[TW] Can others' reappropriation of terms ever be legitimate?
A blog post I read not that long ago argued that reappropriation of terms just makes white supremacy even worse. what do you all think?
Here's the post for lazy people, warning, it's really explicit, but does come from a bi black guy, so he can i think.
Reappropriation of terms by White People is a manifestation of White Privilege. It’s so simple to say, “as a white straight white guy, I can choose what terms shouldn’t be offensive. So, as I call you nigga, don’t remember the fact that that’s what rednecks call you. Just know that I care about you” Forget racism and oppression, that/s what I’m doing.”
But it’s worse than that. Because telling people that you can reappropriate their culture is ultimately a declaration of inequality. In some misguided attempt to stop racism in America, white people permanently elevate themselves as above and silence and subordinate “fags”, “bitches”, and “niggas”.
And what’s worse (yes, even worse) is that placement of straight white men as superiornecessarilyallows them to ignore the suffering of deviant minorities as ‘natural’ or ‘inevitable’ (sound familiar?). And so any attempts to combat oppression becomes ‘reverse racism/sexism’ or, my new favorite, ‘heterophobia’.
So when people say that they’re reappropriating these terms or some bullshit like that, they need to stop. They need to do better.
Do you all think he has a good point? Can white people ever make legitimate efforts for others'?
Posted Jul 10, 2012, 6:58 AM UTC