About
I've often considered deleting this account or making it something different to try and hide my shame in creating it.I think to do that is to erase a nasty, but true part of my life. I made this account when I was 16 years old and gained no empathy or decency when I began again to post at 19. As a young, stupid, white person of privilege, I believed that people of color had equality in the United States, and that we lived in a post racial society where this kind of account wouldn't be seen as offensive.
I was wrong.
I was wrong to assume that there is no struggle for young, black people today. I was wrong to make these racially charged jokes in a public space, and I was wrong to continue this shameful act when I was told by many it was racist and unacceptable to do so. I was wrong for laughing at the plight and struggle that has cost people their lives, even today.
This kind of humor is one of the reasons things haven't changed.
Jokes can be used to punch up or down. These jokes punched down. This account is racist, bigoted, and plays on stereotypes that still prevail in our modern society.
These sort of jokes are why it's still socially acceptable to belittle people of color and their experiences. These jokes cost people their lives.
I won't take this account down. That Gaia online admins found nothing wrong with this account and did not remove it when it was active is a testament to how pervasive this attitude is. Believing that this is simply a joke and not a hate crime is dangerous.
We need to see this as unacceptable behavior. We need to grow to understand the struggles of marginalized groups. We need to understand how these awful stereotypes permeate our culture and cause real, lasting harm.
I hope everyone who came into contact with this account can forgive me.
I know an apology can never, EVER make up for this account and the things I said while posting.
This behavior will not be repeated, and I am doing everything in my power today to try and stop racism and white supremacy.
Please do something today to end structural racism.
http://everyday-democracy.org/resources/racial-equity#.VMbTAi774fM
http://qz.com/250701/12-things-white-people-can-do-now-because-ferguson/
http://racialequity.org/docs/CIF5The Structural Racism Concept .pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3uNRdWfs_I
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/the-mammy-stereotype/
http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~engl4904/postcolonial.html
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:criesalloveru:
I Love you Mammy! biggrin