This is part of it.
The other part is that folks think someone who did something evil must be inherently evil, that they are monsters.
In reality, the lack of nuanced discussion of how evil acts and operates in the world is tied to othering which is tied to white supremacy.
The other part is that folks think someone who did something evil must be inherently evil, that they are monsters.
In reality, the lack of nuanced discussion of how evil acts and operates in the world is tied to othering which is tied to white supremacy.
https://twitter.com/slimdote/status/1446821112302743557
As @OkkervilRiver said,
Now, with all these cameras focused on my face
You'd think they could see it through my skin
They're looking for evil, thinking they can trace it, but
Evil don't look like anything
Evil don't look like anything
Now, with all these cameras focused on my face
You'd think they could see it through my skin
They're looking for evil, thinking they can trace it, but
Evil don't look like anything
Evil don't look like anything
PS: this was the first song that I learned on my ukulele that wasn't in a random uke song book.
1) The song itself is *chef's kiss*
2) The lyrics? 🔥
3) Okkervil River songs like this are so perfect for harmonizing
1) The song itself is *chef's kiss*
2) The lyrics? 🔥
3) Okkervil River songs like this are so perfect for harmonizing
My other favorite Okkervil River song - and the second I learned on the uke:
There is no key, there's no plan; I discovered that
And, truly, I don't think you'll find a happier man
There is no key, there's no plan; I discovered that
And, truly, I don't think you'll find a happier man
ADHD tangent aside (sorry)
It's easier to believe that those who do horrible things are monsters, to other them in ways that lend to supporting capital punishment and incarceration.
Reality is scarier.
It's easier to believe that those who do horrible things are monsters, to other them in ways that lend to supporting capital punishment and incarceration.
Reality is scarier.
The reality is that we've each done harm to others, on purpose or on accident.
We're capable of doing it again, intentionally or not.
Us or our loved ones might be the villains in someone else's story.
It's easier to think that our folks aren't capable of that horror.
We're capable of doing it again, intentionally or not.
Us or our loved ones might be the villains in someone else's story.
It's easier to think that our folks aren't capable of that horror.
People do not want to hear that someone who did such good was also capable of harm like that by misrepresenting situations.
It breaks this mindset we've created of us vs the baddies.
It breaks this mindset we've created of us vs the baddies.
Example: a well known patient activist died earlier this year. She's missed by many and did important work...
She also started a wrongful crusade based on misinformation that led to me getting attacked from someone with 14k followers including getting death threats.
She also started a wrongful crusade based on misinformation that led to me getting attacked from someone with 14k followers including getting death threats.
People also do not want to hear that, say, the creator of the s p o o n theory is the person who sicced her 14k followers on me without reading shit.
The thread I share from back then is disjointed because threads weren't really a thing yet IIRC.
The thread I share from back then is disjointed because threads weren't really a thing yet IIRC.
https://twitter.com/GraysonGoal/status/1404423508378128388?t=bqGu1Oka2JuKIMde_7LbUA&s=19
Our brains are set up to categorize things in binary ways - blue vs green, square vs circle, etc.
huffpost.com/entry/stereoty…
huffpost.com/entry/stereoty…
We often forget that othering begets and is often the beginning stage of oppressive ideas, though.
That we cannot look at the work always with the instinctual piece of our brain that wants these easily separated spaces.
humanrights.ca/story/us-vs-th…
That we cannot look at the work always with the instinctual piece of our brain that wants these easily separated spaces.
humanrights.ca/story/us-vs-th…
As I pointed out earlier, this us vs them mindset is also the one upholding the incarceration system, that keeps us from abolition and transformative justice.
We do not care to hear how harsh incarceration is, believing it to justly relate to someone's innate evilness.
We do not care to hear how harsh incarceration is, believing it to justly relate to someone's innate evilness.
We take people - many of whom have endured trauma, oppression, and worse - and put them in spaces and states where it is impossible to heal.
Because, in reality, our society doesn't believe they can.
That's fucked up.
aetv.com/shows/60-days-…
Because, in reality, our society doesn't believe they can.
That's fucked up.
aetv.com/shows/60-days-…
By doing so, not only do we avoid addressing root causes of harm - systemic oppression and inequity, trauma, etc. - we continue cycles.
oklahomawatch.org/2021/08/25/see…
oklahomawatch.org/2021/08/25/see…
Our societal systems do this purposefully, especially due to the racism with which incarceration and "justice" systems were designed.
westportlibrary.libguides.com/ThirteenthAmen…
westportlibrary.libguides.com/ThirteenthAmen…
Slavery didn't end. It just shifted to the incarceration system.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Those in prisons have no constitutional rights. They can be and are forced to work tough jobs without the the protections while earning cents on the dollar.
When they get out, jobs they may have worked aren't available to them as felons.
forbes.com/sites/nicksibi…
When they get out, jobs they may have worked aren't available to them as felons.
forbes.com/sites/nicksibi…
These folks face barriers at every turn, from a lack of employment and housing options to being unable to get various forms of assistance to not being able to vote.
rasmussen.edu/degrees/justic…
rasmussen.edu/degrees/justic…
PS: As someone who worked for an independent living center, I need you to also know that prisons WILL TAKE AWAY WHEELCHAIRS or other assistive devices from disabled folks as they go to leave prison.
They do not connect you with resources on how to get a new one.
They do not connect you with resources on how to get a new one.
The Madison-area Urban Ministry conducts re-entry simulations to show you how difficult life can be post-incarceration.
I participated a few years ago.
socwork.wisc.edu/2019/02/18/fac…
I participated a few years ago.
socwork.wisc.edu/2019/02/18/fac…
I don't even know how to put into words what the simulation was like.
I couldn't get a job because I didn't have my social. To get my social, I needed my license which I also didn't have.
By the end, I was back in prison because I couldn't do anything due to systemic issues.
I couldn't get a job because I didn't have my social. To get my social, I needed my license which I also didn't have.
By the end, I was back in prison because I couldn't do anything due to systemic issues.
I encourage everyone who hasn't been close to someone incarcerated to participate in one.
But don't do it as some acting exercise, showing up with Starbucks in hand.
Really pay attention.
But don't do it as some acting exercise, showing up with Starbucks in hand.
Really pay attention.
Other ideas for allyship and unlearning this othering?
- Read more about what othering does and how it harms
- Get involved with efforts like mutual aid, combating stigma, and battling oppression
- Follow folks doing this grassroots work
- Read more about what othering does and how it harms
- Get involved with efforts like mutual aid, combating stigma, and battling oppression
- Follow folks doing this grassroots work
If you appreciated this thread, please donate to efforts and folks such as
@justicehealing
@URMI_MetroState
@endmassinc_org
@behearddc
@CoriBush
@MigrantFreedom
@UNITEDWEDREAM
@verainstitute
@JustDane4Change (formerly Madison-area Urban Ministry)
@AbolitionDJ
@justicehealing
@URMI_MetroState
@endmassinc_org
@behearddc
@CoriBush
@MigrantFreedom
@UNITEDWEDREAM
@verainstitute
@JustDane4Change (formerly Madison-area Urban Ministry)
@AbolitionDJ
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