Brenton Poke,
Lansing, MI.

Feminism is important. It is something that should be studied and taught. It needs to be led by women and men need to listen. But these statements are too simplistic for the ultimate goal of intersectional social justice. I observe the general axiom of not lecturing women on feminism. However, I often see many white women completely ignore logic that this is based on in regards to black people. I have repeatedly been lectured to on how racism works and what it is by white laypeople on the internet, including white women. I expect this from white men, who think they know everything, and are the most privileged. But white women who claim to understand the forces of oppression should know better than to lecture me, a black man whom they’re unaware of the education level of, on what racism is and where it comes from. ‘Why do you expect more from us?’ you may ask.

That’s a fair question, with a fair answer – because you experience the same from men. Yes, you are a woman. There are many injustices in society that have been perpetrated on you that need to stop. These injustices are pervasive, spanning the entire world. However, never forget how much privilege you still hold. As a cis, heterosexual white woman, you still hold many cards that others (yes, even black men) don’t have. Whiteness goes a long way, and your whiteness makes you only one axis removed from the ultimate form of privilege, the cis, heterosexual white man. Please don’t lecture me, or any other person of color about racism. We experience it; you don’t. You can be a social justice advocate without domineering those who stand with you, so please, be cognizant of what situations you enter and whether or not you should enter the role of instructor.