This is an important thread on understanding how the #RWAshitshow really started. I also watched this unfold on Twitter since Aug. Ask yourself, why is Courtney somehow seen as this "destroyer" or "instigator" when this was really about how white fragility tore down RWA?
Everyone who was there from the beginning knows that this was more about some stupid book from 1999. It was more than liking some racist and homophobic tweets. This started from authors of color and others speaking out on a PATTERN of behaviors from Grimshaw that are bigoted.
When behaviors like this is called out, the typical response in white fragility is to defend and deflect. And to dictate what is and isn't racist. You must understand that YOU are not in the position to determine that. You never were.
This is why social justice work is a LOT about LISTENING and hearing from the oppressed identities in U.S. Society. It's far too easy (and privileged) to defend and try to reduce a racism claim as "All because she LIKED a Tweet?" "But she wrote that 30 years ago!" Your eyes only
saw that one or two things, but those who are not of the privileged racial identity are more aware to see a PATTERN, because we don't have the luxury of NOT seeing it. White fragility is nurtured by lack of awareness to see these patterns. Or if seen, just to explain it away.
"No! She's not racist. She has black friends." "No, that was taken out of context." "But that was 30 years ago?" I would like you to look at this situation with RWA and think about all the times black women have had to endure all the BS that you are only seeing NOW--yet
all the times THEY were ignored, gaslighted, and had their emotional damage explained away. Do you really think that Courtney & folks would've bothered to speak out on a single racist tweet or dig through a 30-yr old book, if it wasn't to identify a LEGITIMATE pattern of racism?
We are too tired and exhausted to point fingers at silly shit. I'm frustrated that somehow all this is dumped on Courtney as if she did something wrong. She didn't bring RWA down. RWA didn't need any help from any of us doing that.
I also can't stand how a number of outlets take the perspective of Courtney being the one to shake everything when it was Sue and Suzan who let their fragility bite back after the callout instead of taking it, accepting it and changing. Their defensiveness is what blew this up.
And yet, to Bree's point, Courtney, who didn't even come in till much later, is somehow seen as the instigator, because when Suzan tried to challenge the WoC about Sue's racist behaviors, she didn't expect everyone to show the receipts. She really did pick that fight.
And instead of stepping back, asking herself to challenge her white solidarity, and listen, Suzan decided to double down and file a complaint of bullying. That complaint and the questionable procedures that followed snowballed into the #RWAshitshow we're witnessing today.
The question to ask yourself is: Why are we so quick to assign blame to the person who did the call out, not the ones that needed to be called out? Why are we so quick to question the person who witnessed the racism and bigotry as a credible source of THEIR own oppression?
The only time I've met CM in person is when she complimented me on my dress at the Denver conference, so this isn't a biased take. Like I said, I saw this unravel and I've seen it enough in my career to see that her outspokenness on diversity isn't welcomed by everyone at RWA.
And when you're a Black woman or WoC who has a mouth and not afraid to use it, you become a target for removal. You're a troublemaker. You're bitchy. You're difficult. Stop trying to make waves. Quiet. Be professional. It's not a big deal. You're always offended by everything!
When black women and WoC take the emotional risk of sharing with you what you've done that was bigoted or racist, do them a solid. Look internally before putting those defenses up. We don't take standing up and speaking up lightly.
