morsmordre-prophet

[morsmordre-prophet]

The Fallacy of “Pureblooded Privilege”

Author: Op-Ed Columist, Olaf G. Rowle

A pillar of contemporary politics is the notion of "pureblood privilege". I speak specifically to the opinion piece written in today's paper by Mr. Rowland J. Rolfe. Since such beliefs are being so publicly broadcasted, I thought it astute to demand rational inquiry to such an idea.

The assertion turns out to be largely meaningless. And more significantly, it does great harm to muggleborns.

First, no reasonable person can argue that pureblood privilege applies to the great majority of purebloods, let alone all of them. There are simply too many variables other than blood status that determine one's individual success.

And if it were true, why would purebloods be so outnumbered by the rest of the other blood statuses? According to last years census, purebloods, who are supposedly the most privileged group, are outnumbered nearly 1 to 5 by half-bloods? Shouldn't this mean that there would be "half-blooded privilege"?

Whatever reason one gives to the population difference, it is indisputable that, at the very least, half-bloods have a considerable amount more political power than purebloods. To argue otherwise is beyond credulity.

Second, there is one host that dwarfs any idea of "pureblood privilege."

Money. If you are born to a select percent of the historical families, you enter adulthood with more power than anyone else in society, regardless of blood-status.

And what about "veela privilege?". Veelas are known to receive more free items and gifts than any other demographic, yet I don't see an outrage for that.

And how about "house privilege?" It's no secret that many magical Britians tend to value workers from Ravenclaw and Slytherin over those from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Where is the upset over this?

In times, there is even "muggleborn privilege." A perfect example of this is the bill presented by Elphias Doge of the wizengamot. The bill argued for special classes and monetary help for muggleborns just entering the wizarding world. Is that not an example of a benefit they would receive that I would not?

So then why all this talk about pureblood privilege?

The major reason, in my opinion, is to portray muggles and muggleborns as victims.

The goal of this is to ensure that purebloods are viewed as awful. Does everyone forget why wizards went hidden? It was muggle persecution that caused us to disappear, and yet we are the bad men? Potentially, it could be part of a plot to bring power back to the muggles, and then where would we be?

Muggles came after our ancestors, so we built this great, hidden society in response. Pureblood privilege is another muggleborn attempt to keep wizards from focusing on what will truly help the world: our greatness.

In doing so, the believers of pureblood privilege have become the only real enemy the muggleborn has in Britain today.

[morsmordre-prophet]

Three Ways To Check Your Pureblooded Privilege

Author: Op-Ed Columist, Rowland J. Rolfe

Discussing pureblood privilege can be a bit of a nightmare in these controversial times. Still, it is a conversation that must be had, for the good of all wizarding kind.

Many pureblooded wizards, myself included once upon a time, are often blind to their elevated status in society. Walking into the wizengamot and shouting the words "pureblood privilege" will likely cause the entire room to erupt into heated conversation. While some people might dismiss it entirely, I find it important to discuss ways to check your pureblooded privilege. And for those of us who like to consider ourselves good magical folk, it's a discussion worth listening to.

For the sake of argument, I am defining privilege as a "special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people." There are many different instances that one might find themselves experiencing privilege, but we will be discussing blood-status. One of the most well-known examples of this is what I refer to as the Muggleborn Gap. Pureblooded wizards are paid, on average, 15 percent more galleons than muggleborn wizards.

Many pureblood privilege deniers argue that they don't have an advantage because they went through a variety of hardships in their lives. In my experience, the typical line of argument tends to point towards a muggleborn that received a job in favor of a pureblood, and the like. I do not mean to negate or invalidate the hardships that come with individual circumstances, bur rather, I intend to shed light on the reality that pureblooded people are granted rights, immunities, and opportunities simply because of their blood status. This is true whether we are aware of it or not.

There are a variety of reasons it's important to check one's privilege if you're a pureblood or half-blood person, but the number one reason that it is crucial to do so is to not become, or remain, complicit in a prejudiced system that values the blood of one group, over another. It is this compliance that has allowed for the rise of the Dark Wizards, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and Gellert Grindelwald.

