Nothing says fake woke like a show writer choosing to address a real world problem by graphically depicting a death of a well loved black character.
Look. If you want to do a nod to BLM, there was a way to do it. Beyoncé did it. She focused on hurt and pain, but did not recreate the deaths that occurred. We knew immediately but we also saw black women happy and smiling, healing and angry and hurt but still going forward all the same.
And this recent death of Poussey Washington, a BLACK LESBIAN, so soon after the Pulse shooting and tailored to be an “homage” to BLM and “I can’t breathe” is so fucking insulting. Why is it that when media and content creators want to show their “woke” mindsets, they choose to focus on pain and fucking suffering? There is nothing progressive about depicting the intersection of violence that occurs against black people with respect to their race and sexuality. We have a FUCKTON of articles and research that shows us the horrid truth. We do not need to see that reflected in television.
Being woke doesn’t mean falling into those same stereotypes and gross tropes that constantly reinforce death upon black gay characters. Being woke means recognizing these issues and making a conscious choice to do something about them. And even worse in this situation, these show writers honestly thought they were doing something, starting a conversation.
Here’s the thing: police brutality is not a new conversation. Excessive force and the disproportionate number of black people being victimized by the police are not new subjects. This conversation has been around since before most of us were born. Black people know it from front to back, some of us have even experienced it firsthand. It isn’t a dramatic effect nor does it captivate an audience. It’s terrifying and traumatic, and to see it depicted on television has the exact same effect. We all felt that despair when Mike’s killer walked free. We all felt that rage when Trayvon’s killer walked free. We all cried when Eric and Tamir’s killers were not even charged. And we all still desperately repeat Sandra and Rekia’s names, hoping that folks will remember they were victims too.
There is nothing progressive about reinforcing death and pain as a reality. There is nothing moving about seeing a well loved black lesbian being murdered yet again. There is nothing respectful about digging up the bones of our dead and defiling their bodies and names for the sake of shock value. Poussey Washington did not deserve that. We did not deserve that. And for this egregious act of violence, yes ACT OF VIOLENCE, I hope this show tanks.
tangentwithtanner
yousharknotpass
romaincrisis
jacobvanloon
gummygunk
baratheonpilled
jbbartram-illu
janainaart
