Aquemini

Below is information along with sources that I find educational and helpful. I advise you to really think about it all. Not just for a moment. Let it occupy your mind for weeks and months. Let it make you restless for change. Let it motivate you to change. Change is not something that just floats by, it is something we have to actively pursue. Every action needs to be anti-racist. Think about what you are going to do and ask yourself, "Will this further the Black Lives Matter movement's message?" Everything we do needs to strongly oppose oppression. We need to flood our social interactions with anti-oppression rhetoric. We need to step back from ourselves and amplify black people's voices. Watching George Floyd being murdered has been the most disgusting, vile crime I have ever seen. It is not just a crime according to law. It should be a crime according to humanity. I am doing a lot of reflecting as a white-passing person and it has been incredibly uncomfortable to think about all this. It will be uncomfortable for all of us. Please do not let that discomfort make you shy away from facing everything. We need to continue. We cannot turn on backs on this because we are scared. Black people live in fear every day, and have for centuries in America. We need to learn about our pasts, learn about what led us to the place we are in now. We must accept that we can never stop learning. We can never be done with reading books by black authors. We can never stop elevating black voices. We need to incorporate this into our everyday lives. Use empathy. Have you ever felt unheard? Have you ever felt dehumanized? Have you ever felt discriminated against? Oppressed? Shamed just for being who you are? Maybe you haven't been the one on the receiving end of racism, but you can still try to relate using your own experiences and empathy. I am a writer. I am still learning how to express myself without taking away from black voices. I still feel fear at the thought of me having to listen without saying anything. It scares me. It makes me uncomfortable. A lot of us, including me, need to learn how to take our white fragility and put it aside.
 
Now, I will be quoting information that may be entirely or just a bit relevant that I think can be helpful in our everyday lives. Some sources are not direct, some may be quotes without a known author. I can only give you the most information I have about them:
 
"Being a good person is a choice. Don't let people fool you into believing that truly good people never have bad thoughts, are never tempted by the easier path, by the low road, never mess up or act out selfishly. Never believe a person can be good without making a conscious effort. Goodness is not an inherent trait, it is a choice."  found on @lovelyquoting on instagram  
"When you debate a person about something that affects them more than it affects you, remember that it will take a much greater emotional toll on them than on you. For you it may feel like an academic exercise. For them, it feels like revealing their pain only to have you dismiss their experience and sometimes their humanity. The fact that you might remain more calm under these circumstances is a consequence of your privilege, not increased objectivity on your part. Stay humble." By Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon  
"The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people’s expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a white person who likes black people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything.”  By Scott Woods  
"Allies: Now is the time to be in the service of Black liberation. Limit your response to what is of real, tangible help to us. Give money, call your representatives, protect Black people at protests, elevate our work and voices. Don't make us swim through your tears while we fight." By Ijeoma Oluo  
"The oppressors in power are the ones that get to decide what constitutes violence... rather than condemning oppressed people for how they choose to resist, focus on the real violence. PROPERTY CAN BE REPLACED. BLACK LIVES CANNOT." by Muchacha Fanzine  
I will add more posts as time goes on with additional quotes and information.

honestly, a big fuck you to all those who don't understand how hurtful this is to people with mental illness. being mentally ill is not a choice. being a cop is. cops are choosing to abuse their power and abuse people. what a gross comparison. i've dealt with cops before in situations where i was mentally unstable and it's scary. most aren't trained to deal with us. i had a thing where if i felt scared i wasn't allowed to move or else i would die. it wasn't true, but that's what my mind and body made me believe. if i had frozen up and refused to move or speak, which has happened countless times before, the situation may have not ended well. 

so basically she said nothing

Yes I'm seeing a lot of fans that are so so disappointed to the point of not caring about her as a person anymore. And I understand. What she's doing is so.. idk Imagine going back on tour next year, seeing black fans in the crowd and knowing you didn't do anything, not a single IG story, for them when they needed their idol to at least demonstrate she cares about them.

Meanwhile Lana’s friend Jen is posting stories on her IG complaining about the protests not being peaceful/making too much noise/being too close to her home/making her neighborhood smell like smoke and being in shock about the Grove shopping center being looted...
 
“The company you keep...”
 
I’m so disappointed in Lana fr.

i was just driving for 5 hours but honestly, fuck you @@Lucas B.

I know you don’t want to hear it but a white woman’s feelings aren’t more important than black lives.

