#white culpability

[xtrablak674]

Cece's Letter

[Originally published in Fashion Fag Magazine, Volume 1 Number 4, November-December 1994, as a response to FFM - Rage: Not Easy to Articulate, Volume 1 Number 3, October 1994]

Dear Miss Trevah,

I have decided to officially take up office in this cafe called "Limbo" on E. 3rd and Ave. A, because I always find myself sitting here, and my life is always in a permanent state of Limbo, too. Plus in the back room, they have a big ole couch where everything + everybody lounges, including a napping dog, whom I plan on joining once I finish this note.

I sat here re-reading Fashion Fag, "Rage: Not Easy to Articulate." Hell you can say that again and I thought you did an extremely good job of it. I couldn't just read it without responding, so I guess that's what I am doing now. Damn, I just burned the end of my pony tail in this candle here and the alcove has that pleasant reek of burnt hair.

As you know, I'm living in the Bronx, at least for this day + the next. Although there are a bunch of hunched over Irish grandmothers running the streets, the neighborhood belongs + is run by people of color - Latino African American, and a small percent of Asian. As the white girl I am the outsider.

When I walk to the subway, my face must really be a sight. I get all tangled up in a confusion of facial expressions trying to find the right one to greet people out on their streets. Ironically they could probably care less what face I wear as long as I stay out of their way. No expression seems right. If I smile, I imagine the people are staring back at me "smiling white devil" running through their mind. If I keep my face cold and expressionless, I imagine they'll think I am a white bitch too snobby and all-mighty to be humane.

If I'm walking to fast I imagine they'll think I'm afraid, hurrying to the train because I think all the people of color will mug me. If I'm dressed to nicely I imagine they'll think I'm flaunting my privilege. If I dress like a slob, which I tend to do anyway no matter how hard I try, I imagine they think I have no respect for myself, for my people, and for them. So I get caught in this ridiculous game of calculation where my moves all have the intention of trying to convey - "I am not responsible for all the oppressive heinous crimes committed daily in the name of racism, I am one of the good white people."

Finally home in the privacy of my own living room, the facade comes down and I realize the wall I'm up against is insurmountable. All of these faces + gestures are meaningless. I cannot escape that I am a part of the white race guilty of racial oppression. Nor am I sure that this burden of guilt should ever be lifted off my shoulders. Yet, there's nothing so odious as the guilty white person sitting mired in guilt yet too soft to take action to do anything about it.

So back out on the street I go screwing up my face like a ninny trying to find my humanity in a smile, the catch of an eye, a stride taken in sink [sync] - anything that brings two people through and past skin color to being human as well as "of color" or "white" or "black or gay etc." My intent is far from saying "Gee, don't white girls have it tough." Nor am I trying to righteously say I'm doing all I can about racism - my racism. I am taking responsibility for seeking out some solutions and answers to the fucked up shit in this society. Shit I need another cup o' coffee!

-Cecilia

[Photo by Brown Estate]

Rage: Not Easy to Articulate

[sysig]

Growing closer than expected (Patreon)

[filthforfriends]

When I go to answer a serious ask, I usually type out my initial ideas, save it to drafts, and craft a response after I've had time to think. But recently, some of the asks have just disappeared. Unfortunately, this was one of those instances. (I'm recalling to the best of my ability).

Anon said they felt like the only one noticing how Maneskin use people as props in their photos, usually People of Color.

This topic touches on some of the most historically and currently relevant subsects of society. Race & ethnicity. Social development & communication, (now in the age of social media). Entertainment & representation. Plus, others I'm not thinking of. I want to acknowledge how deserving of an in depth discussion this topic is, while also acknowledging that I'm not informed enough to broach it. So this is gonna be pretty surface, anon, and I'm sorry for that.

What does it even mean to use somebody as a prop?

Props are used to add detail and context which make the subject or background more interesting. As inanimate objects, they only exist to enhance the scene. Therefore, to treat someone like a prop is to prioritize the way they can improve your image over that person's autonomy. Sure, both the prop and subject can both have individuality, as long as one serves to make the other look interesting.

So who's culpable? The subject, the photographer/videographer, perhaps a director of sorts? Personally, I think the blame is shared and situationally dependent.

Below are the most obvious examples of Maneskin using a person as a prop, posted to their insta pages. The trend anon pointed out is evident. Admittedly, I don't have a good sample size here, though. A ton of Maneskin's content is only available on their stories. Especially content with non-band members (which is what anon is referencing), since Maneskin's publicist prefers to post just the band.

I wonder how many of the people in these photos gave informed consent. (Not necessarily to a band member, just someone). As in "This photo will be posted without your name and seen by millions, but you won't receive royalties." Because some of these images Maneskin (the brand) can profit from via merchandise and copyrights. Conversely, most of the folks in the photos will experience poverty in their lifetime. Some of Maneskin's outfits are worth more than the other person makes in a year and they're treating them like a plant. There's also the safety concern. If any of these people have someone in the whole world that wishes them harm, that person can now find their job/neighborhood.

