#BIPOC are not a monolith

[mrsblackruby]

I think Billy Hargrove and Eddie Munson would get along just fine *heart eyes* 😍

[the-everqueen]

This colleague of yours is like a random microaggression generator I stg - Shaina

oh lmao this triggered the memory of a conversation we [the colleague, me, and another grad] had at the conference earlier this month that was...Problematique...on so many levels. i can't reproduce it here, but it did solidify my feelings about the (very often) exploitative nature of ethnographic research.

[storm-of-feathers]

actually some of you will say the most blatantly anti indigenous things ive ever heard in my life under the guise of "lol those silly americans". i dont say nothing bc god i cant be bothered but if youre really going to unironically say that criticism of colonialism isnt applicable to america then. man idk how to even help you at that point.

[crazycatsiren]

I know I've said this before, but BIPOC aren't a monolith.

Most of us are reluctant or aren't comfortable with speaking for groups that we aren't parts of.

And we're a vast and diverse bunch of people. We don't know everything about each other. We may know a great deal about our own groups. But other groups we may know little to nothing about.

Just because you've found one of us, doesn't mean that one person is able to answer all of your questions.

[silent-raven13]

A new take on Sunflowers!

(AU: No Spider-man powers. Hobie is a famous Punk Star/model/celebrity. He happens to go to an art opening and fell in love with the works and the artist)

"Ehhh!" Miles look at the bouquet of flowers and boxes of expensive gifts. He didn't even settle in his new studio apartment, he saw so many gifts being delivered to him. It was already the next day after the crazy party. Checking on the message card, "To my Sunflower, XOXOXOX, Hobie. 💜🌻🤘🏿"

He felt so flustered that he took the bouquets of flowers in his arms taking a big sniff. "They smell so good." He hums feeling his cheeks warm. The art opening did filled him with surprises, he didn't think he would catch a certain celebrity eyes.

-Last Night-

"Yes. Yes. We're heading there, now." The twenty seven year old punker slouches in the limo being bored by his assistant making calls to their manager. He rolled his eyes, so this is what being famous is like. The constant meet and greets, events, and talkshows. Ugh, the popularity didn't seem to stop because of his own Controversy nature, being chaotic to break anything.

The fans love that from him. His bandmates are meeting him at this art opening he so badly wanted to go. It was a refresher to find something that's his interest, but his agency being on his ass was pissing him off. He wanted freedom! To enjoy his time with his friends.

Now, his assistant is here being observant because the last time he was left alone, he had brawl with some jackass at a bar.

Figures...

He lit up his cigarette being annoyed, a good burn of nicotine will help him. "You're supposed to quit smoking." His assistant said being on her laptop.

"Come on, Mindy. I've been stressed all the damn time. I need this." He inhale being annoyed. "Fuck quitting."

"Then you have to deal with Bruce."

"Fuck him, too."

Mindy sighs before the limo stopped at the gallery called, "New Verse!" It's own by a famous man, who believes in contemporary arts for the diversity artists. Right now, there's three arts presenting their worsts that are upcoming to the art field.

Young BIPOC artists that were born and bred in New York City. Hobie honestly saw one painting on the pamphlet from invite from his good friend, Pavtri. A funny actor that changed the game by his bubbly adorable personality, his girlfriend is one of the artists. Yet, the punker wasn't focus on her inspirational Indian American women with abstract strokes and figures.

Oh no, he's eyes was curious when he saw a powerful, very old school graffiti style with a modern take of using media with bright bold colors and insane texts. The handwritten calligraphy had rough ink with profound words like slurs, then a beautiful black man figure crying. Tears all colorful with small texts inside. So many going all at once that he wanted to see in person. The piece had the sizes about 300 inches by four hundred inches on canvas mounted on wall. He had to see it.

When the limo parked, "We're here." His assistant said.

Hobie got out of the car seeing paparazzis already there to take photos of him.

Great, these fucking leeches

He wore his latest high end outfit; ripped tight black skinny jeans with patches by Farfetched brand, accessories like chains dripping to the side of hips. He wore expensive Prada Monolith and re-nylon black boots, and red laces. A Sex Pistol t-shirt personally shredded, Two belts around his waist, one he's actually wearing on his jeans but the other more for fashion that is slanted to the side. Then his Celine black leather jacket with his own custom touches having spikes and paint on it. His own rebellious style. Then tons of jewelry on him; bracelets from his wrists, necklaces, and diamonds piercings. All top with a very masculine cologne by Tom Ford.

His wicks bounces by every step of his heavy boots as he got out already having his black shades on to cover his eyes. He saw some of the fans waiting for him. "OH MY GAWD, IT'S HIM! HOBIE! HOBIE! WE LOVE YOU!"

"HEY, HOBIE COME LOOK OVER HERE!"

Hobie quickly walks away with a scowl, he tries hard not to ruin his black lipstick by Fenty. All this work to look good and these paparazzis never leave him alone!

Life as a Star

When he finally enters the gallery, he saw a group of body guards being there. It seems there was a lot of famous celebrities around, too.

Great...

He should've known Pavtri would invite more people for his girlfriend. His assistant said, "Oh wow, you can network with these other celebrities. There's Peni Parks, I heard she is famous for her robotics in Japan. Her company release the latest Androids."

"Huh, so we're about to get controlled by the government." Hobie snorted.

"Come on, Hobie. Not this again."

"It's true." He took off his shades to find other familiar faces like Miguel O'Hara, the CEO of Alchemax with a teenage girl wearing a black dress having to look at a painting. A famous man like that likes art? Huh, who knew.

Then Jess Drew, a popular lawyer never losing a case and a very expensive one at that. Hobie had follow her cases, seeing how she went to trial about defamation of character to a famous celebrity.

Petra, a famous three gold Olympic Athlete, she had one her titanium prosthetic leg wearing ankle pants with loafers and tight beige sweater. Her brown pixie hair cut had a shave to the left side showing off her pierced ears.

