#white savior complex

[jodielandons]

Remember The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock? The movie showed how a kid who had an extremely rough upbringing got help from the family of a school friend, found success in football and ultimately ended up being adopted by the family. Turns out he was never adopted.

Michael Oher says that he was tricked by the Tuohy family into signing documents that made them his conservators. Since he was already 18 at the time the family told him, “that it means pretty much the exact same thing as 'adoptive parents,' but that the laws were just written in a way that took [his] age into account.”

Oher also says that papers were signed so that his story and likeness were given away for free to use in The Blind Side. He also never got a single royalty check for the hugely successful, Oscar nominated film in the 14 years since its release.

[animentality]

[queenwille]

before anything, please let me mention, though lebanon, same as israel, is the size of a peanut, hezbollah rules very defined regions and the attack was not ALL over lebanon, as the media likes to overdramatize. next- israel planted that in very outdated, new (pre distribution) communication devices specifically requested by nasrallah to be used by hezbollah terrorists, when israel confirmed it had breached hezbollah’s communication network months ago.

yet:

sympathizers are not worried that so many pagers purchased solely for communication purposes between people affiliated with a designated terror organization had be distributed and found a trusty owner?

a 9 year old girl was allowed near a pager used for terror purposes.

how fucking common it is to be affiliated and rank high enough to get a fucking encrypted communication device for a terror organization.

never in the history of the war against terror has there been a more precise in such a large scale attack on a terror organization, yet the antisemites still be antisemitizing.

if so many doctors got hurt, this begs the question, why did public medical personal had communication devices purchased by a terror organization in a country with a functioning government?

and most importantly: how fucking easy it is to activate the west’s white savior complex and get its pity, even when it’s absolutely ridiculous.

[icedsodapop]

Norman Finkelstein's response to Edward Said's criticism of Chomsky:

Source: I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It!

I will quote two tweets in response that I think are applicable to Finkelstein's condescending attitude to Said's valid critique:

[spot-the-antisemitism]

So I'm pretty familiar with the White Savior trope in movies centered around racism (whether it's Black Americans, Native Americans, etc).and other kinds of films (mostly US films). What about the other version of that, with non-Jews/goyim being the "Savior" of Jews in films?

Wasn't that one of the kind of criticisms for that movie The Zookeeper's Wife? (admittedly haven't had a chance to watch it yet so I can't say whether that criticism is valid or not)

Basically what are some of the worst examples of a saviour complex people have about Jews? What are some of your personal examples / or films that might be well received but still use that saviour complex?

Or more broadly, multimedia that uses their Jewish characters as props rather than fully fleshed out characters / people.

Other forms of media can be included like podcasts, plays, books, graphic novels, comics, and so on.

- An Anon curious about media

Dear anon,

this took me some time to write because I honestly think its gotta be most Holocaust films actually

“What are some of your personal examples?”

"boy in striped pyjamas" is hated for this but honestly EVERY " goy time travels to see it from a holocaust survivor's eyes" devil's artimetic rippoff is JUST as egregious along with EVERY "European hides pretty Jewish woman/girl in attic" plot and those holocaust movies that focus on ANYONE but the Jews. You also see some of this is in the way Mizrahi are treated as noble if they put up with dhimmitube but montrous if they demand equality.

“or films that might be well received but still use that saviour complex?”

and "shindler's list" and “number the stars” are STILL this problem. Because you are told to empathize with the savior not the jew being hidden. It’s easier to list the few stories that aren’t that trope: “Jojo Rabbit” and “The book thief” as they actually show the hidden Jews as humans with wants and needs. Jojo Rabbit is unique because it shows a kid who is extremely antisemitic and bigoted, forces the audience to relate to him and root for his redemption. Instead of making you feel good and virtuous , Jojo Rabbit makes you confront your own antisemitism. Which is actually just the main appeal of these books and films is feel good escapism for the gentile audience.

