This is an important message.

I will never NOT reblog this.

THIS!!!!

Preach

A To-Do List for White Fandom

I’ve seen several posts circulating today about racism in multiple fandoms. The arguments and counterpoints I’ve seen are not unexpected. For background: I am writing instructor and I devote a significant portion of my classes to discussions of media representation. Why? Because I realized I was doing everything that these posts talk about: Ignoring characters of color, sidelining them for white villains or sidekicks with far less screen time, ignoring women of color entirely, etc. And all the while, like so many of you, I said, “I’m not racist.” I had in-universe explanations for why I liked this ‘ship over that one, this character more than that. I could defend and explain everything.

Racism is not who you are. It is what you do. And here’s a fact: All white people do racist things. We’ve been trained to, taught to. It’s in our culture, all around us. If you’re white, our culture has allowed most racism to be entirely invisible to us. Racism isn’t just yelled slurs and burning crosses. Often, racism is simply *not caring* about people who aren’t white. Racism is an inability to empathize with or care about the story of someone who is not white.

IF YOU’RE FEELING DEFENSIVE, PLEASE KEEP READING. I beg you. That’s exactly the feeling we have to push through. I’m going to give you a brief list of actions we can take. And I know these are important because I have to do them, all the time. Because the poison is in me, too.

If you truly believe in equality and want to be a better person, then here’s what we, as white fans, have to do: 1. BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. It absolutely sucks to realize you may have hurt someone, or that you might be wrong. Realizing you’ve done something racist is a stomach-churning reality check. Have the courage to face it. Don’t run from it. 2. INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR WAYS YOU’RE NOT RACIST, LOOK FOR WAYS THAT YOU *ARE*. It’s comforting and tempting to itemize the ways in which we’re open-minded. See #1 again. Don’t let yourself be comfortable. Instead, look for what you do and ways you contribute to fandom racism. Maybe it’s reblogging or creating gif sets that leave out main characters of color. Maybe it’s forgetting to include them in your fanfiction, even when they would rightfully be there. Maybe it’s reducing them to stereotypes or caretakers for white characters. Maybe it’s ‘shipping the white leads with anyone but the POC around them. Maybe it’s accusing POC fans of “starting drama” when they discuss racism. Look at your actions and be honest with yourself. 3. PUT IN THE EFFORT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH POC CHARACTERS. Here’s the thing: It’s easy for us to fall in love with white male heroes and villains. It’s what we’ve been training for all our lives, with every movie, television show, and book we’ve ever enjoyed. Media *encourages* us to love white men. So yes, falling in love with a character of color will be harder, and it probably won’t “just happen.” So, truly look at Finn and Poe, at Cassian Andor and Bodhi. Truly look at Luke Garroway and Magnus Bane, at Luke Cage, at Iris West and James Olsen, at Michonne. Seek out ways to connect with their feelings and their stories. Look at them as full-hearted, three-dimensional human beings. Force yourself to become obsessed with them. If you do this, I would be absolutely shocked if you don’t fall in love with one of them. 4. LISTEN TO POC FANS. Yes, even if they’re angry and call you names. For my research, I spend a lot of time on blogs that talk about hating white people, hating white fans, hating white feminists. The language is furious and vitriolic. So what? They have every right to be angry. Instead of judging their anger, LISTEN to it. Try to be better. Don’t say “not all white fans,” or “not all white people.” Instead, try to be a better white person. Be a better white fan. Be a white fan who is brave enough to look at themselves and truly be an ally. Do not silence POC fans. I promise you: Listen, and you’ll realize they’re not overreacting. 5. REMEMBER THAT “ALLY” IS A VERB. Our thoughts count for nothing. It’s our actions that speak for us. Maybe you’ve read all this and you still want to insist that you’re not racist. Okay. But your actions might be. Challenge the stereotypes that exist in your head, learn to identify them as stereotypes and be willing to hold yourself and other white fans accountable. 6. REPEAT STEPS 1-5 FOREVER. We cannot cure our internalized white supremacy in a weekend. This is a forever gig. But it’s one of the most worthwhile tasks you can ever give yourself. Want to feel like you’re changing the world? Here’s where it starts.