Then Ben Riley, a famous skater. Noir-

Aye, no way he's here!

Noir is a very popular contemporary artist that causes many controversy on society's politics. One of the most respected activists, too. He would shred his own work in front of auction if he doesn't like the buyer. The man stays hidden with his black mask. Hobie respected that man, too bad his works are out of his price range, if he could get his hands on it.

One popular piece was a Rubik's cube that he presented in a gallery then mix it all up. Then place it on a white pedestal. The price of that work started off two billion.

Bonkers, Hobie knows. But that piece started a massive wave for the hidden artists. Noir seems to know Petra and Ben.

Interesting...

He noticed a popular street artist, activist, and poet name Zero. Kaine, a famous game streamer on Twitch. Kitty, a popular influencer. Peter Parker, a famous American Actor.

So many blokes here!

"Oh, look there's Gwen!" She spotted a familiar Pop Punk singer standing with her own female band, which is her girlfriend drummer, Margo and Silk, a girl who plays the guitar.

"Aye," Hobie was about to go over until, he stops when his eyes caught the art piece he been yearning to see. When he enters the room to find more works.

His eyes on the large piece, he took in every single detailed. "Mindy, luv. Can you please give me wine?"

"Sure thing, Hobie." She went out of the room to leave him to admire the works.

Hobie saw the artists name and description, "A cry for Help! By Miles G. Morales..." He read seeing the materials being made by spray paint, acrylic paint and other stuff. He didn't want to read anymore, so he can try to figure out the meaning of the work.

Taking a closer look, he saw details of Brooklyn, police brutality, drugs, and struggle. Then a light white out line of a man and woman with child that is very hard to see. If you're not paying attention, a person would think it's a decorative add-on.. Then more Corporate brands, then drug names, and money prices. The background of blue shading with imagery of activism. So many things going on that represented the struggle for black people, it touched Hobie. Especially the image of the black man crying.

What surprised him is the soft touch up to imply make up, the figure had a smudge light lip gloss and glittery eyes, his skin cover with light newspaper textures with to-day's and past events of black trans struggles, and racism.

Bloody beautiful...

Mindy came by to hand him his glass a wine, she hums, "Your eyeliner is smudging."

"Thanks, darling." Hobie wipe the tear off his eye, "It's a fantastic piece, innit?"

"It's really sad..." Mindy frowns at the painting, "Crazy how colorful it is. Like they want you to be happy but when you look at it longer... you see the true ugliness of America."

Hobie sips his wine with a nod, "Exactly. It's perfect. How much is it?"

"300k."

"What? So little?"

"He's a new artist in the field. He's been popular through social media, but not in galleries. It's a different wave." She explained.

"Pfft, and he's black?"

"Yeah."

"Figures. Always the black man getting the short end of the stick." Hobie took out his black card, "I'll double the price."

"Are you sure?" Her eyes widen.

"Yes, I'm sure. I got payed from that stupid Pepsi commercial so I'm winning to buy this at a reasonable price." He said.

"I'll look for the seller. Stay here." She said before going to find them.

Hobie had no problem staying when he can admire this painting. Unaware of a black hooded man standing next to him. "You been looking at this piece for a while, huh?"

"It's a powerful piece." Hobie glanced over to find the person wearing a black hoodie.

"Meh, it's ight." He casually said.

"Are you bloody mad? This is one of the best works I've seen and trust me, I've seen bullshit artists from France, Japan, even the MET." He snorted.

"Gayatri's work is amazing. Zero's installation is freakin' cool." He added, "They are actually showing real struggles as women of color."

"I'll see for myself, but this right here! This is where it's at." Hobie said proudly.

The Hooded man chuckles, "Alright, but take your time looking at the other works." He left with that.

Hobie rolled his eyes but his nose tickle of scents of Sunflowers and tropical shea butter. "Who was he?" He mutter to himself, before going to the next work. The artist made five pieces. In the room there was only four massive works.

It seems Hobie fell in love with the artist, because the second work he loves it even more. It was a massive photo of a black male punker with tattoos, so much piercing on his face and had this scary look with so much spikes and ripples on his clothing. He had intense makeup, but the photo is only black and white.

The figure had a charming smile with his tongue out and wink while he holds a bouquet of sunflowers. The Sunflowers were painted in cartoon like, and there was other paintings of feminine and cutesy imagery. Stickers, and spray painted text. Hobie quickly read the name of the work, "A New Take on Sunflowers: Triptych Part 1 by Miles G. Morales."

Hobie went back to look at the piece, the Sunflowers were brighter almost glowing with youth. "A New Take on Sunflowers... By old Vinny?" He did love this work. He saw how the Punker represented gender fluidity, to embrace their culture yet love the things that aren't represented in their lifestyle. It could also show how someone 'scary' looking have a softer side by holding the flower with care and love.

"Hobie, your bandmates are here." Mindy came back to tell him.

"Be there." Hobie didn't wanna see them when he had these works to admire. The next painting was next to the punker photo. This time the second painting is a photo in black and white of two black women kissing being in the Ghetto of New York. They hold their Sunflowers. They had on weave, bright gold jewelry, tight clothing being so happy to be together.

Now that's love.

His eyes saw the color of the jewelry being the same yellow as the Sunflowers, and more happier texts and doodles around the two. The women had on wedding rings on, celebrating their marriage.

Hobie chuckles, "Cute." He saw the third part of this work. This one is a Puerto Rican mother, how did he know she's Puerto Rican? The massive flag in the background, and the woman sitting while braiding her daughter's hair with a soft gentle smile. The little Afro-Latina smiling at her big Sunflower as it aims at the two. It's a beautiful piece of mother and child.

Shit, why these works are affecting me so much

Hobie felt tears coming down his cheek, he never felt like this before. It's so beautiful and powerful. He needs them. He wants them in his penthouse!

"Hobie?" Mindy asked.

He quickly turns to her with his eyeliner already smudge, "I want all of these. Go buy them!"

