Addressing the Situation with Visibility of Color
I have some things that I need to explain, but more importantly, some things that I need to apologize for. I've been thinking for the past several days about something that happened a year ago. I haven't been using tumblr for awhile but this needs to be said before I log off permanently. Firstly, I would like to say that I mishandled the situation. My words were rude and demeaning, and many of my comments were perceived as anti-Black. I would like to apologize for the damage that I caused with my words and actions. Secondly, I would like to explain this situation further, as I was defamed at the time and am being defamed again now.
Last year, I got into "discourse" with a friend, @/bootlegndn, as well as @/visibilityofcolor (VOC). I was sent a post made by VOC stating that Black people should be able to call themselves indigenous and that it should be a Black only discussion (read her post here) . I found this upsetting, as I felt this narrative was harmful to Native Americans, who are truly indigenous to to the Americas, as it changes the definition of indigenous which in turn dismisses the claim Native Americans have to our land and gives that to another people.
So, I said something about it. I was overly aggressive about it. I shouldn't have been that way and should have thought more about what they meant instead of getting aggressive and calling them out. Many of my comments were perceived as anti-black. Regardless of what I meant, my words caused harm and I am sorry.
In some posts, VOC stated that she meant that Black culture is indigenous to the Americas, which is true because that is its origin. It cannot be traced further back to another place. However, in other posts, she states that Black people ARE indigenous to America. She argues that Black Americans are not African because they have lost cultural ties to Africa. She does note that Black Americans “are not indigenous to America in the same way that Native Americans are” and that unless a Black person has Native American ancestry, they cannot call themself Native.
While Black culture was created in the Americas, regardless of cultural ties or lack thereof, America is not where Black people originated. The only people who are indigenous to a place are those who were its first peoples. Ethnic groups and groupings of ethnicities are not considered to be indigenous to places they move to or are forcibly moved to if they are not the first people there because the origins of their group can be traced to another place.
Now, I would like to address some claims that VOC has made about me, which began when this situation started and came back after @/bootlegndn’s apology. These claims are also VOC’s reasons for putting me on her DNI list. To date she has:
1. Claimed that I referred to Black people as “idiots”
2. Claimed that I told Black people to “go back to Africa”
3. Claimed that I compared Black people to White immigrants, settlers, and colonizers
To respond to the first point, I did not refer to Black people as idiots. I do admit to personally calling VOC an idiot and apologize for the insults and hate that I sent to her. The words I used were cruel and unnecessary.
The second point is completely untrue. I never told Black people to “go back to Africa”. VOC responded to one of my posts saying something along the lines of “I guess you just want all of us to go back to Africa to then”. This is where that rumor started. I never made that statement and it is not a view that I hold.
For the third point, I communicated one of my points poorly and can see where this misunderstanding came from. I used the example that Italians are not and never will be indigenous to the Americas because their ancestors are not from here. A mixed Italian American weighed in using their own ethnicity as an example, and I used it to further my point without realizing how it sounded in context.
I didn't mean to compare African Americans to colonizers with my analogy. I meant to say that living somewhere does not make you Native/indigenous to that place. The comparison I used was wrong because Black Americans as a whole aren't immigrants like Italians. They were forcefully brought here during slavery, via human trafficking. I apologize for my poor choices in words and comparisons.
Regardless, I still owe people apologies for the words I used and the way I handled the situation.I was wrong, I misunderstood the situation, behaved inappropriately, and spoke in an anti-black manner. This was my fault and I should have spent more time understanding VOC and other commenters rather than being aggressive and dismissive. I would also like to offer a better apology to the anon from earlier and everyone else who I have hurt by my actions.
Earlier, an Anon stated that “all we're saying is our culture started in this land due to the complexities of slavery, which it did. Especially with ATRs.” (ATR=African Tribal Religion) I agree and I previously misunderstood what was being meant. Black culture was created in the Americas and ATRs were born through slavery and connection with indigenous people. ATRs are a big example of the positive connections our peoples have together. The way I reacted to what was said was not only anti-black but also disrespectful to our shared history as victims of settler colonialism from the very beginning of it. I understand that Black culture started in the Americas and will not argue against that. It is a true statement. As far as I can find now, VOC is the only one that argues Black people are indigenous to the Americas.
I sincerely apologize for the anti-blackness I have perpetuated. Regardless of intent, my words were wrong. I reacted poorly and without giving any thought to the impact of my words. It was not okay then and is not okay now. No matter what the subject matter and claims of the original post by VOC were, the way I handled the situation and the way that I spoke to @/visibilityofcolor and to others who joined the conversation was wrong and I am sorry. Again, I sincerely apologize for the pain my words and actions have caused as well as my handling of this entire situation up until this point.
-Blake
(As I mentioned before I am planning to log off of Tumblr permanently. I am not sure if I will still have it up or if I will delete the entire blog as is. I will make this decision within the next week, but for now I am saying goodbye to all my followers.)