I never get too political. I think because when I began writing a blog, I was only focused on documenting my sex life and my journey through submission. I saw my personal blog as a free for all; anyone who feels strange because for their sexual inklings or if someone just wants a good laugh, by all means stop by and take a gander. This has been therapeutic for me and an open diary; I wanted other women who identify as a sexual submissive to know that they are not alone. Lately I can't keep quiet anymore about what has been weighing on me not only as a woman but as a black woman. My intention is never to create a divide however the more I get involved in activism and helping my community and uplifting fellow people of color, I have become more aware than ever of the great divide between Women of Color and White Women. Don't get me wrong I've always known about systemic racism and the long lasting effects of slavery on black people. I also am fully aware of the ongoing effects of mass colonization of indigenous peoples. However, the differences have become too much to bare and I'm to the point where I no longer want to waste my time bickering with non-POC nor do I feel like it is my job to educate them, when we live in an age where information is right at our fingertips.
Last month, all around the world, feminists gathered and marched for equal rights of women. To oppose the de-funding of Planned Parenthood, to bring awareness to the rights of Trans Women and to overall resist the fascist regime that Donald Trump is trying to implore. Unfortunately this amazing March brought out the worst in a lot of so-called feminists due to them not wanting to acknowledge the intersectionality of feminism. The feminist movement began with white women, white women who wanted equal rights for (drum roll please) other white women. So how can a movement be inclusive when it was developed by white women for white women? Now, I know what a lot of my readers are thinking-"times have changed women's right are all of our rights. We're sisters". No it doesn't work like that. Non women of color need to recognize that feminism never included a marginalized group and the issues that women of color face are way different than what white women face on a daily. White feminists protest for equal pay; women of color have to protest for equal pay because 1) we’re women and 2) we aren't white. Right there we have 2 strikes against us.
I saw posts about people praising how non-violent the marches were, but no one (except women of color) wanted to acknowledge that this nonviolence and peace was because law officials don't feel a need to police a predominately white event. Only at a feminist movement headed by white women would you see women hugging and giving out high-fives; whilst they forget that police brutality toward people of color has reached all new heights. If this was a Black Lives Matter protest or No DAPL police would have been armed and ready. White women are ignoring these facts and now have the audacity to tell women of color we are being divisive, by calling out the double standards in feminism.
This post really comes from all of the negativity I have seen on social media, when a non-white woman decides to speak out against the lack of exclusion toward women of color at the marches. Yes we turned out in groups protesting for our own reasons, yet instead of a majority of white women wanting to be educated, they thought it was the right time for a photo op. Touching hair, and ceremonial dress like they were at a museum than at a protest for injustices for women. Feminism has to be intersectional; WW need to try a little harder to check their privilege and learn something. While they were applauding Scarlett Johansson’s speech, I was wondering why she was even speaking at the march honestly. Not too long ago she took a role in the film “Ghost in a Shell”, the problem? The leading in the film should have been a Japanese woman. How do you call yourself a feminist when you took a job that should have gone to a woman of color? Sorry there’s no coming back from that in my eyes. Your feminism card has been revoked. To me to be a feminist you need to be concerned with the economic standing of all women and you want wage equality for all women, not just white women.
In my city, the same women who were marching have said they believed Blue Lives Matter. How are you a feminist when you won’t even acknowledge the wrongdoings of police officers toward the black community? As a woman shouldn’t you care that police are killing people’s sons and daughters at an alarming rate? Females as well as males are being targeted by police. Instead of arguing that we’re being divisive in feminism; maybe you should try being quiet and listening, come to terms that feminism is intersectional and go out and do the work to make more feminists see that even a positive movement like the Women’s March is rooted in white privilege and white centered causes.
Learn about the issues affecting women of color and march with them, not just for one day. For feminism to work real feminism we have to acknowledge what is wrong, listen, and do our damndest to get right for this generation.