"What? Hobie, you can't be-" Hobie glares at her. "Alright. Alright, I'll let the seller know!" She sighs, "Also, Karl and the rest of the band is here. Go say hi!"

"Ugh, fine." Hobie went to find his friends while his assistant went off to find the seller, again. His goal is to find the fifth work.

"Hey Hobs! What up, man?" His best friend, Karl high five him, he's the bass player of the band.

Riri chuckles, "Hey, share the love, bro!" She grins widely being the guitarist.

Mattea nodded, "Hey, Hobie." The drummer of the band.

Hobie gave them a hug, "Aye, mates. How's it going?"

"Great. With all these talkshows and trying to make our own shit, ugh we're exhausted." Riri said.

"Yeah, I released my own beer brand. Crazy, huh?" Karl chuckles.

"My own shirts." Mattea nodded, "We need to be smart because who knows what will happen with this band."

"What do you mean?" Hobie frowns.

"You know, we're all so busy trying to get our name out. It'll be better just in case if our band fall apart since you're busy with movies. Me with modeling." Riri added.

"And life." Mattea nodded.

"That's true. Ugh, we need to support each other. We still need to make our new album too." Hobie groans by this constant work load. "Fucking Bruce."

The rest groan. "Hobie! Hobie! I'm so happy you made it!" The group turns to find Pavtri holding his girlfriend's hand having to pull her with him. She giggles seeing how happy her boyfriend is.

"Hey, bruv. Been awhile." Hobie greeted him, "Luv. Nice to meet you." He holds Gayatri's hand and kissed it being a gentlemen when he wants to.

"Hahaha, nice to meet you, Hobie! I'm a big fan of Spider-Band!" She said.

"Have you seen, my sweet Gayatri's work!" Pavtri asked the punker with stars in his eyes. "Huh! HUH?"

"Oh honey," The female artist giggles, "He's been in Miles' room the whole time. I won't lie, his work is so good." She holds her side shoulder bag, "He even customized my bag. See!"

Hobie's eyes widen at the bag seeing the painting with Sunflowers and cute characters. "What? How? Can he do custom works?"

"Yeah, he does. I gave him one of my fabric works." She giggles, "You really like it, huh? It's moving, right?"

"I need to check it out." Riri said, "First some wine!"

"Same!" Mattea nodded.

"More like a crush." Karl knows when his best friend has a crush, it's very rare but it's obvious to see.

Gayatri giggles, "Really! Awe, you know he's single and ready to mingle." She loves playing match maker, with stars in her eyes being excited. "Zero, can tell you, he's so ready for a new man in his life!"

Pavtri pouted at the punker with fake tears, "Hobie, you promised you would admire my darling flower! My Gayatri's beautiful work! She took these beautiful hands," he holds her dainty hands, "and created this!" He jumps over to an installation of a blue cut out thick papers handing by a thread to show an abstract figure in blue. "All the dates we had to miss!"

"I will we have all the time." Hobie tries to explained then he was yank by Pavtri being forced to look at all of Gayatri's work. He even explain each one of them in great detailed.

Hobie spotted the last work of Miles G. Morales, it's at the end of the gallery on its own with nothing else around. He wanted to go see it, but he had to make his way through Zero's work, too. He didn't mind Gayatri's and Zero's work, they are amazing artist, but something about Miles' work. It got him, he needs to see the last painting.

After going through all his well known friends and admiring Zero's work. He found Miguel O'Hara's daughter gasping at Miles' painting, "Papá! Did you see that painting with the mother and daughter! It's so cute! Does he do custom work?" She asked, "I want one of me and mamá!"

"Alright. Let's see if we can book one." Miguel happily said to his daughter, his whole grumpy mood toward Peter changed when it was his daughter.

Jess giggles, "That Miles Morales is making waves with his work, being new to this game. I'm impressed."

"Yeah, the kid is freakin' good. He actually got some peeps from LA looking at his work. That kid is going to places."

The owner of the gallery is a tall thing black man, "Alright, gather around." Everyone went to see the speech which Hobie cursed himself, he was so close to see the final painting.

He smiles happily, "I like to thank my wife, Jess for support. My good friend Aaron for helping pitch in. This beautiful gallery is meant to bring all young diverse artists to the art game. I hope you enjoyed Gayatri's amazing works focusing on the hardship of Indian American women identity and gender roles. Zero's beautiful installations on her poems and politics of today." The two women artists came up with a smiling widely. "Sadly Miles couldn't make it today but his work focus on the struggles of Black and Brown acceptance in America."

Hobie frowns, he was hoping to meet the artist. Gayatri made it seem he was around. How odd?

"They are the future for young Contemporary artists, we know the field mostly represents a certain group, so I hope to help them achieve their careers with this gallery." He holds his glass of champagne being happy.

Then, a man in black hood came walking past the group surrounding the artists and owner of the gallery. Jess' husband finished, "I hope you enjoy the rest of the opening."

Hobie spotted the black hoodie male carries a bucket of paint, then when the artists and owner moved away. "Hey, what is he doing?" Karl asked out loud spotting the figure.

The figure throws black paint on the final painting by Miles. Everyone gasps even the security was about to go over. "Oh my god! Why would he do that?"

Hobie's mouth dropped in shock, "What the fuck, bruv!" He shouted out loud in anger.

The figure grins widely seeing the security guards being stopped by the owner, he took out his bright yellow Spray paint, and wrote in messy dripping text, "Miles wazz here!" He put down his hoodie revealing his face.

Hobie's eyes widen at such a handsome young man; big honey brown doe eyes, wearing earrings, septum nose piercing, and a bright glowing face. His hair a tapered Afro with a fade. Wait, this is Miles? Miles G. Morales?

"Easy. Easy. He's an artist. This is his installation piece." The owner explained.

Miles let the painting dripped showing how the painting still revealed a bit. "I call this, 'I'ma do my own thing.'" He grins widely at the crowd.

