sorry, more navel-gazing

[amw]

Recently i watched the documentary What Killed Michael Brown? It was written by a conservative, and it very much has an agenda. The other day i linked to a book by bluesman Adam Gussow. I should also link to his blog about Ferguson that i think provides a bit more of a balanced view than the movie did: The Straw that Broke: Michael Brown, Darren

Comments

[jenndolari]

Shortly after the Gwen Araujo trial, and before Ethan St. Pierre took on the TDOR, I was the de facto organizer of the TDOR from about 2004 to 6. I gathered names and helped get the word out of events.

It's traumatic researching the names, especially as I didn't have the resources others did and had to dig for info. And while there were occasional references that a murder happened during a drug deal gone wrong, the majority were unexpected reveals during sex work. In Brazil in particular, there was downright hunting of trans women almost is if it was a sport during my years on the TDOR.

Yes, there are deaths on my lists that are not the direct result of being trans. I listed them because they were killed nonetheless, and I'd usually put in how and why because I felt it was important. But the majority were killed for being who they were.

There's a reason we burn out real fast on the TDOR. It's like carrying the One Ring.

[amw]

I remember that time! I think what struck me the most back in those days was how bad trans people outside of "the west" had it. I fear it hasn't gotten much better for them today

[jenndolari]

"It is perhaps more accurate to say that black trans women are - for whatever reason - murdered at a much higher rate than black cis women in America."

That is something that Gwen Smith, who founded the TDOR, has been trying to get the message out on specifically in the last decade or so.

[spiffikins]

I had no idea about the rest of the Matthew Shepard story - you're right in that the myth had already been created, and it wasn't going to be allowed to be tainted

[amw]

Yeah, it's a complex thing to grapple with. I mean, why should it matter that the victim was a drug user, or that he and his assailants all hung out in shady circles? It was still a brutal murder that should never have happened! But that's a story that is more complex, less media-friendly, perhaps less people could have identified with him

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[motodraconis]

"using my identity as a stick to beat a perfectly reasonable bystander who once upon a time would have been an ally."

I found that pretty distressing to read, for complicated reasons. A couple of weeks ago I said something referencing a lazy cultural trope and got beaten for it. Now I feel I dare not open my mouth to this person on any subject even remotely in that direction even though otherwise I would be a fierce ally. Instead of making a stand against injustice, I have been encouraged to say nothing because if I fluff my words even slightly there'll be a pile on. I support them, but now I have to never say anything on the subject ever again, in case I mess up. Which ultimately ends up looking as if I don't support them and don't care. I can't see how that is helpful really.

[amw]

I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm not sure there is an easy way to resolve it. Some public figures have been able to "repent" by putting together a groveling apology, but even that doesn't always placate those who were offended and it still doesn't stop things from being awkward when broaching the subject in the future. With individual relationships, i suspect the only thing that can heal it is time. Maybe not even that.

I think it's sad how aggressively people react to relatively minor gaffes nowadays, and how reluctant they are to forgive or forget. Whether or not they were legitimately oppressed to begin with, i think shutting down allies only serves to exacerbate the sense of isolation or marginalization. It doesn't seem helpful to me either, but there's not much you can do.

[browncouch]

Your thoughts on these subjects have been interesting to read. I think I have been sucked up into the myths and activism thinking I was finding community and being on "the right side", while in reality it's very alienating for everyone. It's all complicated.

[amw]

Yes it's super complicated

[amw]

Since you posted this i have been trying to find a good article about how activists can end up becoming more inclusive and i came across this great talk by Loretta Ross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k4F8KFKjoc It's straight-up targeted at activists who are already "woke" and are looking to extend their coalition in such a way that they avoid the circular firing squad problem. It's very interesting.

[browncouch]

Thanks for sharing! This is a big reason I disabled my instagram account. It was trauma after trauma, calling out, "you've been doing everything wrong, here's a list on how to be correct".

I'm sort of detoxig myself, because I do react to words, I do cancel. It got to a point where I felt disoriented, because sure, I can shape my bubble however I want, but we're still living in a world outside our bubbles and we need to be able to communicate with people there. (Although, I'm not very tempted to talk to my brother right now).

When it comes down to it, everyone sucks, someone will always be left out, but we can't let that get in the way of basic human rights.