Let’s Talk About Allyship

 

Hello everyone and welcome back to my little online space.

This post is going to be very different from most of my other posts, because this is going to be very real and a call out for everyone to do better.

I’m going to try to make this make sense and find the right words, but the truth is I’m angry, hurt and so very tired.

Nine days ago, on May 26 2020, protests broke out in the United States, and later on other countries joined in, to demand justice for George Floyd, a 46 year old Black man who was murdered by the police a day before. These protests weren’t only held for George Floyd, but for other victims of police brutality and murder, and I’ll name a few of them: Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean; and victims of murder in hands of white individuals an example is Ahmaud Arbery. These protests are about police brutality and systemic racism. These protests are about the disrespect for Black bodies and Black lives. These protests are to show and remind people that Black lives do matter. No matter how much they hate it, we do matter. These protests are about centuries worth of discrimination, hate and murder. These protests are about justice, freedom and equity.

And in this fight we need allies, because like or not we can’t do this alone. Because we need your support and your help. Because we need you to hold out your hand. Because whether we like it or not, despite how unfair it is, white and non Black voices matter to these people than Black voices. It’s despicable, but this is what we’ve come to learn. And now, we turn to this community that we trust and we see that you don’t fucking care!

This isn’t directed to the people who have actually helped. And by these people who have helped, I’m not talking about you who posted a black square on Instagram, or the person who retweeted one tweet and said you know what that’s enough activism and respect for human rights for one day, or the person who only copied and pasted one of those chain tweets. I’m talking about those who protested, donated, sent emails and signed petitions on our behalf. We do appreciate you.

Now back to the people this post is actually for. I simply cannot believe y’all. No wait, I seems I can, but I’m just disgusted and actually hurt. First, let me start with the fact that the book community is a community full of hypocrites. From the publishing houses, agents, authors, bookselling companies to creators, a lot of y’all are hypocrites. We pride ourselves in being this huge, warm, welcoming community. We pride ourselves in diversity and inclusiveness or the illusion of it, but when it comes down to it, you don’t care about Black people. You only care about the lil cookie points you get for your association with us, for reading our books and for taking in our content, content it now reveals you don’t really care about. You only want us as your token Black person. 

You talk all that good talk, but when its time to act, its crickets. 

I have so much to say, but I don’t know how to put them in words so I’ll be giving examples.

“My _ (insert book blog, bookstagram, booktube channel is my safe space.”

Oh honey, that’s sad. Guess what? This space is also supposed to be Black bookish folks safe space, but do you have any idea the discrimination and bullying we face on here. We call out injustices and correct y’all on your bad behaviour, we become the bad guys. We decide to spare ourselves the stress of it, and we still become the bad guys, because we didn’t educate you.

It’s ironic really. What we’re asking of you is to take 20 minutes out of your time. 20 minutes out of 24 fucking hours in a day, out of 1440 minutes. Just 1 part of  the 72 twenty minutes you have in one day to share information and links, to sign petitions, to donate even if its a fucking dollar. We’re asking for so little so that you can make this space safe and the world at large safer for us, but its too much. Your lil white feelings can’t take that.

 

“I have anxiety and depression, and this is stressing me out”

First, fuck you. I also have anxiety and depression. I’ve spent nights over the past few days feeling so fucking empty, crying for people who look like me. I’ve spent nights feeling tired of this existence. 

A lot of Black people suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD. A lot of literal babies are developing mental illness so young because we’re unsafe. But we have to do this, we have to fight for our right to exist. You do not experience a fraction of what Black people experience, so you cannot be as stressed as we are.

You’re stressed ok then, do you know something that isn’t stressful you can do to support? Retweet links, check up on the friends you say you have, stream videos featuring beautiful pieces of art by Black artists to help donate, opening your fucking purse!

 

“I don’t like sharing political stuff.”

Again, fuck you. Honestly, I’d even go the way of Pidgin English here, but let me not. And let me say it again, fuck you and your little uppity attitude. You don’t like sharing political stuff? How is our fundamental human right to life, political? I am asking for you to help me exist in a safer world and THAT IS POLITICAL?

 

“I don’t have the right words”

Just retweet resources, share pictures with #BlackLivesMatter, opening your fucking purse. No one is asking for your words

 

The lady who equated Black lives to infertility

I really have no words for you, except fuck you, you’re a disgusting person bringing something so many people, including Black people, struggle with and are hurt by.

“Its my space I won’t speak about it, proceeds to block Black creator and posts a black square two days later”

Do I even have to mention how performative this is?

 

“Racism doesn’t exist in Europe”

Lmao. What are you talking about? Europe is the birthplace of racism. Do you need us to pull up the names of our people who you’ve killed or imprisoned.

 

“Black people aren’t family friendly”

I’ve seen a lot of shitty stuff, but this one takes the cake. Just say you’re racist and go.

Now, that we’re done talking about y’all’s bad behaviour. Want to improve? Want to be a proper ally?

Here are ways to be a good ally:

• Donate to bail funds and families of victims
• Donate to other Black people in the community that need help
• Donate to people helping out in protests
• Stream videos to donate
• Sign petitions
• Go to protests. Cops respect white and, let’s face it, non Black bodies than Black people. Shield Black people at protests 
• Retweet links. Don’t stop retweeting even as the tl moves to another new thing
• Support Black creatives
• Buy from Black owned bookshops
• Buy books by Black authors
• Publishers and agents, sign on and publish more Black authors. The racial disparity in Publishing is appalling
• Follow Black content creators
• Actually give books by Black authors to actual Black readers not middle aged white women on bookstagram tf!
• Call out your anti-Black family and friends. Start the conversation! Step up and speak up for us
• Just amplify Black voices, defend us and be a fucking good human being

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Well, that’s the end of my post. If you don’t like this post and you can’t be bothered to care about our lives; unfollow my blog, block me on all social media my handles are right here. I don’t want to know you freaking exist, because if and when we find you, we will put you on full blast.

I’m fasting today for voluntary 6 days in the month Shawwal and I’ve cursed so many times in this post, may Allah forgive me, but I’m angry. Also, Happy Pride Month. If you don’t support Black queer people and especially Black trans people and you identify as queer or any of the identities in the community, you should be ashamed of yourself.

I’ll be linking some carrds full of ways you can help down below. Black Lives Matter. Have a fucking good day.

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Carrds/Links to Help

Resources from Vicky @Vicky Again

Ways To Help gotten from Mina @MinaReadss on twitter (I also recommend watching Mina’s video where she also talks about allyship here ).

 

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