Inevitably there’s more to add to this list. I’m always learning, but I thought it might be useful to share a few of these steps I’ve learned along the way. I love fandom. I believe profoundly in the transformative power of fanfiction, fan creations, and the friendships forged through our shared love of media.

I believe we can become BETTER PEOPLE through fandom. But it will not happen without our willingness to be transformed.

don’t hate urself, hate the system that made u feel insecure about every single aspect of ur life

to name just a few that I’ve personally dealt with

-it’s ok to be living with your family over the age of 18

-it’s ok if you’ve never had a relationship, and if you still haven’t had your first kiss

-it’s ok to have cellulite. it’s ok to not to work out

-it’s ok not to have a huge friend group, or a big social media presence

-it’s ok if you’re not “conventionally” attractive bc that concept is made up!!!!

-it’s ok if you aren’t good at make up, and don’t want to be. it is not lazy for a women to go bare face.

-it’s ok if you didn’t go to parties and drink excessive amounts during high school, high school is so glamorized in tv and it’s not a true depiction. high school is NOT the best four years of your life. neither is college. you did not miss out.

-it’s ok to not know what you want to do, or change your ideas 1000 times. if you want to go back to school @ 28, do it. there is no age limit on education

-it’s ok to have body positivity for others but not yourself. you are growing.

-most importantly, you have time. you have time

GETTING A JOB CHEAT SHEET!!

other cheat sheets

BAKUGO ICONS

REBLOG IF U LIKE OR SAVE!!

Please Keep Signing! 

(New petitions in bold)

PLEASE REBLOG! THIS IS AN UPDATED LIST! 

DON’T IGNORE US!

*You don’t need to donate to change.org, donate directly to the families. Also if there’s a problem with a petition (or you have a petition I should add), please dm me instead of reblogging so I can fix it faster.*

shawnfoundation:  We compiled some resources, materials & reading on racial injustice in one place for you. Let’s all continue our efforts to learn, act and make change. #blacklivesmatter  ( blklivesmatter, colorofchange, naacp,  surjswfl,  civilrightsorg, unitedwedream, theconsciouskid, ckyourprivilege, ebonyjanice,  ethelsclub)

COVID-19 has exposed the US’s chronic systemic injustices, especially in Indigenous communities nationwide who are lacking PPE, healthcare, running water, and food. If you are interested and able, please consider purchasing a @noisefornow x @seedingsovereignty mask or bandana, which will go into Seeding Sovereignty’s Mutual Aid Work, @indigenouswomenrising, and @mariposafund. 

[link to purchase]

Thank you to @suaysewshop for creating these masks.⁣

I also want to take a moment to connect with where I am and acknowledge that where I live is situated upon traditional territories and I give thanks to the Lenape Peoples for the ability to live, learn, and work on their traditional lands.

Do something!

*You don’t need to donate to change.org, donate directly to the families. Also if there’s a problem with a petition, please dm me instead of reblogging so I can fix it faster. *

Most of the “keep up the work after the protests have ended!”-type posts I’ve seen are mostly focused on like, reading Black authors and listening to Black voices and unlearning racism, and obviously all of that is absolutely vital - but no amount of individual self-reflection will be able to dismantle institutional systems of oppression. So I wanted to put together some resources for continuing to build a culture of noncompliance and resistance to the police and prison system even after things have calmed down

But first, be aware that the protests aren’t over. It’s June 29th and there are still events and actions being planned regularly across the nation, and they still need your participation and support. If you’re able, please keep your focus there; this list is for what can be done long-term outside of the protests

Here are some other organizations to join that are doing good work in this area:

The police state and prison industrial complex rely on the complicity and cooperation of all of us to function and be effective. By building a culture of noncompliance and active resistance, we can drastically reduce the state’s ability to oppress communities of color. Don’t let the struggle be forgotten with the changing of the news cycle - keep up the struggle until all are free!

Boosts and additional resources are very much appreciated!

