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As Black women, we occupy a unique position in this country. Having to deal with both racism and sexism, understanding the ways of White men, White women, and Black men is necessary for our survival. Throughout our studies, we likely could have told the nation that Brett Kavanaugh was going to be confirmed to the highest court in the land by the United States Senate. We know that by in large, White women are pawns in the system of patriarchy and misogyny. They’d rather play along with the “good ole boys,” believing they’ll one day have access to their power than provide any real challenge to the system, the status quo. So of course female, Republican senators voted to confirm Kavanaugh.
And to add insult to injury, Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine who cast a critical vote in Kavanaugh’s confirmation said that there was a silver lining in the nationwide discussion of sexual assault.
“The one silver lining that I hope will come from this is that more women will press charges now, when they are assaulted.”
Trash. And oddly enough, strikingly similar to what Remy Ma said about Bill Cosby’s victims.
Press charges for what? So they can be re-victimized by a justice system that doesn’t care about the rights of women? Why would a woman in this climate feel comfortable coming forward with her story when the U.S. Senate confirmed a man who has been accused of sexual assault on several different occasions, by several different women to the highest court of the land? Where is her assurance that her claims will be taken seriously if women don’t believe the words of other women?
As you can imagine, there were a group of White women who were shocked by the confirmation and wanted to express their disapproval of this decision in protest. Actress Molly Ringwald provided a suggestion that might appear…familiar.
I am calling on either Beyonce, Ariana Grande or Christine Aguilera to sing the National Anthem on bended knee #JustDoIt
— Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) October 5, 2018
She was immediately met with this criticism.
White women kneeling during the anthem to protest “rape culture” is highjacking a movement you took no risks for. You didn’t kneel in solidarity to protest the murder of Black people, don’t co opt & make it about your victimization. That’s white supremacy in the name of feminism.
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) October 6, 2018
Exactly right. If the thought of police brutality against Black people, including women, in this country didn’t inspire White women to take a knee, then they should find something else to do. This idea speaks to so many of the issues people have with White feminists. There’s the idea that they don’t begin to fight or even perceive injustice in this country until it directly affects them, White women. Then there’s the appropriation. Ringwald didn’t create an entirely different symbol of protest, a new hashtag or activism group. Ringwald, who as far as we know, never publicly knelt with Kaepernick, wants to use his symbol—one that he decided upon after input from a veteran, one for which he suffered financially, to promote a movement inspired solely by the suffering of a White woman. It’s self-centered, unimaginative and a reminder that far too often, White women really aren’t our allies if they’re only concerned when injustice comes to their doorstep.
See what other people had to say about Ringwald’s suggestion and why it was a terrible idea, on the following pages.
I imagine ur ❤️ is in the right place but Kaepernick began protesting police brutality by taking a knee during the anthem. Appropriating that protest action for another purpose, no matter how noble, is unacceptable. Asking woc to do so is just clueless & heartless #WhiteFeminism
— Paulette (@PauletteDCvegan) October 6, 2018
No!!!!!! Protest something tied to your cause!! Disappear for a day. Yell ‘Me too’ at noon. Something but be creative and figure out your own protest vs usurping the one fighting the injustice placed upon of black & brown lives!!!!
— Sacha Thompson (@petite1908) October 6, 2018
White women are now co-opting Kaep's protest but where were y'all when it was about Black ppl being murdered by the state??? Do you care about Resisting only when it's your own body at risk? These are questions you really should grapple with. Cos the rest of us are tired
— Woman of Minimal Substance🏳️🌈 (@YaaAsantewaaBa) October 7, 2018
If police brutality didn’t move you to kneel at the sound of the anthem, don’t you fucking dare do it now.
— Lura Groen (@lura_groen) October 6, 2018
Kneeling isn't about "injustice for all". It's about centuries of racial terrorism at the hands of police & criminal justice reform. Period. White women share culpability in maintaining & reinforcing these discriminatory systems.
— Jamila Baker👑 (@jamila_jb) October 7, 2018
As a white women, I agree. As a member of #MeToo I am pissed at the actions of white women.
WHITE WOMEN YOU DO NOT GET TO HIJACK A MOVEMENT.
KNEELING IS FOR BLACK LIVES LOST.
GET YOUR OWN FUCKING PROTEST.
BE ORIGINAL FOR ONCE. 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
— 🌈🦓 Is 2020 Over Yet? (@MrsRainbowZebra) October 6, 2018
But it does *exactly* that – takes away from the significance of kneeling. Now because it's personal for white women we want a visible protest. I understand, I'm a white women who's been raped 3 times. We need to do better than this, it hurts other oppressed people.
— I'd rather be good than nice. (@hbacmom1) October 6, 2018
This rage I'm feeling at this very moment isn't healthy! Kneeling? Are white women kneeling?????? This isn't yours, it's just not & bc we still have an issue w/police brutality your taking away from that msg. Find something else, u don't have to co-opt this https://t.co/jFWEOHdhfz
— Tanya ✨🏳️🌈 (@TEE1031) October 7, 2018
We as white women have a long standing history of stealing ideas/movements from black women and using our privilege to overshadow them so we “include” ourselves in the narrative. You can support a movement without making it about yourself. Kneeling for a reason other than
— b. (@findingmyfunny) October 8, 2018
and black women are also part of the movement that Kapernick is commandeering.
— b. (@findingmyfunny) October 8, 2018
been divided, and by dismissing what he said you’re dismissing the feelings/thoughts/etc of BW & the issues that they experience that we as WW never will. This whole “I don’t see color” BS needs to stop. It’s not helpful. It’s just a blanket excuse.
— b. (@findingmyfunny) October 8, 2018
This isn’t it. Do you know how American history works? 100 years from now when people are reading about 2018, they will read that white women kneeled. No mention of black Americans kneeling against police brutality first.
— Krisp Jenner 🇵🇪 (@jillianmallory) October 6, 2018