strive

in college a teacher explained that criticizing gentrification wasn’t about shaming or blaming the white people that were most likely living in the only apartments they could afford - it was about asking why their living there was inherently valuable. it’s not really about who - it’s about why. why white lives are literally valued more. why is the presence of white people a gentrifying force? what is it about whiteness that elicits immediate value? 

And if you look up the stages of gentrification, it usually goes like "artists and teachers and etc move into this neighborhood because its what they can afford" and THEN "developers notice these people and try to capitalize on them."

Transcript: It reminds me of the "bike to work" movement. That is also portrayed as white, but in my city more than half of the people on bike are not white. I was once talking to a white activist who was photographic "bike commuters" and had only pictures of white people with the occasional "Black professional" I asked her why she didn't photograph the delivery people, construction workers etc... id. the Black and [Latine] and Asian people... and she mumbled something about trying to "improve the image of biking" then admitted that she didn't really see them as part of the "green movement" since they "probably have no choice" - I was so mad I wanted to quit working on the project she and I were collaborating on. So, in the same way when people in a poor neighborhood grow food in their yards... it's just being poor- but when white people do it they are saving the earth or something." -comment left on the Racialious blog post "Sustainable Food and Privilege: Why is Green always White (and Male and Upper-Class) (via meggannn). END TS

A 17 year old filmed it despite threats from cops at the time and if it wasn't for that video now we wouldn't be here. I can't imagine how scared she might of been, the trauma she faced, and the horrific memories she'll have for the rest of her life. Darnella Frazier is so brave.

“You gotta be cool, Scoobs.  Like the wind.”