Spectra Speaks

qwocmediawire:

When we ponder the concepts of religion and queerness, what images and issues come to mind?

In discussions involving religion and LGBT issues for QPOC, the focus in mainstream media has almost always been on Christian families, churches, and communities, and the degree to which they are…

~Borderlands, Gloria Anzaldua (via qwocmediawire)

#Tokenization dulls our senses, distorts our view of who the real enemy is; we’re blinded, and so begin to swing blindly at our brethren.

newwavefeminism:

thealiensmadethisblog:

gelopanda:

A thorough list of QPOC films/Documentaries that I need to watch. 

reblogging for later

oh wow. tumblr has the coolest resources!

Excerpt from my call-and-response speech to cis and white women at “Women United against War on Women” national protest. 

My Sisters-in-Arms…
(We Are Listening!)

When we picture the women’s movement what faces do we see?
What voices do we hear?
And are they reflected in our choices? In our larger strategy?
Are transgender women a part of this movement?
Have we done our jobs to make that clear?

If so, where is the outrage when transgender women are murdered at an alarming rate in this country?
Where is the feminist takedown when — even in death — the media refers to our trans sisters with male pronouns and suggests that their very existence warranted their assault and murder?

Too many transgender women are being left behind.
Too many members of our family are dying.
Too many members of our family are being  tortured and incarcerated, simply for surviving,
Just because we’re too busy “uniting” to look behind.

You must do better.
We must do better. 

If I’ve learned anything about real-life revolutions
it’s that they sometimes can take on the form of the war you’re fighting.
it’s that it matters less what you’re fighting for, but who is fighting with you

The War on Women needs to mean more than reproductive justice for middle class white women.
The War on Women needs to mean more than the debate over abortion and birth control.
The War on Women must mean to us the impact of racism on women of color and our sons.
The War on Women must mean to us the impact of racism, sexism, and homophobia on transgender women of color.
The War on Women must mean to us the impact of un-checked privilege and ignorance within  our movement.
The War between Women is real.

And until we can be brave enough to face the truth –
that we have to END the war over who counts as “women” amongst ourselves
we are NOT united.

Click for full post. 

fairytaleclub:

by Rachel Isadora

(via thatneedstogo)

garconniere:

disclaimer: i must admit, i try to avoid arguments that begin with “why are talking about THIS when THIS is happening?!” but it has been on my mind for far too long and i can’t shake this. no, i’m not the best person to write about this, but i can’t find anyone else who has expressed similar…

This really touched me. I feel so much stronger and empowered today knowing that this voice resounds in the world. Thank you, Aisha.

afrolez:

On Friday, April 13, 2012, The Feminist Wire, of which I am a member of its Editorial Collective, published “To Be Anti-Racist Is To Be Feminist: The Hoodie and The Hijab Are Not Equals,” by Adele Wilde-Blavatsky, who is also a U.K. -based member of the Editorial Collective. A link to…

The framework that helps you navigate life shouldn’t excuse smashing another’s compass #religion #spirituality #atheism

Bad Advocacy = This is What We Should Do

Good Advocacy = This is What THEY Would Like Us To Do.

Got it? It’s not rocket science. Ask what people need before you give, or you become bothersome. #LessonsfromKony2012

I write to know myself, to remind myself that I am beautiful, that I am strong, and that my voice matters.

Why do you write?

(Source: spectraspeaks.com)

newwavefeminism:

I definitely respect Racialicious for doing what the world should have immediately done before going into a frenzy about IC’s viral video campaign: actually looking into the opinions of experts actually native to that part of the world. Click the link to see these 5 women (who i will be adding to my list of favorite scholars)

From Racialicious:

Almost overnight, the web was flooded with so much commentary from western media on the erasure of African voices that it became challenging for me to even locate perspectives from fellow Africans; ironically, African voices weren’t initially just being drowned out by the success of IC’s viral campaign, but by western voices sharing their own take. Fortunately, African voices stepped up to the  plate, offering a wide range of perspectives; you can find a compilation of African responses to the campaign here, and a more general roundup of the Kony2012 issue here.

Nevertheless, I’m (as always) acutely aware of the amplification of male voices on the Kony 2012 campaign. Hence — and in the spirit of women’s history month — I’d like to highlight African women’s voices. The 5 women below aren’t just adding to the conversation, but inspiring critical thinking about how we can be more conscious about the media we consume, more humble in our efforts to provide support to fellow global citizens, and mindful of the gift social media has given us. Africans now have the power to combat harmful narratives about Africa simply by telling our own.

Loving that this is going around. Not loving that yet again African women’s agency is being erased by incorrectly crediting Racialicious for our own initiative bringing our voices to light. While I kept pointing out that no one was actually seeking African voices on Kony 2012 — just taking up space ranting about how IC didn’t seek input from Africans — no one listened; so I created the post my damn self.

Ultimately, as the popularity of this post proves, no can help Africa “raise our voices” but us; and in this instance, African women did just that. The women I highlighted have already been working on various African initiatives, already writing; as a media activist I did my part to consolidate so that we could hold people accountable — so no one can say African women aren’t speaking, or are ‘waiting’ to be noticed, published etc. 

Much love and gratitude to everyone sharing the post (including Racialicious who I’ve written for) but let’s not get ahead of ourselves; let’s not credit others for our own initiative (and work) speaking up, writing, amplifying our own voices.

Respect our agency. Thank you.

The Kony 2012, a campaign launched recently by Invisible Children to raise awareness of the issues of child soldiers in Uganda in which they propose what they believe to be the ultimate solution — arrest Kony, the LRA rebel leader responsible for over 30,000 child abductions — was met with overnight “success” (i.e. over 50 million views on YouTube) and then heightened controversy; there are critiques that suggest the video promotes a white saviorist approach to humanitarianism, others that applaud the effort but challenge the film’s inaccuracies, and many more that call for the inclusion of more African voices in Invisible Children’s advocacy efforts.

Almost overnight, the web was flooded with so much commentary from western media on the erasure of African voices in the campaign that it became challenging for me to even locate alternative perspectives from fellow Africans; ironically, African voices weren’t initially just being drowned out by the success of IC’s viral campaign, but by western voices sharing their own take.

Fortunately, African voices stepped up to the  plate, offering a wide range of perspectives; you can find a compilation of African responses to the campaign here, and a more general roundup of the Kony2012 issue here.

Nevertheless, I’m (as always) acutely aware of the amplification of male voices on the Kony 2012 campaign. Hence — and in the spirit of women’s history month — I’d like to highlight African women’s voices. The 5 women below aren’t just adding to the conversation, but inspiring critical thinking about how we can be more conscious about the media we consume, more humble in our efforts to provide support to fellow global citizens, and mindful of the gift social media has given us. Africans now have the power to combat harmful narratives about Africa simply by telling our own.

A Twitter follower asked me yesterday what editors can do to include Africans in the discussion about the Kony 2012 campaign. It’s obvious to me that one does more for Africa by publishing African voices vs. commentary about the dearth of African voices. But just in case it isn’t obvious to others, the solution is simple: publish African voices.

Go here to read: 5 African women respond to Kony 2012

zorascreation:

“Privilege is expecting that marginalized people have nothing better to do than educate you on your privilege. Please read a book.”

—

Spectra Speaks

The path to our liberation is buried beneath the heap of stones we keep to throw at our oppressors. But anger will not set us free.

(Source: facebook.com)