Facebook Publication Date: 12/8/2018 8:12

Hey.

So, ok.

When I and other commentators on race talk about weaponized white women, we are usually being metaphorical.

This time though, we are talking about the actual.

I cannot stop thinking about how sideways all this could have gone, and how there wouldn’t have been anyone to tell this story, because the young woman at the center of it would be dead.

Talking about the visceral and performative (in both senses of the word; making a show of things, as well as being able to ‘perform’ power) is one of many privileges that white people in general, and white women specifically, use.

It’s insidious–the power that the force of white womanhood uses to both be protected (which is ostensibly the reason for the oppression, as we see here) and to inflict harm, again, in this case, both directly and indirectly.

Here is what our narrator didn’t talk about, but which I am sure she felt:

The trauma of the incident itself. The burden of a redlined allostatic load, even as she knew she had to be measured and careful around a very volatile police force.

The humiliation she suffered as she endured all this under the gaze of her patient, who was bullied in an attempt to sell her out.

The historical weight of ‘it’s never enough; will never be enough’–get the education, work in service to others, do an exemplary job–not enough to avoid the cross hairs.

It goes on.

Another player not mentioned: the wretched person who called the police, fully aware of potential outcome.

Calling, invoking, deploying 911 is an locked and loaded AR-15 all too often leveled at the heads of black people.

There is no way the police officer thought the patient was in danger, imminent or otherwise. No way she thought the lady with the scrubs and the scope was in any way a threat.

No.

She was reaching deep down into the collective consciousness of the oppressor (they have collective consciousness too); of the overseer, of the slave catcher (the precursor of modern police (never forget)), of the slave mistress who could order the killing of black bodies with a point of her finger or a wave of her hand.

This 23 year old child (they’re all my children) endured what no one should. This 23 year old child now knows, at a deep level, just how hated and feared her people really are.

And now she will keep giving, keep serving, but with this added boulder of weight. She has my respect, my commiseration, and my admiration.

—-

So. And now, weaponization of white women is officially in play this weekend.

This young lady endured it.

The absolute least we can do is talk about it, with brutal candor.

So let’s talk. I want responses. And NOT the usual platitudes and stock canned phrases.

If you care enough to heart and like, please level up and actually comment.

Permalink: https://www.facebook.com/laceonrace/posts/pfbid03Sz56WjZV3616F5ywJDs5DvjnbvskMAjrPhQbihjXgrDStfkzjBxDTrB7kTsnfPjl

Post Type: Photo

Caption Type: N/A

Is Cross Post: 0

Is Share: 1

Impressions: 7

Reach: 6

Reactions: 37

Comments: 22

Shares: 16