusses how getting the highest education possible offers you the highest status in social class. This hypothesis was perfectly achieved in the article because they inform you about what degrees produce the most money right out of college and in the long run.

[samwisethewitch]

Cultural Appropriation in Modern Witchcraft

Cultural appropriation occurs when cultural practices are taken out of their original context and misused by outsiders. Cultural appropriation is different from cultural sharing, which occurs naturally in any multicultural society. Eating at an Indian restaurant is not cultural appropriation. Wearing a bindi when you don’t understand its significance in Indian culture is.

Cultural appropriation is a huge issue in modern witchcraft. When you have witches using white sage to “smudge” their altars, doing meditations to balance their chakras, and calling on Santa Muerte in spells, all without making any effort to understand the cultural roots of those practices, you have a serious problem.

When trying to understand cultural appropriation in witchcraft, it’s important to understand the difference between open and closed magic systems. An open system is one that is open to exchange with outsiders — both sharing ideas/practices and taking in new ones. In terms of religion, spirituality, and witchcraft, a completely open system has no restrictions on who can practice its teachings. A closed system is one that is isolated from outside influences — usually, there is some kind of restriction on who can practice within these systems.

There are different reasons a system might be closed. Some systems require a formal training and/or initiation, but there is no restriction on who can be initiated. Reiki and some forms of Wicca operate this way. (All other forms of Wicca are completely open.) Some systems are closely tied to a complex set of cultural beliefs that may not be fully understood by outsiders, so they are closed to people outside of that culture. Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) is an example of this. Some systems require a family lineage, so you must have been born into the system to practice within it. Zoroastrianism and some forms of traditional witchcraft fall into this category. And finally, some systems are closed as a kind of self defense, usually because they have been the target of persecution from outsiders — keeping the system closed is a way to preserve beliefs and practices that might otherwise be lost. African Diaspora Religions fall into this last category.

If a belief or practice is part of a closed system, outsiders should not take part in it. It really is that simple. If you aren’t Native American, you should not be performing smudging ceremonies. If you aren’t Jewish, you should not be practicing Kabbalah or working with Lilith as your “goddess.” If you aren’t Black, you should not be practicing Hoodoo. You get the idea.

On a similar note, just because a system is open does not mean you can do whatever you want with its teachings. You should still make a point of educating yourself on the system you are practicing and take care not to take things out of their original context. Some forms of Shinto are open, but you wouldn’t involve the kami in a Wiccan- or pagan-style ritual — Shinto has its own rules for ritual, which are very different from Western paganism. If you feel called to work with a cultural system you are not already part of, you need to be willing to put in the work of respectfully learning about and preserving that system.

It is impossible to appropriate a dominant culture. For example, in the United States, white American culture is treated as the default. There is tremendous pressure on all other cultural groups to speak English, dress like white Americans, and act like white Americans. White American culture has deep roots in Protestant Christianity, and these religious influences are enforced through social norms and sometimes through laws. Many businesses are closed on Christmas and Easter, and I live in an area where it is illegal to sell alcohol on Sunday mornings. White (Christian) American culture is literally being shoved down everyone’s throats all the time. A non-Christian immigrant wearing a cable-knit sweater, taking Sundays off work, or celebrating Christmas isn’t cultural appropriation, because they are expected to adopt these elements of the dominant culture.

It is also impossible to appropriate your own culture, even if you weren’t raised in it. For example, a Latinx person who decides to learn brujeria does not need anyone’s permission to do so. That practice is a part of their cultural heritage.

Dead cultures are a gray area, but the general consensus is that you cannot appropriate a system that isn’t connected to a living culture. For example, Hellenic polytheism is very different from modern Greek culture. A non-Greek person practicing Hellenic polytheism isn’t appropriating Greek culture, because that religion hasn’t been openly practiced in Greece for thousands of years. The same goes for many other types of reconstructionist paganism (paganism based on recreating ancient beliefs and practices) such as Kemetic (Egyptian) polytheism, Celtic paganism, Norse paganism, etc.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t still make an effort to be respectful of the cultural origins of these religions. If you worship the Kemetic gods, you should probably educate yourself on at least the basic history and philosophy of Ancient Egypt. You should probably try to be faithful to the ancient beliefs in your practice. But you don’t need any sort of initiation, because there is no direct connection between the ancient religion and modern reconstruction.

So How Do We Avoid Appropriation?

Know the difference between open and closed systems, and respect if a system is closed.

If a system is open or only partially closed, try to find a teacher or mentor who is already a part of that system. If an in-person mentor isn’t possible, try to find books and other resources created by people who are actually part of that culture.

Only use items or practices in your witchcraft if you have a good understanding of their cultural, religious, and/or spiritual significance.

If a member of a culture or magic system tells you their system is closed and asks you to stop using it, listen to them.

Educate yourself on how cultural appropriation contributes to systemic racism and other social issues.

Don’t try to sneak around culture appropriation. If you burn white sage to cleanse your space, you are still appropriating Native American spiritual practices (and contributing to the overharvesting of an endangered plant), even if you don’t use the term “smudging” or appropriate the entire smudge ceremony. If something is not yours to practice, leave it alone.