Noir nodded giving a loud clap in approval. The rest of the crowd awed, by the piece looking beautiful with the add on drips and markings. Gwen shouted, "Holy shit, Miles!"

"Wow, amazing!" Pavtri claps like crazy being so excited, "I was filled with so many emotions!" Everyone went back to looking at other works.

Hobie finally got the chance took a look at the painting, "Ruining it, eh?" He saw Miles finished talking to Pavtri, who hugs him before leaving them.

"Is it ruin to you?" Miles stood with a grin, he wore an oversize black hoodie, some tight jeans and black and yellow Jordans.

"Nah, it's perfect. I believe chaos, luv." Hobie grins at him.

Miles giggles, "I bet, you known for that."

"So you heard of me?"

"I mean, who doesn't know Hobie Brown? The lead singer of Spider band." He giggles in amusement, "So, I heard you're gonna buy my works. I'm surprised. I thought my shit would be too much for a celebrity."

"Pfft, I'm a different kind, Sunflower." He sips his wine, "I always love works about black empowerment and to support a fellow one at that."

"Aye, gracias papí." Miles spoke Spanish.

"Ah, so you're Puerto Rican?"

"I'm half black and half Puerto Rican, my parents are over there." He chuckles seeing the punker looking over to find the same woman from the painting and a little girl.

"Ahh, inspiration?"

"They were the reason for my Sunflower series." The artist explained, "Honestly, I was so nervous for tonight because I'm a new comer and being with these amazing artists of New York- Ugh, I can't believe I'm here."

"That's why you doubted your work?"

"Pretty much." Miles admitted, "Funny, you're easy to talk to."

"I'm always listening, Sunflower." He leans over to get a closer look at the artist, "And I listen to the person I like."

Miles felt flustered then giggles, "Haha, funny."

"Oh yea? Gimme your number and let see if I'm playin?" He flirted with a deep voice. Miles didn't know what possess him to hand him his smartphone but he did. The Punker happily type his number into the phone and put his private social media too.

"Text me, Sunflower." He winks at the artist as he handed back his phone.

"Okay." Miles did the basic hey.

Hobie chuckles, "So soon? You really want me."

"No-no, I mean- awe man! I suck at this stuff." Miles pouts.

"Oh yeah? So you want me to be forward," The punker lift his chin up about to lean in, their lips close to almost touching, "Because I can."

"Eh?" MIles' honey brown eyes widen, he didn't think the punker would be this bold!

"NO! My big bro!" A little girl ruffling shoves Hobie away from her brother.

"Billie!" Miles saw his seven year old sister, "Awe, come here." Thank god, because he wasn't ready for a kiss like that. His face felt so warm.

Billie happily hugs her brother being picked up, "Yeah! Only I give kisses to mi hermano!" She kisses her brother's cheek. "Your painting of me and mamí esta may bueno, hermano!"

"Awe, thank you, Billie-boo."

Hobie only rub his nose then sniff. Damn, he almost got to taste him. Shame, but he does like it when they play hard to get. Licking his lips, his eyes yearn for the artist. Something in him wants him. Putting on his charming smiles, "So this is your little sister?"

"Yeah, I am Billie!" The little girl stated, "Who you are? You don't kiss my brother!"

"Sorry, she loves me too much." Miles giggles. "Billie, this is Hobie. He's a popular singer. Hobie this is Billie."

"Hmph," Billie pouted giving a look at the punker.

"She is small. What is she? four?"

"I'm seven years old!" Billie huffs, "I am a BIG GURL!" She hugs her brother around his neck.

"Eck, Billie. Not too tight." Miles almost choked. "Sorry, she was like this with my friends."

"No problem. I love lil sprogs." He chuckles lowly, "Also, how do I book for a custom painting?"

"Oh, on my social I have a link to my studio website and there's a form for custom orders. You really gonna buy another painting from me?"

"Of course." He saw his assistant near him, "Mindy, darling. Have you met the seller?"

"Yes, sir. They are willing to sell all five works." She said.

"Alright, add another one. A custom on from Miles' website." Hobie smirks widen when he saw how Miles' eyes widen.

"Alright, if you wish to purchase it now, we need to go to the owner and have it ready for shipping." Mindy hums.

"Very well."

"Also, we should be leaving soon. You have a recording session tomorrow." She hums.

"Alright. Alright." He winks at Miles being a show off, he lifts Miles' hands up to kiss it, "It was wonderful seeing you. I hope we can meet again... without me buying paintings- perhaps a date?"

Miles' face went super flustered by the punker. He never thought this famous singer would be so sweet, so charming, so damn cute! "Huh uh." That's all came out of his mouth.

Billie side eye at her brother seeing how shy he became. "Lil one, I hope you will protect your brother from untamed men." Hobie smiles at her before handing her a crumble hundred dollar bill.

"Aye, Ayi! Cap'n!" Billie nodded at the tip.

Miles said, "Wait, you don't have to-" Hobie shrugs, "She can buy whatever she wants with it. Anyway, I'll see you later."

"Oh... Okay. Bye Hobie." Miles hugs his baby sister tightly feeling so bashful, his heart fluttering.

The punker left with a large receipt of five expensive paintings. He wave his fellow friends goodbye.

In the limo, he had a big smile on his face thinking about his Sunflower. "Never see you this happy? You really like the artist, huh?"

He sighs lovingly, "Yeah... do you know where he lives? I want to send him some flower." He breath exhale on the cold window letting it fog up, then he drew a crappy sunflower.

"On it." She nodded.

-Present Day-

Hobie chilling outside enjoying his pool after his record session. His Smartphone vibrating, he looks to find Miles calling him. "Sunflower! Surprised you called, miss me?" He flirted removing his dark shades.

"Hobie, I think you send me too many flowers...." He said.

"Oh? Fifty bouquets didn't come to you?"

"Fifty? There's like one, two, three.... forty nine-" Miles stops hearing the door bell, "Never mind, fifty."

"Then you got them all. How about the gifts?"

