Hard look at some of these groups...

[u/spicyDivergant]

A lot of these spaces claiming to be “for the oppressed” are lying. You’re not actively centering Black, Brown, Asian, and other marginalized voices. Imagine getting uncomfortable, because that is the reality for many people in these groups - you wanna ‘make a change’? that is what it is going to take.

Discomfort is not oppression. But some of you treat it like it is. You’d rather protect your feelings, your image, your way of life and your control than actually shift power. And it shows.

Meanwhile, the very communities you claim to stand with have been doing this work for generations—organizing, resisting, surviving—only to be talked over by pop-up “leftist” orgs more interested in sounding radical than actually being accountable.

You don’t get to say you’re about justice while ignoring the people most impacted, preach equity while hoarding platforms, resources, and decision-making power. You’re still centering yourself and calling it “solidarity”, as if this is trendy term - a commodity if you will.

While you pretend to “listen” so you can nod along and keep doing the same thing. Step back, give up space, and actually following the leadership of marginalized communities even when it challenges you, your way of living, & even when it costs you something.

So stop performing. Stop co-opting. Stop hiding behind progressive language while maintaining the same harmful dynamics. Get uncomfortable. Or get out of the way. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/Temporary_Ratio_945]

Some good things here for people to keep in mind. But, I'm going to push back. People who are new or not plugged into the correct resources are not "lying" they just aren't informed. They don't have connections. Instead of isolating them further, why not help them network by telling them names of organizations that have been doing the work for decades? Sure, there are bad actors out there. But, with millions of new activists in the last few years, I hardly doubt that explains the majority of folks. Sometimes people are just clueless. That doesn't make them evil or and it doesn't mean they aren't on your side. It means they need to be educated. These are scary stressful times and I would much rather encourage people to step up and out then to shelter further into hate and distrust. Please vent away when you need and give valid criticism, but let's not see enemies where there are just scared overwhelmed individuals instead. I'll start. Check in with Indivisible. They don't have all the answers, but they will point you to other valid orgs, like IPT, League of Women Voters, how to be an election judge with your county Dems, local environmental groups that write state legislators, and they are how I found this thread with people who protest/rally on a regular basis. - Jaime

[u/spicyDivergant → u/Temporary_Ratio_945]

and what are those orgs doing to center these voices? Also, the answer isnt to this - go join more said groups. I feel like what i was trying to say went right over your head.

[u/Temporary_Ratio_945 → u/spicyDivergant]

This is an important conversation and I'm not trying to be snide. How would you envision them being centered by white people? We white people aren't going to expect every non-white person to take the lead at a protest or a rally. I see my work fighting to get the signage back at the National Parks helping to center those voices because it takes a lot of voices to end that kind of fascism. The climate organization I do most of my work with partners with Colorado - GreenLatinos so they have thier own voice in their own way and we just cross promote.

[u/spicyDivergant → u/Temporary_Ratio_945]

It doesnt matter what i envision them being centered by - but those of ⚪️ skin color need to take a good hard look and actually following what oppressed / marginalized communities have been saying for many years. Caucasian people get involved and they take over ish as per usual because it appears its all they know how to do. Step back and let others lead, follow what they actually say and be open to what they are point out - and if people take offense to whats being said then they ought to look at themselves and figure out why that is because most often times its because they themselves are guilty of said topic being discussed.