What's toxic is blindly following someone you don't even know to the point you can't even discern right vs wrong. Lana is a grown woman. she's 35 years old not some child who doesn't know any better.  Just because I'm a fan of her music doesn't mean im gonna give her a pass from ignoring what's important in my society. Her silence gives power to the oppressors and that's her privilege at work.  

I do see the truth in what you're saying and agree that too many people are all talk and when it comes down to making changes or doing something difficult they won't change until they are forced too. Conversation/ petitions/ money are only responding, not addressing the root of the problem. What they can do, however, is spread awareness/allow different perspectives to be considered/act as an impetus. And then we can only hope that awareness leads to actions that force the institutions of power to respond.

i can guarantee you that anyone having an issue with lana's silence have donated, signed petitions, called the DA, or maybe even protested. including myself. And these are all fans no matter their race. These are fans who are sharing with followers that they know in real life and on their fan accounts FOR lana. These are fans who don't have millions of dollars and a fan base with the population of a whole country. They feel pain too.  Their mental health has been affected as well. And they still donate, and share, and call, and protest.  Lana had no problem telling people to fuck off if they didn't agree with her. Now she's too fragile and delicate to help support a critical and important social movement. Got it. 

Oh shut up. I and i'm sure a lot of others have signed the dozens of petitions circling social media. I've donated to the minnesota freedom fund and another member here mentioned they did too. This "what have YOU done" argument is so tired, we're not angry at her for no reason. Obviously we're doing our part.

That one user making that racist post censoring the word black and saying it's ok if Lana is racist as long as she's not homophobic trying to excuse themself by saying their comment ''wasn't meant to offend anyone''.. 

I do see the truth in what you're saying and agree that too many people are all talk and when it comes down to making changes or doing something difficult they won't change until they are forced too. Conversation/ petitions/ money are only responding, not addressing the root of the problem. What they can do, however, is spread awareness/allow different perspectives to be considered/act as an impetus. And then we can only hope that awareness leads to actions that force the institutions of power to respond.

I do see the truth in what you're saying and agree that too many people are all talk and when it comes down to making changes or doing something difficult they won't change until they are forced too. Conversation/ petitions/ money are only responding, not addressing the root of the problem. What they can do, however, is spread awareness/allow different perspectives to be considered/act as an impetus. And then we can only hope that awareness leads to actions that force the institutions of power to respond.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

I think we all got that. From person to person, I think it'd be more effective and worthwhile if maybe u eased on generalities of who you call idiots and stupid people. Tryna mediate, but it just wouldn't sit w others well. and I get that you're allowed to say what you've said, but other posts sort of don't really help bridge anyone together. my opinion.. 
 
great, thanks! 
 

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

As people have already said, this isn't even about Lana for me. It's about acknowledging your platform and using your influence to encourage your followers to look into the situation and not just accept it or choose to opt-out. Racism isn't only an issue for PoC, but everyone, and simply having the choice to stay silent is a luxury. How would it feel to live in a supposedly free country where your brother, son, partner etc might go to the grocery store only to never return? How would it feel to know that because of something they were born with, they are not allowed to simply exist without having suspicion and accusation directed their way? And the ironic thing is, people are accepting of the culture they just aren't accepting of the people behind it which is the most painful part of all for me. It's like exoticism, enjoying the positives from afar but never being driven enough to go further in acknowledging the deep pain and struggles rooted in the fabric of this country that is the foundation of every part of the culture.
I respect Lana has her own issues to handle, but there comes a point when you have to demonstrate the kindness of your heart through your responses and not only your personal assertions.
I have to disagree that celebrities (and everyone for that matter) being vocal doesn't change anything or will be forgotten. This is exactly the kind of response that feeds suppression even though I know you're not intending to be dismissive.

not for nothing but lana has profited off of black art forms (namely trap) and the literal least she could do is at least post a link to donate to bail funds in MN. i am not surprised that she hasn't but it's so sad (and generally emblematic of white fragility) that her response to all the recent drama has been to be incredibly defensive and angry rather than acknowledging that there are valuable things to be learned from her incredibly ill-stated comments. 

Sorry to say, man (or woman, don't know), but if you think that focusing on a matter that has been killing and excluding people for centuries (racism, which Lana, as any other one, can be accomplice of just by not explicitly manifesting against) makes this a "b*** forum", maybe you should look for other place to spend your time. For as long as I've been here, this isn't a celebrity/gossip place, but a platform on which world problematics are discussed frecuently, and I think that is the best thing that could be said about a forum centered on an artist and artists and art in general.