So, here are three ways to remain mindful of your privilege.

1. During discussion of blood purity, be mindful not to speak over muggleborn individuals.

Muggleborn wixen have been silenced in many different ways throughout our magical history. One of the founders of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin, argued extensively that the school only admit purebloods as students. It is important to allow them to argue their experiences clear of obstruction. Muggleborns have entirely unique experiences that are vastly different to those who grew up with magic in their homes. Experiences that we, as purebloods, could never possibly understand. 

2. Don't assume muggleborns are pulling the "blood card".

The truth of the matter is that the people who are subjected to blood-purity focused hatred are not the ones pulling the blood card. It is the people who are discriminating against, and stereotyping them, that are. Muggleborns are not trying to pull the blood card, they are just trying to respond to ours.

3. Do not assume that you have the same starting place as a muggleborn.

There are countless laws in place, meant to explicitly benefit pureblooded wizards. The institution of passing down familial Wizengamot seats is a prime example of this. By showing precedence to folks from historical magical families, these people immediately start out ahead of the curve in favor of their "more pure" brethren. This has never been more visible than with the case of previous Minister, Nobby Leach. Mr. Leach was appointed to the post of Minister of Magic in 1962, and ten years ago, the summer of 1968. He was our first, and only, muggleborn Minister of Magic. The reasons for his leaving his post are still unknown, and there are lots of reasons out there for it. Still, this alone should show the stark disadvantage for muggleborns in our pureblooded society. Who do you think is more likely to find power in the ministry? A member of the Black, Lestrange, or Longbottom family? Or a muggleborn with a name that nobody knows? It’s not very hard to see.

If you ask me, these requests aren't all that difficult. If you find yourself offended by this article, perhaps you ought to recognize that you are apart of the problem.

[morsmordre-prophet]

[morsmordre-prophet]

Attacks Continue!

Author: W. Oddpick

It is with heavy hearts we have to report an increasing number of attacks on innocent civilians within, and outside of, the Wizarding World. Across the country, a staggering number of deaths have been reported. Victims vary in age, race and blood status, but there have been a total of 27 deaths across the United Kingdom. 

At most of these attacks, evidence of the Dark Mark was found after the murder. 

In Belfast, Ireland, a 10 year old boy who was planning on attending Hogwarts when he turned 11 was killed. He was a Muggleborn. Weeks later, 3 Muggles were attacked in broad daylight in County Fermanagh. The Dark Mark that was cast was visible only to those with magical blood. 

Over the span of the last three weeks in England, 18 victims were the targets of the murder spree. Ten of the victims were Muggleborns, three were Halfbloods and five were Muggles. Their ages ranged widely, a six year old Halfblood being the youngest and a 72 year old Muggle being the oldest. 

The final, and most recent attack occured in a small town in Wales, an entire family massacred in their sleep. The Fawley family, residents of Tenby, Wales, were violently murdered. The Dark Mark present at this attack lasted longer than that at any of the other attack locations. The only surviving member of the family is Charlotte Fawley, 33 years old and an Auror. 

It seems that as of now the only place left untouched are the Wizarding regions of Scotland.

We don’t have any further details, but as they come out we will report them. Happy Holidays, readers. 

-W. Oddpick

[morsmordre-prophet]

Attacks Continue in Knockturn Alley

Written by: R. Almeidas

Tragedy strikes again in Knockturn Alley where violence has spread to fringe groups of the magical community. The attacks of late have been attributed the infamous Grindelwald’s Army and the attacks strongly resemble the recent attacks in Knockturn Alley as well as the Halloween attacks at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, though the group has not yet claimed responsibility for previous attacks. The victims include two vampires and a wizard who authorities believe to be a werewolf. The trio were found brutally murdered in the small alley behind The Starry Prophesier. For the sake of our dear readers we won’t reveal too much of the brutal details, but the mere fact that it took a team of healers hours before each of the victims could merely be distinguished from one another, much less identified, should tell you the manner in which they were were found.

