Thread by @salstrange

Never forget the “K-Hive is toxic” trope was started by the same racists that booed civil rights heroes as a way to excuse themselves.

It was begun as a deliberate weapon against Harris in the primaries by people who were trying to establish a “both sides are the same” narrative to offset the damage of being a BernieBro.

Sanders stood mute while his followers engaged in harmful racism and misogyny. He promoted the “rigged” lies. He embraced campaign strategies to undermine the collective power of Black voters while his official staff amplified “bend the knee” toxicity to a huge audience.

So “the K-Hive is toxic” narrative was employed to counter that as a means to try and hold Harris accountable for people who are not on her staff and who have never had the same audience reach.

To excuse Bernie and “bend the knee” Podbros.

And once they established it as a trope others embraced employing it to excuse themselves when they engaged in bad choices and got push back. We saw it with Williamson. We’re seeing it again now.

So when you come into my mentions telling me this is something “everyone knows” it tells me who you pay attention to and what narratives you are apt to fall for.

Ironically it’s often the same people who insist tribalism is bad and something they don’t engage in.

“I’m such a free thinker, I embrace racist smears because I once got into a personal beef with a K-Hiver” is not the persuasive argument you think it is.

I know the history of how this all happened. I watched it in real time.

You cannot gaslight me.

One thing that tends to be common of K-Hive and adjacent folks like me is we value evidence and receipts and we will search out what you’re saying.

When your response to receipts is “many people believe…” you’re already showing us a red flag not to trust you.

We know the path that led here.

And we know it gets pulled out whenever racists need cover.

And that’s why it’s being employed now to excuse those who are trying to insist that because of Virginia, Democrats should fall back to centering whiteness.

So I don’t care if you’re intentionally carrying water for those pushing racist narratives or just being their useful tool, you’re not going to do it in my mentions.

But I can guarantee you that I will use the opportunity to remind everyone of just how toxic, racist, misogynistic, and damaging Sanders is, was, and will always be to actual progressives and how white-centering progressives are still pulling this nonsense.

And if you don’t like being reminded that you’re carrying water for those who center whiteness and weaponize racist narratives then you can choose to pick better battles.

Because the only people you’re actually fooling are yourselves.