>this country has always extended a certain amount of unearned >privilege to people who aren't from here...that dynamic is >actually quite common in most places, if you ask expats...the >'other' is always gonna be seen as more interesting/manageable >than the oppressed native > >with that said, i think Black visibility and inclusion helps >all of us, even if the diasporic (is that a word?) family has >an advantage...they are still bringing a perspective into that >space that wasn't already represented..there's something very >powerful about that regardless >
This part, "bringing a perspective into that space that wasn't already represented..." is what I'm talking about. Its incredibly important and it's why I appreciate the effort.
>i also see alot of "ADOS" getting seats, as well...especially >in the spaces i occupy and interact with > >ultimately, i don't believe this is what any of us should be >focused on or overly concerned about...especially since what >is most essential to me is how progressive any of these newly >seated folks are... whether someone is African, Jamaican or >ADOS...if they aren't injecting /demanding/modeling inclusion >and antiracism into these new spaces, they aren't helping >anyway (that was very simplistic, i know, but i think y'all >know what i'm getting at) > >anyway, that's my two cents. and i think the question itself >is very valid and worth discussing, but just not to obsess >over >
I think for me I was thinking about a moment I've been having with celebrating black excellence. My "congrats!" is internally followed up with "...and where are the others?"
which I guess kind of puts my thinking at a crossroads...is black progress in the area of obtaining power and growing black middle and upper class enough? OR is progress only truly meaningful if retribution changes everything for everyone - specifically the view of impoverished black bodies and reality and the open devaluation of all black lives/reality but specifically poor black reality?
Is the lever of control at the top or the bottom?
Is it important to be sure the tide rises to raise all ships?