Among the victims only one has thus far been identified as Vladimir D’eath, a vampire. While we would like to avoid the more explicit details, not stating the manner in which the victim was found is what we believe to be an insult to his memory, so read on cautiously dear readers. According to initial reports, employees at The Starry Prophesier found the victims quite literally ripped apart early this morning, though it is believed the victims were killed hours earlier while shops remained closed and patrons, as well as employees, were tucked away in bed. Given their classification within the magical community, authorities state that it was not unusual for the victims to be out at late hours of the night. Vladimir D’eath is survived by his only son, a seventh year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Knockturn Alley, which historically has sported a reputation as one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods of the wizard community, has recently seen an increase in the quantity as well as the brutality of these attacks. Just nearly a month before Mr. D’eath’s death, a consistent pattern of attacks on muggleborns reporting stolen wands and assault were seen regularly. Authorities have not yet linked this violent occurrence with the previous string of cases, but as always Ministry officials advise all members of the magical community to refrain from walking alone after dusk and to be aware of their surroundings.

[morsmordre-prophet]

Muggle-Born Mugged in Knockturn Alley

Written by: R. Almeidas

A recent mugging in Knockturn Alley, which occurred the evening of October 16th, has been linked to a string of alleged robberies taking place over the past three months. The latest report has Ministry officials investigating more thoroughly the supposed connection between five similar reports, as the latest case has supplied new evidence of potential motive. The most recent case resembles the others in that the victim is muggle-born and was attacked by a group of cloaked individuals just after nightfall while walking alone down the streets of London. In each instance, the victims have reported stolen wands and assault.

“They came out of nowhere and pulled me down the alleyway. At first I thought they wanted my packages, because they pulled them out of my hands, but they just tossed them aside.” One of the victims from a previous attack reported. However, none of the previous victims reported identifying factors of their attackers, until the most recent. The victim described the individuals as “radical blood purists” and claimed they were targeted specifically due to their blood status. The victim also reported that two of the individuals shared a similar tattoo on the forearm resembling a snake.

The victim of the most recent attack sustained substantial injuries and was apparated to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries by a patron of Cobb & Webb’s who found the victim in the street shortly after the attack. It has been reported the victim was promptly treated and returned home, thankful to be reunited with loved ones.

Recent events have resulted in Ministry officials releasing a statement urging muggle-borns to refrain from walking alone after dusk and to be aware of their surroundings. The report also urges members of the magical community to report suspicious behavior or further information that could be linked to this on-going investigation.

[morsmordre-prophet]

A Fight in the Night

WRITTEN BY WINKUS ODDPICK

To our readers, it is with heavy hearts that we confirm the deaths of three civilians who were attending the St. Mungo’s Charity Ball. One of the victims, aged 15, was in his Fifth Year at Hogwarts and sources say he was a Ravenclaw who excelled in his studies. The other two have yet to be identified, though here at The Prophet we have been told that they were aged 23 and 19. The exact causes of death have also not been released to the public. A witness says that one seemed to die from blunt force to the head, while the Killing Curse was heard by others. Regardless, this was a tragic occurrence that should never have happened. 

Details of the fight that led up to these tragic deaths remain unclear, though fearsome amounts of liquor were involved according to witnesses at the scene. While it can’t be confirmed, the two unknown people who started the fight are said to be members of Grindelwald’s Army and supporters of dark magic known as the Death Eaters. Again, we can not confirm this to be true, but that is what has been reported to us.

On a lighter note, the fashion of the evening will be highlighted on page 3, with designs from around the world being featured on many of our favorite socialites. A record amount of funds have been raised to benefit those afflicted with Dragon Pox and will be used to find a cure we all so desperately want! School will begin shortly in Hogwarts, and that means back to school shopping throughout Diagon Alley. 

As always, stay tuned and stay alert for new developments in this story as we continue looking for answers.