I know these photos aren't all bad. Victoria probably got consent to post pic #5, just a harmless prank. The woman in pic #3 was likely thrilled to be sitting next to such a handsome young man and thinks all social media is Facebook (which she hates). But why take pictures with the Black men in photos #2 & #4? What about the Latinas in #1 & #12? They're are using POCs as visually compelling markers of cultural and ethnic differences to say something meaningful about themselves. Look how far I've come! Look how successful my music is! You envy me, right?

[batemanofficial]

last thing and then ill shut up about it but it pisses me off so bad when people say shit like...that on my lighthearted little poll and then reblog the "activated charcoal will flush all medication from your system and you will get pregnant and be forcibly detransitioned and die all before the next time you have to take a shit" post with full faith. 99% of the users on this website truly have no medical literacy and im starting to think thats on purpose so they can continue to say they have eighty five rare diseases all comorbidly

[sybbi]

People will see the Star of David and be like "Is this Zionist propaganda?"

[lookninjas]

2117.

of anyone least qualified to have any opinion certainly us and of any place to have the damn discussion fucking Facebook?

[nerdfighterwhatevernumbers]

White judges using the “discrimination against Asians” line as justification for ending affirmative action in colleges when you know they just used it cuz they couldn’t publicly get away with being Openly white supremacist about it

[dgalerab]

sometimes you type out a post, see the way people could misinterpret it on purpose, start to type out something addressing those things, then go, wait, i only have one life on earth and delete the whole thing

[ericas-spop-blog]

...this is almost entirely me being salty, but I do think there's an equivalence to be made between the fandom fixation on removing Adora's agency - to saying that her actions are devoid of intent, that she can't know what she's doing, that she's a innocent soul, helplessly in thrall to the systems of power and pseudo-patriarchy - and the concept of "white women's tears".

[luciferfemme]

Trixie Mattel: Drag Queens DON'T WANT Your Children

when she said “White women are at the top of the patriarchy and make it go round” I said oooh tumblr needs to see this because TEA.

[dubiousculturalartifact]

No but I do often object to the narrative framing/cultural expectation that it’s the responsibility of victims to suffer through ‘fixing’ their abusers & forgive them, or that enslavers, rapists, fascists, or people who commit genocide are all a-okay as long as they’re hot, have a single moment of compassion, or they say ‘whoops my bad’-or that a redemption is as simple as ‘well there’s a bigger bad guy so my evil stuff was fine’

"redemption arcs are toxic, you shouldn't try to fix someone!"

actually it is so important to me that being in community and experiencing human connection can save people. thanks

[guitarnacle]

dan carlin got me through a lot of hs history but going to uni and reading about some of the things he talks about... he has some weird opinions

[empyreansentinel]

10, 13, 14, 19 and 25 for the asks ? Could be about Fallout or Borderlands ! Whichever one you want :] + for the last one it can be your favorite characterrrr

gonna do fallout this time around bc my last ones were for blands!

10.What's your favorite piece of fanart?

this lyric comic for arcade is gorgeous!! i go back to it every now and then

13.What's a character or ship you haven't written/drawn yet but would like to some day?

for characters probably benny. im kind of shocked i havent drawn him yet. and with ships,,,christine and veronica(head in hands). my doomed yuri.

14.Is there a character or ship you were so sure you would never write/draw but now you've changed your mind?

dog/god my dearest friend. i didnt think much of him when playing dead money for the first time but ive gotten attached since then. not too sure about ships though, theres not that many to begin with i dont think. boone and manny, maybe.

19.What's your favorite thing about [fandom] (the people in it, not the media you're all enjoying together)?

just the sheer amount of creativity that comes with fan content outside of the games canon. the modding community is massive, and fnvs world has so many opportunities for variety in player characters.

25.What's your least favorite thing [character] said or did?

hmm…ulysses is pretty tricky for this one. my joke answers would be making me run through deathclaws and not blowing up the think tank while he had the chance but serious answer…maybe the courier's mile? but even then its him lashing out in a way that adds well to his character.

not sure! ulysses can do no wrong. (<- he has done a lot of wrong.)

[immaculatasknight]

Full embargo now

[uncle-fruity]

In Bell Hooks's Feminism is for Everybody, one of the very first things she mentions is how women are fully capable of perpetuating sexism and upholding the patriarchy. She goes on to say that women need to be able to recognize, acknowledge, and address the ways that they perpetuate sexist stereotypes. She explains that men are not just welcome but needed in the fight for gender equality, and that feminism needs to have a place for them. That their voices are worth listening to. Especially so because feminism is often written off as a "man-hating" movement as a way to discredit the movement as a whole.