Honestly go read some holocaust memoirs and avoid all those historical fiction “[so and so] of Auswitz” books like they’re nefarious propaganda.

Cecil

sorry for taking so long as I had to think about this

[crazycatsiren]

There are many things you can do to help Palestinians, but I can assure y'all, going around Tumblr being assholes to people you don't know who are just going about their days and rambling with their friends on social media ain't one of them.

Palestine ain't an excuse for you to be a shit person, regardless of your intentions.

[cursedwithcaution]

i’ve never trusted mr beast bc that man has the sinister energy of a megachurch youth pastor

[guavagyal]

Sinners is a cautionary tale to not let every white person into the cookout unless they are critically vetted.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

In Defense of Dr. Sophie Chandauka

The Prince @freedom_007__

"Wow, as the days go by Dr Sophie Chandauka statement becomes even more relevant. The way she is being dismissed, abused and harassed is appalling just for speaking out and taking legal action because of the cover-up of issues relating to abuse of power, misconduct, mismanagement, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir amongst other concerns.

“There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct”

I would like to point out that during Harry’s relationship with Chelsy Davy, a reporter asked him whether her African background bothered him. His response was,

“It’s not like she’s Black or anything.” Years later, regarding Meghan, Duchess of Sussex he stated, “My wife isn’t visibly Black, but that’s her identity.”

The last five years of deflection projection (Oprah, Netflix, Spare, End Game) is glaring—Harry stands out as having unconscious bias and has projected his failures onto his family and us the public. Prince Harry’s PR team sank to a repulsive low today. The self-righteous hypocrite, who portrays the British press as evil that he and his wife must defeat (what a sanctimonious fool), is now exploiting that same media ‘The Times’ to smear, defame, and harass a highly educated, successful, and accomplished Black woman from Zimbabwe All this because she dared to call out Harry and his clique of misogynistic enablers, exposed the shady dealings in Sentebale’s finances, halted his slush fund, and blocked the charity being used as a self-serving promotional tool. She prioritised the charity’s mission over Harry—the privileged, spoiled “white savior” relic—who still clings to his declining Diana card.

It’s time to behave with integrity and stop exploiting Africa and its people like some dumb, outdated colonial overlord.

His recent actions are outrageous and are a calculated effort to leverage media narratives to undermine Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the Zimbabwe-born chair of his Sentebale charity, amid a bitter dispute that led to his resignation. Harry and his yes men charity trustees, resigned en masse after clashing with Chandauka, and his public statements—laden with emotional appeals about being “heartbroken”—have fueled a press frenzy that casts her as the villain. This portrayal is amplified by Baroness Chalker of Whatley a former trustee, who reportedly labeled Chandauka a “dictator.”

Given Chandauka’s Zimbabwean heritage, this accusation carries a troubling undertone, evoking the legacy of Robert Mugabe, one of Zimbabwe’s most notorious dictators, and risking a racially charged stereotype. The framing of Chandauka as an overbearing, authoritarian figure aligns uncomfortably with the “angry Black woman” trope, a form of misogynoir that dismisses her legitimate grievances—such as her claims of bullying, harassment, and poor governance within Sentebale—as irrational or tyrannical, rather than addressing the substance of her allegations.

Meghan Markle isn’t blameless in this mess—she’s the puppeteer, relentlessly upending Harry’s life with her narcissism and inflated sense of self-importance.

Whether it’s the indigenous women in Congo raped and abused by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex’s African Parks rangers, the assault on Baka tribespeople to seize their land, or the attempt to strip the dignity and voice from Dr. Sophie a poised and brilliant African woman—Harry reveals the ugliest traits of humanity. These have been concealed by his fake PR image and obscured by his privileged status.

When will he face accountability, consequences for his lies, disinformation, and pain he’s inflicted in his relentless chase for power, greed, & glory? Judge a man not by his words, but by his deeds and how he treats others.