"Hobie, you shouldn't have sent this- I- It's nice of you for-" Hobie waves it off, "Nah, it's fine. I got money and wanted to spend it on you, Sunflower. Now, that you called- How about a lunch date?"

"Huh? A date?"

"Yup." Hobie sips on his sparkling water.

"Ummm," Miles felt bashful again, "Sure... where-where?"

"I'll pick you up. I know a great place. Also, I might bring another bouquet for you." Hobie happily said.

Miles nodded, "Okay. Do i need to wear anything?"

"I prefer lingerie."

"Huh!"

"Joking. I'm joking, luv. Something you want to wear. Don't worry it's a chill spot."

"Alright, man." The artist bite his bottom lip, "I... I don't do sex on the first date, by the way...."

"Oh? I'm surprised you expected me too." The singer chuckles.

"No, I mean- I'm so sorry that's rude. I just have to always-" Hobie chuckles, "It's okay, luv. I promise I'll give you a kiss on the cheek."

"Just a kiss on the cheek." Now he sounded disappointed.

"Or you want on the mouth with tongue?"

Miles never felt so embarrassed, "Your a jerk, Hobie Brown."

"You seem to like it." He laughs.

"I do actually." His pouty lip more enhance as he listens to Hobie's voice. Something about this punker got him thinking about him. He had a beautiful dream with him and it feels like he known him. Its weird.

"Then, I'll pick you up soon. See you later, Sunflower."

"See you, Hobie." Miles hears him hung up, then he hung up. The artist never felt like this. Touching his lips feeling the cracks of his dry skin, "I need to moisturized! Lip scrub! Look good for him!" He rushes over to the bathroom to get ready.

A special bond formed between the artist and the singer.

[spaceysoupy]

Yeah uh please don’t follow or interact with us if you are or support trace/trans-race. ESPECIALLY if you are bodily white and claiming the experiences, cultures, or resources of BIPOC. No amount of good faith or suffering doesn’t make that not harmful, sorry. We have introjects too who aren’t Indigenous or have other identities but we do not publicly/verbally claim what the body is not and what we have not personally experienced. It is wrong for trace people to speak on experiences they have not had. Even if some trace people are BIPOC, we aren’t monoliths and we do not have the same experiences and it’s still wrong to speak as if you are part of a group when you aren’t that group.

This can and already is doing significant damage and alienating BIPOC from the plural community which already has a major racism problem that has gone unaddressed for decades. White trace people are defending their own appropriation by pointing out that poctpoc trace people exist but this is still wrong.

It is particularly cruel for white transrace people to publicly identify as Indigenous and try to access specific closed cultures because practicing our own cultures was illegal and punishable until 1978. Our children have been stolen and removed from their cultures and we are still fighting to get back what was taken from us. Our languages are endangered and our histories are taught by white professors who don’t prioritize Indigenous students’ safety and make our trauma into “learning opportunities.” We have to fight everyday just to survive and none of this is ever acknowledged by white people.

Whether you are genuine and do not wish to hurt people or not, trace has the same effects as pretendians and undermines our sovereignty and safety.

So yes, I will absolutely be hostile if non-Indigenous people try to claim Indigenous identity, experiences, and culture while simultaneously ignoring the harm they are doing to us. And I will be very very suspicious of your intentions when you don’t even acknowledge the history of the term in the first place or the potential harm.

[mueritos]

Hey! You made a post about trying to find autistic BIPOC people- my roommate is native and autistic, though it's not something he really says anything about on his blog, and he's had a p traditional upper-middle class upbrining: FennalFennec is his username. Not sure what you're looking for exactly but wanted to help if I could.

Also, if you have the energy to answer, could you explain your autistic experience compared to the white autistic experience? Or maybe point me to people who do? Im neurodivergent as well, but white af and am p ignorant on the differences for BIPOC people.

thank you for the recc of your friends blog! Im really looking to diversify the autistic content i do engage in because its been pretty monolithic for a while now. even if your friend doesn't talk about it much, i just would like to be aware that people like me exist.

i'm still pretty much self-suspecting and would like be self-dx, but ive been retaking the raads-r after seeing that study that came out that pretty much confirms its a good indicator of ASD. kept scoring above 140 (literally right in between the average of suspected ASD in cis men and cis women, its almost like im a Transgender or something).

Anyway, im still unpacking the differences in the experience besides the obvious racialization of skin color. I think a main thing that comes to mind for about the difference between my experience as someone who was raised in an immigrant Mexican household (and as someone who has white privilege but was never treated as "White" i.e european) and the usual white autistic experience can be summed up with the Right to Comfort. I was actually talking about this with my twin the other day. The tenants of white supremacy are something I go back to everyday because they really do hold true in every aspect of life--interpersonal, intrapersonal, systemically, etc. But one of the tenants is the Right to Comfort. I'll past examples here from this pdf:

the belief that those with power have a right to emotional and psychological comfort (another aspect of valuing “logic” over emotion)

I see this a lot in how White autistics are allowed to be as "disabled" or as "autistic" as they want. There is still ableism of course, but the amount of BIPOC autistic folks who are killed, assaulted, harassed, and bullied for appearing as "disabled" or as "autistic" as they are is quite high. Even BIPOC autistics with lower support needs aren't allowed to express those needs in the ways I see White autistics can. Obviously it's a privilege to unmask, too. I personally don't relate to White autistics in that way, and it brings me a lot of discomfort. I also wanna say I'm not upset at White autistics; everyone deserves to unmask if they want and everyone deserves to receive the support they need. What I am saying is I am deeply upset by White Supremacy and the way it creates access to being myself an incredibly racialized thing. Because racism effing blows man.

also if I am veering into saying something shitty in this pls feel free to correct me. everyday im learning more about myself with this and I am still self-suspecting, but at this point there is very little else that explains the way my brain thinks and why I require certain things to feel good. i appreciate you affirming my experiences <3

[peace-fantasia]

@multishipper444

This is where you name names.

You’re clearly trying to villainize a community with every post that you do that again has a lot of BIPOC and Queer members Into a monolith that hates women.