When you write men off as inherently dangerous, predatory, emotionally stunted with no hope to recover, oppressors by nature, violent, stronger & more powerful -- that's bioessentalism. It's gender essentialism. And it's damaging to feminism. It's damaging to the men in your lives. You demand that men see your pain, acknowledge their role in the patriarchy, and make changes without actually supporting them as they attempt to do that. Not to mention you are unwilling to do it yourself. You're unwilling to acknowledge the ways you cause harm, the ways you uphold sexism, the ways your own privileges interact with patriarchal systems. You refuse to listen to any criticisms because it challenges the man vs woman worldview you maintain. It's not men vs women. It's all of us vs the patriarchy, which is a system of control that is inacted by society as a whole.

with how we're all aware of how toxic masculinity leads men/boys to harass, assault, and abuse other men/boys, you'd think the fact they can be harmed by patriarchy and misogyny wouldn't be a controversial statment. *especially* marginalized men. but alas, many people have taken the "identity" in identity politics so literally, they just end up ignoring and reinforcing the harmful things they claim to be against.

also if you think the pain of the men harmed by toxic masculinity isn't a big deal because they're men... that is. that is literally you believing in toxic masculinity. like i thought we all knew part of toxic masculinity is that men shouldn't feel pain, they shouldn't cry, they can't ask for help or be truly hurt, etc. etc. and if they do any of these things, then they're not real men and not only deserve to be emasculated, but deserve to suffer. you just switched it to they are real men so they deserve to suffer.

and even though again, this is extra harmful for marginalized men, i shouldn't have to say that for you to care. if you only give support to people harmed by these systems when you think deserve it, you're always going to end up propping these systems up at some point. maybe you should stop that.

also. to any man reading this who feels like their pain doesn't matter: it does. you deserve to exist in a world where you're safe to be yourself and feel emotions, and get genuine protection and support. we all need to exist in that world. none of us deserve this hell.

[rockscanfly]

Random Charles Smith Headcanon's

Has probably contemplated suicide at more than one point (see “I’m here just to hurt and suffer myself. In this land I feel stuck.”)

Maybe a little vain. He cares for his clothing well, embellishes himself. 

Has auditory sensitivity. He gets very irritable with loud people.

Has never felt like he belonged, always feels cut off

Is comfortable with violence only against folk he sees as on his own level/like himself. Has little empathy for himself so has little empathy for them (hence smoking while Arthur beats a man for information, the efficient and quick kills of the bounty hunter, the poachers)

Has a STRONG sense of justice--that includes responsibility and culpability. People make choices and Charles holds them accountable for them. Sadie is a killer, so he treats her like any other ally. That German family didn’t make that choice, neither did the Wapiti. But he doesn’t have any pity for the gang.

Animals don't choose violence, hence the protectiveness over them and their dignity. 

Comes off as cold because he isn’t loud/not good at chat. He’s really just been alone most of his life. 

Okay with drinking, does NOT like drunkenness. Back to culpability. This can make him unforgiving and harsh at times.

Both he and Arthur are so used to people passing in and out of their lives that they’re afraid to hold on too tight. Then Arthur gets captured by Colm. Hosea talks to him, about Bessie and about Arthur’s dead family. 

“I’m not her,” Charles says. “Not either of them. I’m not asking you to leave your world behind, and I’m not going to wait for you in some house. We’re partners first. I’d lose the rest of it before I let you put me to the side.” 

He likes that Arthur is big enough to push him around, to hold him down and anchor him when he can feel himself getting lost. To toss him over a broad shoulder when they’re swimming around on a hunting trip and settle him down on soft pelts, to pin him and bite the lonely from his skin. 

Charles can kick Arthur’s ass and will do so on request

He’s kind and thoughtful. He’d be the one to make Arthur little presents and leave them around for him. Practical things, made special with the careful workmanship of beading/embroidery/etching. 

Can be impatient—autonomy is his norm so waiting on others both physically, mentally, and emotionally doesn’t come natural to him

Will cut slingload on people he feels don’t value him back—would not pine for Arthur or stick around if Arthur tries to protect himself by lashing out at Charles, even if he still has feelings. His father taught him that he has to protect himself because no one else will do it. Arthur. Well. Arthur’s the only person he’s trusted to have his back. Because Arthur proved it, several times over. There’s no one Charles would have used “do it for me” on other than Arthur Morgan. 

He fell into fighting again because he had begun opening his heart for the first time since he was a child, and then fate took Arthur too. Like Charles said—he was put on the earth to cause pain and to suffer himself. 

He tries to help folks, but he’s not good at talking and he can’t use his privilege to help like Arthur did. He’s everything the US government hates, even more than the Waipiti. They reach a point where his violence is no longer useful. And for a drowning, grieving, heart sick stretch of years violence is all Charles has left to him (hence going to Saint Denis, a city he hates, and fighting people for white folks' entertainment in a transparent suicide-by-cop bid for someone to end his suffering) And then Sadie gives him the option of closure and working beside John reminds him that he is a man, not a weapon, and Beecher’s Hope makes him believe he too can change. 

Charles has never tried to be anything but who he is. He and Arthur are similar in that way. What he realizes, what Arthur realized too late, is that he can change if he wants it. And that maybe he’s allowed his past pain and scars to run his life along a course he doesn’t actually have to follow. 

Brought to you by my on-going replay of RDR2 and my undying love and devotion to princess of my heart Charles Smith.