#bame

I see you.

I know how you are treated in your ethnic culture, in your family. How they tell you "it's a white thing" even though it was your vibrantly-gendered culture that was steamrolled into a binary by Western colonisers. I know how it feels to not be able to use your correct pronouns in your mother tongue because no one knows the neopronouns you have to use in your binary gendered language. I know how you try to mix and explore sides of your native culture that you have never explored before. That you never knew you could blend so euphorically back when you used to live under the binary. I know the guilt you feel for not fitting in, for not being able to pass up your racialised binary gender experience. The ethic sisterhood, the racialised brotherhood. I know how it feels, to be able to pass as something amongst white people, but then the sweetness of that is taken from you as you remember that it is rooted in the racist binarism that continues to subjugate the binary members of your race. I know how to feels to feel invisible in the non-binary community, when most of our representation is white. I know how it feels to view androgyny or gender neutrality as impossible unless you are white; it was the same feeling you felt towards masculinity and femininity when you were binary gendered. I know how it feels to want to transition in a masculine or feminine way, but remembering those who pass as men or women in your ethnicity get killed and sexually assaulted at random by the system. I know how it feels to not want to risk it, to want to hide forever. I see you. I. See. You.

But I do not only know your struggle. I know the beauty of finding other enben of colour, who understand the intersections, the history. I understand the joy that is uncovering that history before colonialism, of the many different genders and modalities of you ancestors gone by. I know the smile that comes on your face when your chosen family (which can include blood relation) uses the right pronouns, the right neopronouns. I know the understanding that it's okay to still understand your racialised binary experience will forever be a part of you that white trans people might not understand. I know the joy of expression through hair, and the absolute ecstasy that comes when you too will realise that androgyny and gender neutrality is not just for white people, not just in white expression. It works in your ethnicity too. I know the feeling of peace that comes from being gendered in your desired way by a member of your race, realising you are surpassing the binarist system.

Anti-Blackness Among Non-Black People of Colour: A Garveyite Perspective on Global Patterns of Oppression

From a Garveyite lens, the history and present-day behavior of non-Black people of color (POC) reveal a global pattern of anti-Blackness, glorification of whiteness, and opportunistic use of Black people and their struggles when it suits their interests. This phenomenon spans North America, Europe, South America, and the African diaspora, rooted in the legacy of colonialism and white supremacy. Marcus Garvey’s teachings on Black self-reliance, Pan-Africanism, and racial pride provide critical insights into the ways in which these dynamics have evolved and persist.

Historical Roots of Anti-Blackness in POC Communities

Colonial Hierarchies and Racial Divides

Colonialism established global racial hierarchies that placed Black people at the bottom. Non-Black POC, while oppressed, were often granted privileges over Black people in exchange for complicity in white supremacy.

1. South Asians in Africa

During British colonial rule, South Asians were brought to East and Southern Africa as indentured labourers and intermediaries in the colonial administration. Positioned above Black Africans, they internalized and perpetuated colonial anti-Black stereotypes, benefiting economically and socially.

2. Arab Slave Trade

Predating European colonialism, the Arab slave trade dehumanized millions of Africans, embedding anti-Blackness in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) cultures. This legacy persisted under European colonial rule, as MENA communities often aligned with whiteness to maintain their status.

3. Latin America’s Caste System

Spanish and Portuguese colonial powers created rigid racial hierarchies, placing lighter-skinned mestizos above Black and Indigenous peoples. Afro-descendants were relegated to the bottom, excluded from political, economic, and social advancement.

4. East Asia’s Encounter with Whiteness

In East Asia, European imperialism introduced the glorification of whiteness and the stigmatization of darker skin. This colorism remains a key factor in anti-Black attitudes within East Asian communities worldwide.

Modern Anti-Blackness Among POC in North America

Economic Exploitation and Social Distancing

Non-Black POC in North America have historically sought proximity to whiteness by distancing themselves from Blackness.

1. Model Minority Myth (Asian Americans)

The model minority stereotype positions Asian Americans as hardworking and law-abiding, contrasting them with anti-Black stereotypes of laziness and criminality. This myth not only erases systemic racism against Asian Americans but also reinforces anti-Blackness by pitting communities of colour against each other.

2. Latino Communities

While Latinos have faced their own struggles against racism, anti-Blackness is deeply ingrained in many Latin American cultures, often carried into the U.S. Afro-Latinos are frequently erased, and lighter-skinned Latinos receive greater societal acceptance. Additionally, many Latino communities participate in cultural appropriation of Black music, fashion, and slang while ignoring systemic anti-Black racism.

3. Arab and South Asian Communities

In North America, Arab and South Asian immigrants often establish businesses in predominantly Black neighborhoods but fail to invest in or support the community. These businesses profit from Black consumers while perpetuating anti-Black stereotypes and refusing to hire Black employees.