So who exactly said this. Post a screen shot. And say this specific user said it.

Because RWDE has clear receipts of your harassment and you trying to paint the community with a terrible brush.

For example.

Here’s you calling me homophobic and saying I used slurs. Anyone who looks in my post can see I did neither. Again, I’m a black disabled woman you’re trying to silence by accusing of being racist and homophobic z

Here’s you saying @the-path-to-redemption i(a queer woman) is a awful person for liking a fictional character.

Here’s you comparing people wishing death unto fictional characters to real life people being told to kill themselves.

Stop saying RWDE community did blank. We are not a hive mind. We all have different opinions.

Stop harassing everyone in the tag.

Every time you post a accusation post a receipt for with a user name or I’ll post another of your terrible behavior.

You sent messages to multiple members of the RWDE community. We all still them have in our inbox. And I’ll keep posting your terrible behavior for everyone to see again and again and again.

And I’ll keep showing it in the main RWBY tag so they can see how awful you are too.

[sarcastic-salem]

It feels ironic that I’m writing, but I really don’t give a shit. I feel like it needs to be put out there for my own mental health.

I’ve been a Norse Heathen for 5 years now, and I love my religion. I love the connection I feel with my deities. I love having them there to talk to and support me, and I love all the esoteric weird bullshit and borderline paranormal “woo shit” that comes with being a Pagan.

Which the majority of the Heathen community look down on out of a sense of arrogant self-righteousness and an absolutely massive inferiority complex.

Because Heathenry — as the ancient Norse would have practiced — is a dead religion. Everything we know about it comes either from extremely biased 13th century Christian scholars, cishet white historians, or whatever practicing Heathens pieced together post-1900 following the invention of Asatru in Iceland.

There’s no historical proof that Heathenry was practiced as it is today.

And because Heathens can’t stand the idea of being compared to the gullible and deluded Wiccans—

Note: These are not my personal beliefs. I don’t believe (all) Wiccans are gullible and deluded. The above is a statement based off of my own experiences in the Heathen community cause guess — I used to be a Wiccan. So I’ve experienced this bullshit stigma firsthand.

—The vast community of reconstructionalist Heathens have decided that every aspect of our religion has got to be

A biggest dick contest.

People are constantly trying to one-up each other like,

“Oh-hoh, look what I just learned that makes me vastly superior and absolutely must be true because this vaguely translated 12th century tome that I bought off eBay says so!”

And as if that wasn’t bad enough, a lot of the shit recons are putting out there is racist, anti-LGBT bullshit. So, of course, Heathenry automatically comes with a crash course on how to not be brainwashed by faux feminist white supremacists and literal fucking Nazis. And the fact that the Nazi population has not only been steadily growing since 2018 but has also managed to successfully infiltrate “safe spaces” intended for queer and BIPOC Heathens

Is not exactly what I’d call a win for the Heathen community.

Because there is no community. There is no sense of unity in the general non-Nazi Heathen community at large. Because the recons are all busy being like,

“You can’t do that — that’s NOT how it worked 4,000 years ago! And that God only has a name and a single monolith in Norway. So you can’t worship them, either, cause we’re smart and we said so.”

And when someone does notice that some fucking weird potentially harmful shit is up in the community people are just like,

“Well, we’d look into it but that particular cult of Heathen eugenicists doesn’t seem to exist on Tumblr. So we’re just gonna wait for them to make their way here and see what happens. Now, if you don’t mind I’d like to get back to translating this cave painting that was found a year ago in Iceland.”

And its fucking bullshit. Like there could be — and is — an actual fucking Nazi takeover taking place and reconstructionalist assholes will be dogpiling someone because they bought a fucking Ouija Board or a piece of fucking rose quartz cause they thought it might make them happier.

Recons, what the fuck is with you people? The Heathen community is a fucking nightmare. You are killing this community while Nazis are driving people to commit fucking suicide.

Get your fucking shit together.

[averyhollow]

@bromelads is amazing. I can’t say enough in praise of the kindness, patience, love, good will, and thought that are going into this conversation and spreadsheet; and I hope it’s genuinely appreciated by those it’s in reply to.

I think my main takeaway is that I have no common ground with a lot of people who consider themselves “Izzy critical” or anti-Izzy, and can’t say I think we care about the same things. I think that’s a good realization for me to come to and one that’ll hopefully make it so much easier for me to focus on letting what I see as inflexible assertions stemming from respectability politics and/or paternalistic racism, float on by.

Looking through the responses from “Izzy critical”, and feeling the comments so far are reaffirming positions I believe flatten BIPOC characters due to their inflexibility; and that I think are prevalent not only out of a desire to center the voices of BIPOC, but out of a desire to have a Right Answer that’s coupled with bias towards certain characters and ships.

The more I look at the arguments being made, the more I see them as the liberal/leftist counterparts to socially conservative justifications for excluding BIPOC from certain roles; or (likely unintentional) smokescreens for infantilization, sanitization, respectability politics, and dehumanization (e.g., the idea that interpreting Ed as having “anger issues” is a microagression in and of itself has some pretty fucked up implications to me). It’s not the differences in opinions and interpretations themselves that are the problem for me. It’s the insistence on making blanket statements about which ones do, or don’t, inherently reflect racist bias or reinforce racist narratives.

