The thing about Greta Thunberg that I myself have not seen discussed and just want to say so that itās understood, is that the reason Greta can do what she is doing is because:
a) sheās privileged
b) sheās a child
c) sheās white
Her vulnerability as a child is absolutely her power because she cannot be assumed or painted to be malicious or incompetent the way she would be as an adult.
Her whiteness makes her socially palatable because she fits a narrative about self that white people will actually listen to. Thatās not a good thingĀ itās just necessary bc white ppl have the damndest time empathizing with nonwhite ppl.
Her ability to strike and take actions is directly helped by the fact that sheās not responsible for her wellbeing/income, nor anyone elseās.
I want to say this bc I know of so many black and brown people who literally fight with family and friends about recycling and evironmental issues but lack the social security to strike every friday, cannot risk going out on the streets lest they face arrest, etc etc.
So every time I see Greta, I see her as wonderful but the only reason she stands out is because sheās one of the only bodies that can make it through the filter of white supremacy without being attacked or silenced.
And I think thus that in the great scheme of things, this is a perfect plan. Children are disarming. Anyone who attacks a child exposes themselves as inherently malicious.
But please donāt forget why itās working, and why it didnāt work for so many other people.
Greta can skip school and get ppl to do her favors while her parents see after her care in a way many adults my age absolutely could not and could not have gotten their parents to consent to when we were younger- especially in the states bc ppl here are such propagandized consumers.
Itās coming down to white kids to do activism bc everyone else is too easily beaten, policed and starved. Thatās not actually likeā¦great. Itās not that the kids are more willing than the adults and I keep seeing that narrative. Iāve been pushing for environmental awarness in the home, in my offices, in my life, since childhood, for example. And Iāve always HATED the social narrative ofĀ āthe children are our futureā bc a) no one cares about kids usually, especially not nonwhite kids (but as sandy hook showsā¦.not even white kids either) b) ppl say that to pawn activism off on children.
Adults keep getting left off the hook but simultaneously as these narratives keep going I see more and more teens- usually white- saying shit likeĀ āand the adults donāt careā. Your parentās donāt care. My parentās didnāt care.
But Iām an adult now and Iāve been caring since childhood. I know theyāre kids and they donāt understand systematic oppression but for those of us that are old enough to do soā¦
keep that in mind.
Thereās several Native and Nigerian children that have been saying the exact same thing for YEARS. Wonder why we have never heard of them. . .
