I disagree. Have you heard the expression, “Nothing about us without us”? I understand that they’ve been trying to tell us for decades, centuries. And I have read some work by scholars like Kim Crenshaw on intersectionality, and listened to Cornell West, and read some of MLK’s writing, and I did some study of systemic racism and colonialism at school. I have been interested and in awe of the creative work of black artists - especially musicians relaying deep seated feelings about continued oppression and marginalization, like Gil Scott Heron. Newer ones would be Daniel Glover. He’s a genius. Comedians who tell painful truths in funny ways like Dave Chappell - without letting my subconscious colonial/ Victorian white person sensibilities get offended - or maybe actually letting them get offended and accepting that, because we need to be able to take the heat, and the truth even if it is not polite. The oppressed don’t owe the oppressive society politeness. I have been interested in learning about the Black Power movement of the 60s and 70s, and people like Angela Davis - not from the perspective of it having been a criminal enterprise, or a threat, but how the black community organized across the US - it started as an effort by black people to take care of their own communities - and though it was a rough period, especially when it was cracked down on by the US government - things got violent - but ultimately it was a catalyst for change, for some progress. Just not enough. And it fell apart with the dawn of the neoliberal capitalist era in the 80s. This is a new generation/ iteration of the last black power movement. This is not new to me. However...If we’re talking about rooting out colonialism, white supremacy and patriarchy - it feels odd to be listening to an older white yuppy British guy instruct other white people on what black people want. If I want to have a dialogue, a conversation with real people who are oppressed about how they feel - they are the experts on their experience, so why wouldn’t I ask someone I know - a young woman for whom this movement is immediately important to - instead of listening to Paul Scanlon? He’s not necessarily wrong, it’s just misplaced for him to be telling white people what black people want us to hear. If we are allies we need to listen to black people themselves talk about their experience, now, today.
It’s like non disabled people speaking with authority on the experience of ableism without representation from the disability community. It feels arrogant at times, even if it’s well meaning. Or men speaking for women about women’s rights through men’s eyes. Or straight people telling straight people what lgbtq people need. If Scanlon was quoting and citing the work of black activists that would be different.
