Whites’ Consumption of Black Culture and Politics Isn’t Anti-Racism Praxis

There are Whites who believe that they “mean well” (and we know in terms of justice that “intent” is not where the power lies; it is in effect) and feel that endless consumption of womanist/Black feminist content and Black culture is “proof” of their anti-racism work. However, vapid consumption without action is entertainment at best, voyeurism at worst; neither are justice. I discussed this a few times, but especially so in How To Appropriately Engage With Blogs That Have Anti-Oppression Related Content, in Hypervisibility and Marginalization: Existing Online As A Black Woman and Writer as well as in On Feminist “Branding” and Consumption where in the latter I stated:

The consumable good (me, a person) is still never fully human to them, even if the type of consumption itself is deemed “positive.” Embracing everyone’s wholeness and full humanity is not solely an intellectual activity. So they can choose to memorize everything I write and say and even use it with or without permission in their own work, but that’s not really the point. This isn’t solely intellectual exercise. Without any actual compassion and recognition, then they’re just consuming me…

While this is not on the most severe side as when it is cultural appropriation, it is still a form of reductionism and dehumanization where White consumption is viewed as anti-racism work and action. When Whites are silent in the face of injustice but think their IP address showing up in my Stat Counter everyday is anti-racism work, they’re wrong. Because ultimately it is not on them to “learn” (this word is starting to repel me now coming from Whites; I think I file it under them calling me “strong” or “articulate”) every nuance of pain in my life (for which it has been proven that they do not equally empathize with even if they consume it to be entertained by “the other” or salve White Guilt) but to dismantle (and no, I’m not going to post “tips” on how to get their foot off my neck; it’s their foot) these institutions of oppression. Black people are the ones who need to be able to express our pain and mentally deconstruct this internally more than anything.

While “love” alone (and no, you cannot friend or fuck your way into dismantling oppression) is not going to dismantle oppression either, I tire of consumption being mistaken for compassion. It is not. Because no matter how much Whites consume, I face racism alone, period.

And then when they run around the web and the world patting themselves on the back for being willing to “learn” and say “oooo ahhh wow I leeeaaarrrrnnn sooo much from you” over and over, I want to ask “so now what are you doing with that knowledge?"

The worst part is since their White Guilt is such a fucking nuisance, I will now get emails asking "so should I not read your blog?” Because that’s the point here? I did not say that at all. I am talking about the sheer act of consumption from a place of privilege being deemed that’s all required to dismantle oppression. It’s not enough. Simply being “not racist” (if that’s even the real case) is not enough.

The irony? A racist White person will say “go out and do something” in response to my discussions of racism online, when they have NO CLUE what I have done in 16 years of adulthood and as if it is on us and not them to end racism, but “ally” Whites will consume my words and NOT “go out and do something” or a few go out to speak over and for Black people, while remaining privileged and racist. That’s rich.