A friend of mine posted this and tagged my old instagram account, asking me to share it. I figured sharing it here where I actually have a following, would be far better.

Please remember that just because the government is giving into pressure and greed, that doesn’t mean that any of this is getting any better, in a lot of ways it’s getting worse. And even if you yourself aren’t being as heavily affected anymore, there are people and communities that are.

Stay safe Darling ones, and help others remain safe too.

@queerveganinga

X-Men is about civil rights. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get X-Men.

Black Panther is about civil rights. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get Black Panther.

Captain America literally fought the Nazis. He is the embodiment of fighting the alt-right. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get Captain America.

The Empire in Star Wars is fascist. The Rebel alliance is Anti-Fascist. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get Star Wars.

The Punisher isn’t meant to be a role model for police or armed forces. So much so that the writers of The Punisher made him actively speak out against it in a comic. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get The Punisher.

Deadpool is queer. He’s pansexual. Fact. If you didn’t get that you didn’t get Deadpool.

Star Trek is about equality for all genders, races, and sexualities. As early as the mid-60s it was taking a pro-choice stance and defending women’s right to choose. One of its clearest themes is accepting different cultures and appearances and working together for peace. (It’s also anti-capitalist and pro-vegan). If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get Star Trek.

Superman and Supergirl (and a whole host of other superheroes) are immigrants. The stance of those comics is pro-immigration and pro-equality and acceptance. If you didn’t get that, you didn’t get Superman or Supergirl.

Stan Lee said, “Racism and bigotry are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today.” If you’re bigoted or racist, you didn’t get any of the characters Stan Lee created.

The stories we grew up with all taught us to value other people and cultures and to treasure the differences between us. Only villains were xenophobic, or sexist, or racist, or totalitarian. I can’t understand how anyone can have missed that.

If you’re upset that there’s a black Spider-Man, or a black Captain America, or a female Thor, or that Ms. Marvel is Muslim, or that Captain Marvel was pro-feminism, or any of the other things right-wing “fans” say is “stealing their childhood” - you never got it in the first place. The things you claim are now “pandering to the lefties” were never on your side to begin with.

Happy Juneteenth everyone!

There’s been so many links flying around to help support the BLM movement, if you’ve lost track of some of them here’s a couple to check out:

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

-This fundraiser splits your donation among 40+ community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd?refcode=cwg

-A playlist/thread of YouTube videos monetized specifically for the cause:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqws4vy_Bzkz_Jj-Er-NrGD6gn1D9E_yo

https://twitter.com/iDiminies/status/1267550974190764033

-Donate to the Homeless Black Trans women fund:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/homeless-black-trans-women-fund

This president does not care 👆 Please do what you can, from wherever you are 👇

Collection of BLM donation links :

https://blmsites.carrd.co

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/the-bail-project

https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movement-4-black-lives-1

https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/support-us/donate/

Petitions :

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd?utm_source=brand_us&utm_medium=media&use_react=false

https://www.standwithbre.com/

https://www.wecantbreathenational.org/

https://www.change.org/p/govia-thameslink-justice-for-belly-mujinga

Add any more you know of to your thread.

do not ignore this

our momentum is slowing down. we can’t let our dashes go back to normal when the world is not normal. so, if you are reading this, you are ~legally~ obligated to choose 2 numbers below; you must complete the task of those two numbers today. don’t pretend you didn’t see this. either do them right now or set a reminder to get it done before the sun goes down. the timer starts now. choose two. 

list of petitions that still need signatures

please feel free to add more!!!

Help show your support!

Places to donate

Petitions to sign

Videos you can watch for free, where ad revenue goes to the movement (turn ad block off)

More

HOW TO DONATE TO BLM WHEN YOU HAVE NO MONEY

a black woman named zoe amira posted a video on youtube. this video is an hour long and filled with art and music from black creators. it has a ton of ads, and in result will rack up a ton of revenue. 100% of the ad revenue from the video will be dispersed between various blm organizations, including bail-out funds for protesters. it will be split between the following, dependent on necessity

please, please reblog. for people who don’t have money to spare, this is incredibly important information to have.