It’s been one year since this iconic photo was taken. NEVER FORGET
It’s been one year since this photo was staged by the woman with the sign (Angela Peoples) and her boyfriend with the implicit assertion that pussyhats and taking pictures of a historic event are shallow and stupid, and are inconsistent with “real” feminism or activism.
I really don’t think that’s what she was implying. The poster is only stating a fact, one that I think lots of people were surprised to learn after the election. That according to exit polls, 52% of white women voted for Trump. I seriously doubt Angela Peoples thought anyone at that march was among that 52%. She DID probably think that a lot of women there needed to be reminded of this fact. In her own words:
“I was talking to a white woman who said, ‘What do I do now?’ And I say to her, and I would say to someone who is defensive, to check in with why you feel defensive. What is it about this statement, ‘Don’t forget: White women voted for Trump,’ which doesn’t say you white woman or all white women, what is it about this that makes you uncomfortable? And there are some women of color who would be willing to help you dissect that, but it’s not a burden that women of color should bear, certainly not on their own. There is a beauty and a richness in doing some of this work for yourself and with yourself. I feel like there have been a lot of white liberals who want to bring white women and black women to the table to talk, but we can’t have that conversation until you acknowledge the power and privilege you’re bringing to the table, until white women do some work for themselves and by themselves.”
And:
“I would say 53% of white women voted for him. Someone in your family voted for him. Someone you are friends with voted for him, and that put my life and my family’s life in greater danger. So go talk to your family and talk to your friends and move them away from that ideology. It’s less about showing up and standing in solidarity with folks of color or immigrants, and more about actually doing the work in your communities to change some hearts and minds. If someone says a racial slur or says something and you’re like, ‘I can’t believe they said that,’ actually say that outloud to them. Do not normalize xenophobia, do not normalize anti-blackness, do not normalize transphobia. Take a step back and analyze why it’s there.”
If you are not one of those 52%, and you already call people out on their racism and other evils this administration has championed, then she is not talking about you, her poster is not about you, and there’s no reason for you to feel discouraged or scolded or judged by her, or her poster.
QueerAnarchism 