I think there are a number of reasons most of the headcanon and interpretations discussed should leave room for agreement to disagree that don’t involve calling the interpretations in question microaggressions in and of themselves. But that space so often isn’t there. I feel like it’s not conversation at this point. I’m not sure I can even envision what my ideal recommendations for actionable items might be in the current environment, since I think the ship has sailed on suggestions like:

maybe don’t respond to individual fanworks, but instead comment on trends and issues you notice in your own space, and tag in a way that’s easy to find for those willing to look

if responding to something/someone directly, approach with the intent of getting your perspective and counterarguments understood, and not with the intent of getting them agreed with

if responding to someone directly, keep the same energy you would for the cast, crew, and creators of the show when/if they make similar points

consider if something happened onscreen that didn’t sit right with you and you’re making authoritative claims about how it’s meant to be interpreted in order to square your love of the show with something you find problematic, and consider how your relationship to the show might change if you’re wrong about the intent

ask people about their specific reasoning for an interpretation instead of making blanket denouncements of certain interpretations

don’t outsource responsibility for your personal views to some mythical monolithic BIPOC community

if you’re white, ask yourself if you engage with and hype up the opinions and meta of BIPOC whose interpretations you don’t agree with entirely, or at all. If not, why?

if you’re white, are you about to say something that you’re willing to stand by and defend regardless of the race of who you’re replying to or if contradicting opinions from BIPOC are presented? Or are you going to bounce the moment you’re openly confronted with a situation where no matter what position you espouse, you’re gonna have to take responsibility for holding a position BIPOC disagree with and are made uncomfortable by?

or any number of other ideas I have that are rooted in an opinion that it’s unhelpful and tokenizing to make blanket statements intended to spin objective truths from subjective material.

So I think all I can, or want, to do at this point is focus on my own engagement patterns and work on being more considerate about when and how I engage in, and disengage from, arguments. Will also continue to vent frustrations with other BIPOC who love my grumpy gremlin, are neutral about him, or otherwise find themselves exhausted, frustrated, or erased by posts advising that EdIzzy is an inherently racist and abusive ship, or that the ship name BlackBonnet is offensive to Black fans.

[stranger-rants]

I’ve been in the Billy community a long time before I became active online. But I’ve noticed more people are starting to grasp the criticism Billy Hargrove fans make of the show and fanbase. Not everyone tho there’s still a dubious amount of hate and harassment thrown at marginalized creators in the Billy fanbase. Especially racism thrown at BIPOC Billy fans like myself who don’t fit into the fandoms stereotypical racist monolithic assumptions about BIPOC fans in the Stranger things fandom. But I was wondering if you had any ideas to why that could be? Since you’re outspoken about how it took some time for you to empathize with Billy’s character. I’ve kinda just accepted I don’t understand where this shift is coming from I started to just become content with the abuse I faced online for liking Billy Hargrove as a character and knowing that Netflix’s knows this shit happens but they’d probably never speak out against it being to afraid to upset their market audience. I kinda acquired this “Boo hoo 😭” attitude around me connecting to this character’s story and getting hate for it but I’m glad to see more understanding around how a person like me can like him. I’m still angry tho. But I got anger issues.

ANYWAY I LOVE UR BLOG 🥸

Thanks as always for the love 💜

I made a joke about this on my main blog before... how I hate characters because I would want to fight them in a parking lot, but not in the way where I think I am objectively better than people who like them or something like that.

It's okay to hate characters, but nowadays people turn dislike into a performance of morality. They're not honest about their hate, and they're not much interested in confronting that because they're so convinced they're right.

I think these people just want to be seen as better than everyone else. I think there are people who use "the right language" to perform morality without having to commit to questioning real systems of oppression or their own role in it.

It's why they'll call out Billy's racism, but do nothing to confront the racism within the overall narrative or the racism informing the narrative on the outside (i.e. the way the biases of the showrunners influence the way characters of color are treated).

It takes hard work to confront your own biases and work towards a better society. I struggle all the time managing my emotions and saying/doing the right thing when someone says or does something not great to me. Every day I struggle!

It is hard to not hold a grudge and to not want a severe institutional consequence for harm done, but I have been trying for years now to empathize with the pain and suffering people go through regardless if they're A Good PersonTM.

That being said, this is fandom. Fandom and the participation in it is not inherently activism. Liking the "right" content doesn't translate to doing the right thing for society. There are politics in stories, yes, but being in fandom isn't revolutionary.

I don't know if that answers your question, but I hope it helps. I didn't like Billy at first. I did think he was a brat (still do) and I found some of his behavior repulsive (still do). However, I never thought he deserved what happened to him. Ever.

[mrsblackruby]

Once you’re BIPOC and like Billy Hargrove as a character watch all the so called anti “racist” antis assemble to say you’re delusional instead of actually trying to listen and understand why u as a BIPOC appreciate Billy’s story. I’m telling y’all antis like this only care about a certain minority. THE GOOD MINORITY. If you don’t fit the monolith antis have created in this fandom it’s fuck u fr. If you’re a stranger things fan/ billy anti like this ur a online bigot for real ur just in denial or you’re aware of ur bigotry you just don’t give af about fandom racism.💀

Also if you’re a marginalized person and like Billy Hargrove the billy community is here to support u. We won’t cyberbully u online and try to act like that’s some sort of activism😂 Also if you don’t like Billy Hargrove as a character. I promise u Billy Hargrove fans aren’t gonna be up in arms

[rudjedet]

Hey there! I have plans to create an animated adult show that takes place in Ancient Egypt in a couple years. Are there any common writing stereotypes I should look out for when writing about AE or AE characters? Ways to make the setting and show feel more natural will also be a big help and is appreciated!

Oof, that's a big ask, my friend! I'm not sure you realise quite how much you're asking of me here, though I'm very glad this is evidently something you are wanting to take into account while creating your show.

Unfortunately I cannot tackle this with the thoroughness this needs in a Tumblr ask. What I can do is give you a few pointers that will make your own research more focused. If you haven't already, look through my FAQ for the various book recs in there as well. Further pointers or clarifications you're welcome to ask, but their answer will depend on the relative size of the questions.

As for stereotypes: Read up on orientalism and exotification, especially as utilised in the Victorian age/during the height of Egyptomania, but also within modern day narratives. You will find a lot of stereotypes in there, such as the idea of the ancient Egyptian harem as a den of sexual debauchery. Avoid mystification at all costs, and portray the ancient Egyptians as, simply, human. Also pay attention to current stereotypes of the Arab people as well as BIPOC in general, and avoid those as well.

