I too would have been taken aback by the skewed social commentary of the photo and I think I would have carried that mild resentment around with me for several hours... yet I am not sure I would have been as brave or as engaged to comment on it because lately I find blind spot "artistic" people to be wearing on my sense of seeking justice... So, consider that in this post you have made me sit back, reconsider my turning away as the easy way and that I will be commenting, albeit in a constructive manner, to the next "insensitive" I encounter... I especially liked your observation, "... being silent is a disservice to all those who have no option but to show up as their authentic selves every day." Thanks for once again making me think about making changes and being a bit more intentional in my bravery... instead of jaded.
Sorry for the delayed response, Kathryn. Calling white people out for racism has been a difficult one for me. I want to be an ally, but I don’t want to piss anyone off. I’ll do my best to be an ally, and if someone is upset that I called them out - so what? Recently, I commented on a YouTube video that had a clip of a black man with a white woman come up as the voice over was talking about spousal abuse. I made a comment below the video and am waiting for blowback, but so far, nothing has come up. I did have to think about if I wanted to make the comment. If I don’t point it out though, the black-man-abuser stereotype will continue.
I too would have been taken aback by the skewed social commentary of the photo and I think I would have carried that mild resentment around with me for several hours... yet I am not sure I would have been as brave or as engaged to comment on it because lately I find blind spot "artistic" people to be wearing on my sense of seeking justice... So, consider that in this post you have made me sit back, reconsider my turning away as the easy way and that I will be commenting, albeit in a constructive manner, to the next "insensitive" I encounter... I especially liked your observation, "... being silent is a disservice to all those who have no option but to show up as their authentic selves every day." Thanks for once again making me think about making changes and being a bit more intentional in my bravery... instead of jaded.
Sorry for the delayed response, Kathryn. Calling white people out for racism has been a difficult one for me. I want to be an ally, but I don’t want to piss anyone off. I’ll do my best to be an ally, and if someone is upset that I called them out - so what? Recently, I commented on a YouTube video that had a clip of a black man with a white woman come up as the voice over was talking about spousal abuse. I made a comment below the video and am waiting for blowback, but so far, nothing has come up. I did have to think about if I wanted to make the comment. If I don’t point it out though, the black-man-abuser stereotype will continue.