Critical thought is sorely lacking in this thread. Instead of quoting twitter posts, take two minutes to dig deep within yourselves. Forget about the faux activist, social media bullshit for a moment and consider the individuals actually impacted here.
Is it within the realm of possibility that they are capable of making their own informed decisions and aren't merely automatons acting purely out of years of systemic slavery and oppression?
Isn't it, in fact, more likely the reality rather than any other possible explanation?
Isn't it, in fact, horribly fucking demeaning of you all to dictate what these people can and cannot feel. Are you not ironically attempting to exercise some control over them by defining their actions for them?
I can't even take this post seriously with the huge "outrage culture is getting out of hand" stench it's giving off.
You can allow the family to grieve however they want to and still understand- and even be repulsed by- how the act of forgiveness plays into larger conversations of white supremacy.
you know non blacks love to posterize and moralize about shit that don't affect them
I can't even take this post seriously with the huge "outrage culture is getting out of hand" stench it's giving off.
Yeah lol, 'enlightened' takes like those aren't shit when they intentionally misrepresent the grievances many have with this forgiveness fetish that White people just love.I can't even take this post seriously with the huge "outrage culture is getting out of hand" stench it's giving off.
Quote the users who've attacked the family.Why does that even need to be reiterated here. Isn't it obvious based on the majority of responses in this thread thus far? This just seems like a veiled apology for the outright attacks on the family in this very thread, but you do you.
In the aftermath of this case, and the fact that people are crying tears over this woman and none for the victim, and the fact that black people are now being guilted for not being pious negroes in tge face of a society that wouldn't stop killing us if we were all perfect, I don't care what it seems like to you.Why does that even need to be reiterated here. Isn't it obvious based on the majority of responses in this thread thus far? This just seems like a veiled apology for the outright attacks on the family in this very thread, but you do you.
Critical thought is sorely lacking in this thread. Instead of quoting twitter posts, take two minutes to dig deep within yourselves. Forget about the faux activist, social media bullshit for a moment and consider the individuals actually impacted here.
Is it within the realm of possibility that they are capable of making their own informed decisions and aren't merely automatons acting purely out of years of systemic slavery and oppression?
Isn't it, in fact, more likely the reality rather than any other possible explanation?
Isn't it, in fact, horribly fucking demeaning of you all to dictate what these people can and cannot feel. Are you not ironically attempting to exercise some control over them by defining their actions for them?
Yup, so it's really not that surprising. I rather see this guy at peace than in a horrible mental state due to the tragedy.This is a very Christian thing to do. I don't know if that is good or not, but it is certainly Christ-like.
Critical thought is sorely lacking in this thread. Instead of quoting twitter posts, take two minutes to dig deep within yourselves. Forget about the faux activist, social media bullshit
Bree Newsome is an artist who drew national attention in 2015 when she climbed the flagpole in front of the South Carolina Capitol building and lowered the confederate battle flag. The flag was originally raised in 1961 as a statement of opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and lunch counter sit-ins occurring at the time. The massacre of nine black parishioners by a white supremacist at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston reignited controversy over South Carolina's flag. Bree's act of defiance against a symbol of hate has been memorialized in photographs and artwork and has become a symbol of courage, resistance and the empowerment of women.
In the aftermath of this case, and the fact that people are crying tears over this woman and none for the victim, and the fact that black people are now being guilted for not being pious negroes in tge face of a society that wouldn't stop killing us if we were all perfect, I don't care what it seems like to you.
You mean the Twitter posts above yours from Bree Newsome? 'Faux activist' Bree Newsome?
Yeah, fuck every word of this garbage post for ignoring the societal implications of what is happening and has been happening and will keep happening.
The video was really quite different. The parents were speaking during church service, and they were reacting to the actions of their younger son forgiving the killer. The father acknowledged that he was not surprised at the son's actions because that's how they raised him, and they were proud of him. He then went on to say that he too would want to try to be her friend at some point, and that he thinks maybe it is possible, that maybe he can do it. It's him reflecting on his own capacity for forgiveness. But he acknowledges that there are consequences to his son's actions. The mother later then also says that she is proud of her son but that there are consequences, and that she will reserve her own forgiveness for herself rather than stating it in public. They also spoke about corruption in the police system and the contaminated crime scene. They continue to fight for change in the system, but forgiveness for the killer as an individual is how they want to move on.
Either show me where I or anyone else has attacked the family or shut up.And fuck your post and every other post in this thread for using a platform to attack a family who lost a beautiful human being who actually did something with their lives other than post Twitter quotes on a fucking message board.
Either show me where I or anyone else has attacked the family or shut up.
You can't position yourself as a champion of anything after dismissing everything in this thread as "faux activist" dribble.I'm genuinely puzzled how you equate standing up for this family's right to grieve as advocating for any of that.
Good on him, he needs to forgive to move on with his life, or else if you cant forgive you'd live as an angry bitter miserable person and that's no way to exist. Very admirable, idk if i'd have the strength...
You can't position yourself as a champion of anything after dismissing everything in this thread as "faux activist" dribble.
Preach. Much respect and love to the family, but some of y'all gotta stop falling for the okie dope. There is a reason that forgiveness is being stressed.We love telling other black people to not be uppity when a grieving family's forgiveness is being weaponised, don't we folks.
Good on him, he needs to forgive to move on with his life, or else if you cant forgive you'd live as an angry bitter miserable person and that's no way to exist. Very admirable, idk if i'd have the strength...
Nope! I know who she is. I'm active on Twitter. I mean the people who quote the people doing the thought work here as though that equates a conversation. It doesn't. Do your own thinking. Process things for yourself. Stop leaning on others to do the dirty work for you.