As for the setting: The most important thing is specifics. When is your show set? Old Kingdom? New? Late Period? First Intermediate? Which dynasty? A lot of the setting depends on this, because ancient Egypt is not a monolith and was subject to many changes great and small in the realms of politics, religion, and society as well as fashion, iconography, and personal piety, and beyond. Find books, papers, anything on the time frame you've chosen. If you haven't chosen a period yet, I would recommend the New Kingdom, since that is the period we have the biggest amount of information on.

I can't give you anything more specific than this without knowing the time frame of your intended show, barring these two:

Ancient Egypt had a people of heterogeneous ethnicity. Egyptian individuals did not answer to a standard set of physical features and certainly weren't in the possession of a single skin tone. From northern African complexions to Sudanese and everything in between, if you remember to make your Egyptian people heterogeneous, you'll be on the right track. You will have to take locality into account: people in the north would in general (exceptions apply) have lighter complexions than people in the south, and vice versa.

Egypt was a lot greener and a lot more colourful than most people think/Hollywood would have you believe. Remember you're writing a show set in a verdant river valley.

Final tip: If you haven't played Assassin's Creed: Origins, do so. It's Ptolemaeic Egypt, but certainly captures the overall vibe.

[crazycatsiren]

I am of European descent but I was raised in South Africa, as well as dozens of my forefathers before me. I wholeheartedly identify as south African and would love to take part of the native culture, but I always feel like i might be intruding. Any advice?

I would advise asking those of South African descent what they think. BIPOC are not a monolith. I'm not comfortable speaking for an ethnic group that I'm not a part of.

[sakebytheriver]

Weird how every BIPOC I speak to, and my own Black ass, thinks your racism tantrums are full of ignorant shit.

Jade isn't racist, she just won't put up with insecure men and their power games, hope this helps

Men aren't owed female deference just because they're brown, foh with that

Wow. Ok.

Well, I'm sure you can understand my skepticism of your supposed blackness when you came into my inbox to yell at me on anon and I'm sure you can prolly guess my skepticism that you've talked to multiple black and indigenous people of color about my small maybe hundred note posts about the racism Nate suffered through within the show (or at the hands of Jade which are an even smaller amount), but if you're really a black person who has talked to other black and indigenous people about my posts and you've all come away with the conclusion that I'm a whiny misogynist baby then who am I to argue 🤷‍♀️ I guess I can just ask the multiple people of color who have purposefully followed my account because of those posts and have responded to my criticisms of the show with similar ones of their own or maybe the multiple women of color who have expressed similar feelings about Jade's response to Nate who have witnessed the men of color in their lives deal with microaggressions white women throw at them in the name of "feminism". It's almost as if the human experience and the even more niche experiences of people of color are not a monolith, how about that

Although I'm sure the opinion of some random in my inbox yelling at me saying that they're a black person who has spoken to BIPOC about my supposed crimes of expressing an opinion on the internet is much more important and is of course the only voice in this conversation I should listen to 🙄

And like I think, I've made all of what two posts complaining about Jade's microaggressions towards Nate?

Like my issue with her wasn't because she didn't act like some submissive subservient demure little girl who has to bow her head in respect when Nate walks into the room, my issue with her was the fact that she was an arrogant priss to a man who was supposed to be a fucking customer at the establishmenet where she works just because he was meek and shy and asked for a specific table rather than get assigned a random one

So yeah, no, just because of you anon I'm gonna say it with my whole chest, Jade was a racist bitch and her becoming Nate's perfect white savior blonde manic pixie dream girl was a racist ass storyline for the show to go down

[zedazone]

I left a comment on a YouTube video by Jessie Gender and nothing I ever say on YT gets looked at by anybody, BUT I think I made some great points about Christianity and white supremacists and stuff, so I’m importing that shit over here: Jessie’s extremely thoughtful and personal video essay Part 1 for context [watch Part 2 as well]

Just a small thought to add RE your incredibly valuable discussion of race at about the 23 minute mark- I think that a lot of what white people might be yearning for when they go grasping desperately for the  threads of their own 'cultural heritage' [and grab onto the scaly tail of white supremacy instead] is stuff that was largely lost due to the spread of Christianity and how it sought to culturally homogenize the 'white' experience? So-called 'pagan' traditions and cultural values were deliberately snuffed out and replaced with Christianity in a way that profoundly separates any modern English or Irish or Polish or Swedish person from any cultural heritage that is not just a part of  monolithic Christian 'whiteness.' These days we're seeing a lot of alt-right bros fetishizing ancient Scandinavian and Nordic clothing and magical staves [I hate every day what they've done to the Ægishjálmur], but those dudes are often neither Scandinavian by heritage nor sincere practitioners of these ancient religions [mostly by dint of said religions being lost to time - most of the artifacts out there have significance that can only be guessed at due to deliberate destructive measures taken by Christians who believed that they were snuffing out satan’s influence]. They don't ever seem to recognize that the colonialist spread of Christianity is to be blamed for both their alienation from their own heritage and their envy and resentment of BIPOC peoples’ frequently much closer connection to their own, and that it's also responsible for permanently obfuscating their native cultural roots. What's worse, they see Christianity as a vital PART of their roots, melding their own romanticized notions about what ancient Nordic culture and tradition may have looked like with the bigoted, monotheistic Christian sentiment that theirs is the sole ordained righteous way of being and living - the same sentiment that crushed their cultural roots to BEGIN with. It's not JUST that immigration to America  socially requires names to be anglicized and capitalism to be the thing by which their entire identity should be defined - it’s that the United States was founded by puritans, and that Christian dogma shaped the unspoken 'rules' of what American culture ‘looks’ like- white anglicized homogenization, Under God. So frequently, these men slide deep into violent, racist ideologies with the full certainty that their violence is morally justified and divinely ordained - it's frustrating and tragic, and I don't know how we're supposed to teach  modern white people how to have a healthy relationship with religion and race in this current sociopolitical environment, but I DESPERATELY hope that we can find a way.