Learning about other cultures is not the same as cultural appropriation. Here’s a personal example: I live fairly close to New Orleans, and I think New Orleans Voodoo is a fascinating tradition. When I visit, I like to speak to local Voodoo practitioners and learn from them about their practice. That being said, I recognize that I am not a part of that practice, and I’m not about to start incorporating elements of Voodoo into my personal practice.

As a white woman, my track record is not perfect when it comes to cultural appropriation. When I first started my witchcraft journey, I burned white sage and worked with the chakra system. I didn’t know any better, and these things were presented to me as if they were open to anyone. But now I do know better, and I’m making a conscious effort to avoid appropriation in my practice.

I’m also trying to do better for new witches just entering the world of alternative spirituality. It’s important for us to talk about things like cultural appropriation so that baby witches know from the beginning what the issues are and why they matter.

[ultramaga]

I was at a black people's conference, while doing other things, and the number of people who are classified as black but have nothing to do with Africa is pretty staggering. I do think "black = american of dark skinned african descent" is taking over as that is what is taught in schools and media. I liked "black fella" and "white fella" because they were unambiguous. Aboriginal is pretty good unless you travel - after all, the British are aboriginal to Britain, despite what the BBC and other Leftists are claiming. Leftists will call blackfellas black when it suits them - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-31/annabel-crabb-analysis-racism-australia-talks/100172288 Then call them members of The First Nation, despite there being no such thing. It's a way of reminding everyone else that they are just invaders who should go home (so that the Han Chinese can walk in and genocide everyone else). This is from the Australian Government. Now, a democratic government should represent the majority. When it declares that the members of a tiny ethnic minority should have special privileges above all others, and that it polices who qualifies as a member, then democracy is over. It's very telling that First is a word to indicate a place in a hierarchy, whereas aboriginal just indicates a distant origin. https://voice.gov.au/community-toolkit/first-nations "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia" We have no idea who the first people here were, it's not like they took records, and it's entirely likely that the first tribes were wiped out by later invaders and so on. If you look at the history of Britain, despite being an island, it was frequently invaded, and the composition radically altered. But they were not members of NATIONS. Nationalism is a new concept. They weren't members of anything but tribes. So were the Brits until the romans arrived. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_Britain There's nothing wrong with that. It's just a fact. But when it is retrospectively altered to become One Nation instead of many tribes, then that is done for political reasons, and it would just be seen as White Supremacism if the anglos started some equivalent, claiming that there had always been a White British Nation - before that filthy Italians had turned up!

"It is unknown how many populations settled in Australia prior to European colonisation. Both "trihybrid" and single-origin hypotheses have received extensive discussion.[35]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory_of_Australia

I think a single origin is a weird idea unless you are talking about a spaceship or Noah's ark. Multiple waves of tribes using foot or simple canoes is far more reasonable. That's what happened everywhere else until recently, where we had people using sailing boats to travel to uninhabited lands. It's also possible that there were non homo sapiens species here, such as "the hobbits". Do they count as people? Wouldn't they be the "First Nation" by Leftist definitions? Homo floresiensis (/flɔːrˈɛziːˌɛn.sɪs/ also known as "Flores Man") is an extinct species of small archaic human that inhabited the island of Flores, Indonesia, until the arrival of modern humans about 50,000 years ago. If "Hobbits" survived until 50,000 years ago, then it seems entirely likely they were here, then exterminated as the more modern humans arrived. The entire ecosystem seems to have been disrupted and the larger mammals vanished. Did humans change the local climate through the use of fire in hunting? Or was climate change here inevitable? Whoops, the United Nations warning just popped up to remind us that climate change can only be caused by humans. There ya go.

Maybe humans time-travelled back and burned a lot of coal or something.

"most species went extinct just a few millennia after humans first appeared in Australia, meaning that the arrival of humans was the decisive event in the megafauna’s demise." If true, then that indicates the australian prehistorical record of humans is wrong, and that it was recently colonised. It wouldn't surprise me. I actually think the most likely answer is that humans were here, they died, and another wave came in. Similar thing happened to England. The world constantly changes, the earth heats and cools, becomes wet or dry, and until you have technology, then having a big brain doesn't mean much, and humans were not top dogs throughout most of history.

But when we mastered the arts of the ranged weapon, that was a game changer. Homo Sapiens is much more agile than Neanderthals, for example. We probably would lose in close combat, but non-humans are so much better than that. Spears, rock falls, pit traps, and, later, arrows. Against that the megafauna had no chance. Not to mention the hunting with fire that became the norm in australia. So if humans really were here 75 000 years ago, why didn't they have an impact? Why the gigantic delay?

If they were here, I doubt they were modern humans, I expect that they didn't have technology as we understand it, and I expect that the people now being called First either wiped them out with violence, or just absorbed them through mass colonisation.

Which is what seems to have happened with the other hominids.

And seems to be happening again to Australia today.