"The perspective that is allowable in certain corners of the intelligentsia and broadcast television is one that says that blackness is some kind of congenital defect—some sort of seal of your societal proclivity toward failure and awfulness." (1/10)
"And it’s not your fault, but you are likely to fail absent the intervention of white people to save you, help you, redeem you, to speak out on your behalf.
It’s a perspective that says that the most important thing about you—and about anyone else, perhaps—is your race." (2/10)
"At a minimum, it is among the most important things. It is a perspective that says that the only explanation for any disparity between racial groups is racial bias." (3/10)
"This is a perspective. One might hold this perspective, but it’s important to [also] acknowledge the perspective that they are saying is too radical..." (4/10)
"...which is one that says that the most important thing about you is *not* your race, and that societal outcomes can be driven by a number of things—but they are, in general, as a rule, quite complicated." (5/10)
"And that it’s important to be precise when we use charges like 'racism' or 'white supremacy,' and that motives matter, and that black people are *not* destined to fail." (6/10)
"And that most black people who live in predominantly black neighborhoods are not in danger of dying every day, every minute, in every single police interaction." (7/10)
"I think this is not just fact-based and generally true—I think it’s also consistent with this vision, this ideal that is embodied in the March on Washington speech that Dr. King gave..." (8/10)
"...A speech that, if he were to give it on a prominent television network might get him canceled, and might put him in a position in where he can’t be invited again." (9/10)
"I just think that our perspective on these things is closer to his vision than what is currently being articulated by anti-racists. And to the degree that the anti-racist perspective is dominating these other spheres, that seems fucking important." (10/10)
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I committed to never lying (literally ever) over ten years ago now.
If my experience is any indication, I believe that if we all just stopped lying—cold turkey—things would get a whole lot worse for a little while, and then a whole lot better for the rest of our lives.
Contrary to popular belief (and that Ricky Gervais movie), not lying does not mean blurting out every thought that comes to mind when it comes to mind.
It also doesn't mean you *have* to tell people things you don't want to say. "I don't want to tell you" is not a lie.
Refusing to lie has cost me a few relationships, but to be honest they weren't very substantial ones anyway. If I have to lie to keep you around, you're not really hanging out with *me*.
More importantly, though, not lying has strengthened my remaining relationships. Good trade.
@hakeemjefferson Imagine if a group of people decided to label some of the worst human behavior and ideas imaginable “Hakeeming.”
They tell you it’s not about the name Hakeem, but of course people named Hakeem are particularly susceptible.
Imagine how people might misuse or misinterpret that.
@hakeemjefferson And imagine, when these misuses and misinterpretations are brought to our attention, those whistleblowers are accused of Hakeeming even harder. Their resistance just shows how Hakeem they are.
Imagine how a 5 or 6-year-old kid named Hakeem might feel, amongst this madness.
@hakeemjefferson Imagine that sometimes Hakeem is told it’s not about the name, but any time he does anything it’s evidence of being Hakeem.
Imagine the feelings this will create within this little boy named Hakeem.
Imagine the horrific ways those feelings might manifest into ideas or actions.
@kmele, waxing eloquent on @wethefifth (#322), and beautifully outlining the need for #starmanning in our discourse:🧵
"It’s very hard for me to get excited about anything that accelerates and intensifies [political & ideological] conflicts rather than ratcheting them down..."
"I have very radical ideas about what society ought to look like and what government ought to do, and most people disagree with me on all of that. But one thing I know for sure is that I’m going to have to share the planet with other people who have different ideas..."
"Figuring out how to do that in a sustainable way is of paramount importance. I think we have to prioritize that, and I think we have to prioritize the institutions that make that possible in a way that is fruitful..."
I've always found it interesting and poetically apropos that "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is the expression used to further the "self-made man/personal responsibility" concept of success, and to justify the level of adversity many have to deal with in order to succeed.
It's apropos because, physically speaking, it is fucking impossible to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. In fact, the phrase originated as a way to describe a "ludicrously far-fetched or impossible task."
The concept creep that has led to the phrase's current usage, meant to mean, "to improve one's position by one's own efforts," is perfectly reflective of people's misunderstanding of the concept of "making oneself." They're equally nonsensical, and many of us just ignore that.