[awkwardandeccentric]

How much are the anti-Stolas takes just unchecked white savior complex?

The imps are not analogous to any real-world racial group (thank god. Every time a movie tries to do that it leans on stereotypes and ends up more racist than if it would have just left it all out). But it’s clear they’re the equivalent of a real-world oppressed ethnic/racial group that anyone can imagine. Eastern European. Jewish. Latino. Black. Irish/Scottish/Welsh. South Asian. Arab. Etc.

How much of the anti-Stolas hatred really is just white people thinking they know better than the marginalized creators?

[hersheysmcboom]

It’s funny how quick people were willing to forgot Muslims are not a monolith as soon as it’s shown not all of them wanted the same person for president.

[fandom-addict404]

Whenever people complain about 911: Lone Star being too focused on Owen, I, one, agree because for a show that’s about representation and diversity, having the main character be a straight white man, is questionable to say the least but I also, scoff HEAVILY bc of course Owen is the main character! It’s essentially a white savior show where Owen, the white savior is always saving everyone else bc he has some magical ability to defy life and death.

[parasiticstars]

Hey uhm hot take that shouldn’t be hot:

Traumatizing yourself does not count as awareness for a cause.

Yes, don’t ignore it, but don’t doomscroll and purposely go out of your way to look at literal massacred children or self immolation or other carnage and what-have-you, then do nothing about it except reshare it and gush about how it gave you panic attacks and nightmares for the next week.

You’re not helping. You’re turning a fucking genocide into shock content to fuel your white savior complex.

It could’ve happened to YOU had you been born in the wrong place at the wrong time, too.

Have some respect.

[spot-the-antisemitism]

Went to a farmers market and there were pro palastine protestors just...there? Standing on the sidewalk with their posters and an AI generated banner comparing Palestinians to Native Americans in a "their both colonized" way (low-key kinda offensive tbh it was a very stereotypical image of an indigenous man, headdress and all.) anyway they'd left when they were walking back and my mom realized they were standing directly in front of (and facing) a JVP booth. She was offended on their behalf thinking these protestors were basically targeting a Jewish booth and I had to explain that no, they probably came together (I saw some of the JVP posters, they were). And had to explain JVP isn't really Jewish run/led and the stuff going on with that. But like, it was weird for a farmers market, although I will give them credit they weren't disruptive besides blocking part of the sidewalk so like ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯. She then called JVP false advertising for not really being about a peaceful solution or really Jewish (when I explained about the bad Hebrew signs and the wanting people to deny Jewish traditions.) which was a little funny. But yeah it was a little weird to see and the people holding the indigenous Americans are equivalent to Palestinians sign were...pretty white, but I don't think that's a fair metric

-Soup

Dear Soup,

why is your local JVP even have a booth at the farmer's market? Who allowed them there?

Why are they using AI and coercing all those hippy artist types they attract to draw them free shit like a PROPER cult? My chapter is already embezzling their donations like a shittier scientology*, surely forcing their members to perform unpaid labor is easy enough for an org that is all about self hatred and martyrdom and victimhood?

those "Native Americans are basically Palestinians" and have a two ethnic caricatures dancing are very common in these cicrles

Man yeah I can understand your mom jumping to defend the Jewish group from the antisemites only to be informed they're actually all antisemites

your family are very good allies, soup.

your friend and mutual,

Cecil

* In the one meeting open to me, they ADMITTED in an an OPEN meeting they allowed non-paying members in that all their donations go to the bank account of ONE person and the "non-profit industrial complex" was kicking their ass aka wasn't allowing them to commit even more blatant crimes

[fandomshatepeopleofcolor]

The White Guilt to God Pipeline video essay

Please, please check out this video of the narrative of white guilt turning into self-matyrdom with Oppeneheimer, along with a few other critiques. It's hilarious and right on the money.

And check out the youtuber's other videos too!

- mod sodapop