Anti-Blackness in Europe

Historical Context

Europe’s colonial history directly shaped its current racial hierarchies. Non-Black POC in Europe have long been complicit in anti-Blackness to gain acceptance in predominantly white societies.

1. South Asians in Britain

Post-WWII, South Asian immigrants in Britain often distanced themselves from Black communities to assimilate. Anti-Black prejudices from colonial India were reinforced in Britain, as South Asians sought to align themselves with white society.

2. Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Communities

In France, Italy, and other European countries, MENA immigrants have perpetuated anti-Blackness while facing their own struggles against Islamophobia and xenophobia. This dynamic highlights the complexity of racial hierarchies, as MENA communities simultaneously resist and uphold white supremacy.

3. Eastern Europeans and Anti-Black Stereotypes

In many parts of Europe, Eastern European immigrant communities, despite facing discrimination themselves, have adopted and perpetuated anti-Black stereotypes, particularly in public discourse and employment practices.

Economic Exploitation in the UK

One glaring example is the domination of the Afro-cosmetics industry in Britain by South Asian and Middle Eastern shop owners. These businesses profit from Black women, the primary consumers of Afro hair products, while exhibiting dismissive or disrespectful attitudes toward their clientele. Black entrepreneurs attempting to enter the market face systemic barriers, as non-Black POC control the supply chains.

Anti-Blackness in South America and the Caribbean

Erasure of Afro-Descendants

In countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, Afro-descendants constitute significant portions of the population yet remain politically and economically marginalized.

1. Colourism and Whitening Policies

Many South American countries implemented “whitening” policies in the 19th and 20th centuries, encouraging European immigration to dilute Black and Indigenous populations. This legacy persists in cultural and media representations that glorify whiteness and exclude Afro-descendants.

2. Appropriation of Black Culture

Samba, capoeira, and other Afro-Brazilian traditions are celebrated globally, yet Afro-Brazilians themselves are often excluded from economic and social opportunities.

3. The Caribbean

In the Caribbean, divisions between Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean communities have been exacerbated by colonial histories. Indo-Caribbean communities have at times sought to align themselves with whiteness to gain privileges over Afro-Caribbean populations.

The Diaspora: Global Exploitation and Appropriation

1. Co-Opting Black Struggles

In multiracial coalitions, non-Black POC often tokenize Black leaders to gain visibility while sidelining Black-specific issues. Non-Black POC frequently appropriate Black-led movements, such as Black Lives Matter, to amplify their own struggles while failing to address anti-Blackness within their communities.

2. Cultural Appropriation

Black music, dance, and fashion are consumed and commodified by non-Black POC without acknowledgment of their origins or the systemic racism faced by Black creators.

3. Political Opportunism

During elections or social movements, non-Black POC often appeal to Black communities for support but fail to reciprocate when Black issues are on the line.

Garveyite Solutions to Anti-Blackness

From a Garveyite perspective, the solution to these dynamics lies in Black self-reliance, economic independence, and Pan-African unity.

1. Economic Empowerment

Support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to counteract the exploitation by non-Black POC. Establish Black-controlled supply chains, particularly in industries like beauty and retail.

2. Reject False Solidarity

Critically evaluate multiracial coalitions and alliances, ensuring that Black interests are not co-opted or sidelined. Demand accountability from non-Black POC for perpetuating anti-Blackness.

3. Pan-African Unity

Strengthen connections between Black communities globally to resist systemic oppression. Reclaim African identity and culture, rejecting the glorification of whiteness and internalized anti-Blackness.

4. Education and Advocacy

Raise awareness about the history and persistence of anti-Blackness in non-Black POC communities. Promote Garveyite principles of Black pride, self-reliance, and liberation.

Conclusion

Anti-Blackness among non-Black POC, rooted in colonial histories and perpetuated through modern economic, cultural, and social practices, remains a global issue. From North America to Europe, South America, and across the diaspora, non-Black POC have sought to align themselves with whiteness while exploiting Black people when convenient. Marcus Garvey’s vision offers a powerful framework for resisting these dynamics, emphasizing the need for Black self-reliance, unity, and liberation.

[Nudity] Second Week Halloween Challenge

FRANKENSTEIN 🐻⚡️

@taifang dịch

"At its inception, Black History Month was successful at opening discussions on racism and highlighting key Black British figures and stories from British History that have previously been hidden or gone untold. I am grateful that these stories are being retold and showcased, even if it is just for one month of the year.

However, every year that October creeps around, I don’t feel joy or excitement, I feel dread and grief. I grieve for the contribution of our communities which still haven’t made it into our history books, I grieve for the echoes of our ancestors who had their rights and humanity stripped away from them as enslaved people. I grieve for the pain that I and many people who look like me still feel every day as a Black person living in the UK and working in the environmental sector.