Something I knew I would have to say about #ByHerOwnDesign.
Let me, a Black artist, explain the difference between a white savior and a patron.
A white savior believes you are inferior, believes they can save you from your inferiority and that they are better than you. 1/?
Let me, a Black artist, explain the difference between a white savior and a patron.
A white savior believes you are inferior, believes they can save you from your inferiority and that they are better than you. 1/?
A patron believes in your talent, sees your artistry as having value and wants to support that talent with their money, (which they know they have too much of anyway) so the patron wants to help the Black artist do their art so they don't have to worry about day to day life. 2/?
Josephine Lee was a patron for Ann Lowe's artistry. She saw Ann in her everyday dress & wanted to support her in bringing forth more designs for her daughters & for OTHER women in the Tampa. (A white savior would have wanted Ann's talent for herself) 3/?
Lee also financed a shop for Ann encouraging her to go to NYC. (A white savior would have kept her shackled in Tampa). Lee also gave the money directly to her and trusted her to know what to do with it. (A white savior would have paid on her behalf & wouldn't give her cash) 4/?
But all of this makes no sense if you are a white woman "ally" who doesn't see what Ann Lowe's designs as art in the first place.
A suggestion. Leave defining white saviorism to those who are impacted by it. We know better than you do. FIN.
A suggestion. Leave defining white saviorism to those who are impacted by it. We know better than you do. FIN.
@threadreaderapp please unroll my thread
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