People will love retweeting this and making think pieces about this because it fits white suprmancy's agenda that this was a happy capstone on a glitch in the system. When dehumanizing black people to the point that folks can put a black person down for eating ice cream in the home he pays rent on IS THE SYSTEM. It just gives people an ok to opt out of reflecting on the racism that was all over this case. She was sharing all the little cute racist memes folks get all the time from friends and family and just go "Oh You...", Then she shot and killed a black person. That should be the take away.
Folks are quick to want to forgive and forget with not one attempt at redemption. She could have shown growth and tried to make things right by admitting she fucked up and pleading guility, but no she got up there and tried to invoke the power of whiteness like it was Greyskull at every turn. Society is always wants the Disney fairy story idealized of Empathy, but it never goes boy ways. We look like the bad guys if we still take offense to "Raped by a pack of niggers", or the tri monthly blackface usage, or where racism attempting to masquerade "Comedy".
Fat is that this man shouldn't even be in the position to have to do this, but folks are more than happy to see it over and over again because helps them not have to deal with reality. But margalized people don't have that luxiusre, we have to nuture our broken, and bury our dead and guess what? AIN'T NOBODY GOING OUT THEIR WAY TO HUG and SUPPORT US. So entirely me miss me with this cheap hit of white privilege dopamine
He can grieve however he wants but this stronger for forgiveness narrative needs to stop. Not forgiving someone for murdering your family is in no way shape or form an indication that you are a less good person. The opposite of forgiveness would have been his family calling for or carrying out violence against her or her family as reprisal.
A sexual assault survivor isn't lesser for not forgiving their abuser. An adult that cuts off contact with their abusive parent to lead a life that's most conducive to their well-being isn't lesser because forging a relationship with them isn't possible without harming their mental health.
This is especially true when the person responsible does everything they can to not own up to their actions until they have no choice all while agreeing to disparage the victim in the hope they can get off with minimal or no penalty.
The world will be a better place when privileged people put the plight of marginalized people as an actual priority so they don't have to keep forgiving people for brutalizing them in the hopes that it gets people to see them as equals.
Black people have been forgiving white killers forever in America and the lesson hasn't been learned yet. So entirely miss me with this bullshit that being the better person involves forgiveness and is the correct path forward.
For those that can endure reading it here's a past instance. Wanted to warn prior though as it does talk about a 1981 lynching.
Nearly 40 years later and people are still beating black people over the head that this is what the takeaway should be.
I don't think sharing Twitter posts is faux activism. Here is a well-thought out post from this very thread that isn't attacking anyone. Is there anything in particular you disagree with in these?
EDIT: Included another post.
White supremacy asserting itself.
Forgiveness has a place in this world, but so does the rage, anger and indignation which comes from being denied the basic right and sympathy afforded to others just based on the colour of our skin or whether we are born with a dick down there. It's why we riot, why we protest why complain and why I as a black man will never be quick to forgive those who were quick to harm my family or worse kill those like me because what we look like not who we are.
finger wagging at black folk, same as always
Good on him, he needs to forgive to move on with his life, or else if you cant forgive you'd live as an angry bitter miserable person and that's no way to exist. Very admirable, idk if i'd have the strength...
Of course, there is. That doesn't give you or anyone else the right to determine how the family grieves or chooses to exercise forgiveness.
Of course, there is. That doesn't give you or anyone else the right to determine how the family grieves or chooses to exercise forgiveness.
Far less people are attacking the family than you are pretending but you have nothing else so I understand what you're doing here
Forgiving someone who didn't even have the grace to plead guilty is foolish, and I would earnestly say that to the family, or anyone.
Good for him, if this helps him deal with his loss then I am all for it.
But this should not be held up as an example for everyone, or the standard what a "good person" is supposed to do. Because if he chose to remain angry and not forgive her that would be 100% appropriate.
So are we at the point where the warm fuzzy hugs have become the narrative over the difficult conversation of the deep-seated racism that causes these types of incidents in the first place?
Attack the system. Attack the media coverage. Attack the institutionalized racism that led us down this path. You can do all of those things without casting judgment on the family.
Good on him, he needs to forgive to move on with his life, or else if you cant forgive you'd live as an angry bitter miserable person and that's no way to exist. Very admirable, idk if i'd have the strength...
Good for him, if this helps him deal with his loss then I am all for it.
But this should not be held up as an example for everyone, or the standard what a "good person" is supposed to do. Because if he chose to remain angry and not forgive her that would be 100% appropriate.
Looks like this came from a religious reason. Is there a reason why black Americans are such a devoutly Christian group? I never understood this since Christianity was used to justify slavery and colonialism. Asking as a white, irreligious, Canadian man.
I mean, you say this but also respond "100% spot fucking on" to this:
Which implies you are casting some form of judgment yourself. The post specifically says "needs to forgive" and "if you can't forgive you'd live as an angry bitter miserable person". I don't agree with these at all. You don't need to forgive to move on, and not forgiving does not make you a bitter person. They chose to grieve one way but they would not have been in the wrong, and he wouldn't have been a worse person, for never forgiving her.
I'm in agreement with this post:
1...2...or 50, it doesn't matter. One group commoditizing a horrible situation doesn't make yours or anyone else's attempt to commoditize a family's grief right.
This act of forgiveness wasn't for her. It wasn't for me, it wasn't for you. It was for him.
But it would be silly to say that's some concrete state that can't be changed. You can hold onto it for day, months, years, or take it to your grave. I held onto mine for years but fortunately got to the point that I could let it go because that was what was best for me. There's no right or wrong to that, in my mind.
These aren't contradictory positions.
ThanksAn adult that cuts off contact with their abusive parent to lead a life that's most conducive to their well-being isn't lesser because forging a relationship with them isn't possible without harming their mental health.