An Open Letter (and Invitation) to the So-Called 99% from People of Color
Dear so-called 99%
You suckers thought that you were so special, ennit? You thought that your heineys were just that much better and softer and more supple than all those poor people of color, huh? There was never any discussion of the “99%” for the past 400 years while Native lands were stolen, Native people were exterminated, black folks were enslaved, Latinos were gerrymandered, Japanese people were placed in internment camps or Arabs were sexually groped, fondled and heavily-petted at airports. No problem, right? There was never any discussion of the fundamental imbalance of power on this continent and inherent unfairness of the trickle-up economics for the past few centuries as the aforementioned groups were only seen as a source of labor for powerful white male interests. Not a word.
Because you thought you were special. You were immune to that. That little issue didn’t involve you.
Now, you see that these powerful white males do not care about you either. Now you see that they will—just like they did to “us,” all people of color in this country—extrapolate every single ounce of energy, money and value out of you, your kids, your wife, your mistress. After they do that, they will throw you away, fire you, lay you off, send your job to Mexico or India or someplace else where they can do exactly the same thing to those poor schmucks. Only they’ll do it for much less money. Now, you’re beginning to see that and so you started to call yourself the so-called “99%,” because you realize that you’re not so special at all.
Stupid white people.
The punch line though? You were always part of the 99%. Those powerful white interests love you as much as they love me. Which is to say that they love you about as much a man loves a pregnancy scare from a one-night stand. None. Zero. Idiots. The bad news: You’re not special and unfortunately you’re just now beginning to realize that. The good news: well hell, at least you’re beginning to realize it now. But those are the two reasons that people of color have not joined this movement en masse: #1 We cannot believe that you were so stupid to not know that you weren’t special and that these powerful white male interests were just using you, and #2 we want to make sure that you gullible sheep will not, as soon as those powerful white male interests try to buy you off with giving your job back with the little benefits and 401k, forget about all of us poor people of color who have been suffering for years. We are the faces at the bottom of the well, the very bottom of the 99%.
We are the 99th percentile. The bottom. We’re attracted to the movement, but we need assurance that you’re not gonna just up and leave and get tricked again, like you did before.
Now the invitation: we will join you. We are attracted to this movement. We want to join you. The truth is that we need this movement at least as much as you do. The truth is that we want to make something very serious and very permanent happen for the betterment of all poor and middle-class Americans—Native, white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Arab, everybody! The truth is that you have always been our brothers and sisters—you just didn’t know it. But we need to know that you’re serious. And what we mean by “serious” is that you aren’t going to back to thinking that you’re part of the 1% again and forget about us. You are not. We are in this together, whether you, my white brothers and sisters, choose to acknowledge it or not. We’re waiting.
So what’s it gonna be?
- originally posted at Race Talk
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Peace and Blessings Family I think we must look at history and the current condition the world is in and make smart moves in order to avoid the pit falls that lay ahead! As we see the White Man’s system falling down all around him and us, Capitalism is dying a Natural and well deserved DEATH. The majority of white people don’t want the end of Capitalism they want to reform it. So they can go back to business as usual but the world population of original people understand that it has to die in order for them to live. The Protesters from Cairo Egypt have told OWS their position on the problem of Capitalism “we have been fighting against systems of repression, disenfranchisement and the unchecked ravages of global capitalism: a System that has made a world that is dangerous and cruel to its inhabitants. As the interests of government increasingly cater to the interests and comforts of private, transnational capital, our cities and homes have become progressively more abstract and violent places, subject to the casual ravages of the next economic development or urban renewal scheme. An entire generation across the globe has grown up realizing, rationally and emotionally, that we have no future in the current order of things. Living under structural adjustment policies and the supposed expertise of international organizations like the World Bank and IMF, we watched as our resources, industries and public services were sold off and dismantled as the “free market” pushed an addiction to foreign goods, to foreign food even. The profits and benefits of those freed markets went elsewhere, while Egypt and other countries in the South found their immiseration reinforced by a massive increase in police repression and torture.” The current crisis in America and Western Europe has begun to bring this reality home We must come create our own world and do it Now if we don’t we will be food for the slaughter! So don’t join that which is not for you but join that which is best for you and started by you to address your needs OWS has not addressed our needs nor has the 99%. We must create our own survival plan based on what we can do for self!
Some of us (but I should speak for myself) have realized this… but it’s been a gradual process. Middle aged white woman here – I grew up in an all white suburb. Well in the 70′s we had our first black student, and our first Asian student in high school. Growing up in a more or less liberal family what I thought was, well, everyone has their rights now, or something like that. If I thought at all.
Years of education and experience and working in the city has opened my eyes and mind. I know I was born privileged and a large part of that is because of the color my skin. Now involved with Occupy Chicago, I can tell you that while there is some diversity, the group as a whole knows we need to actively reach out more, and be more inclusive. There have been discussions, and events in collaboration with other groups.
You are angry. I would like to say I understand, but I really can’t, can I? ‘I kinda understand’ is the best I can do. But yes, we need you and in Chicago at least are very aware that we are not representative of the true 99%. Awareness is a start, anyway.
The struggle for humanization…This, then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well. The oppressors, who oppress, exploit, and rape by virtue of their power, cannot find in this power the strength to liberate either the oppressed or themselves. 44
Who are better prepared than the oppressed to understand the terrible significance of an oppressive society? Who suffer the effects of oppression more than the oppressed? Who can better understand the necessity of liberation? They will not gain this liberation by chance but through the praxis of their quest for it, through their recognition of the necessity to fight for it. 45
The oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom. Freedom would require them to eject this image and replace it with autonomy and responsibility. Freedom is acquired by conquest, not by gift. It must be pursued constantly and responsibly. Freedom is not an ideal located outside of man; nor is it an idea which becomes myth. It is rather the indispensable condition for the quest for human completion. Pg 47 Freire
Don’t hold your breath. I’ve been saying this over and over for years and years now and even now, the Occupy Movement doesn’t get it. They don’t understand because they don’t want real change, but reform. When I have talked about what workers need to do to challenge the system, I am silenced. Why would a white guy complain? “You can have it too”, but I couldn’t; as poor white trash I was never part of the 99% and we all knew it. But the lie was that we could make it if we tried hard enough, you may have heard that too. Just clean up the neighborhoods, get jobs and stop complaining. I had it far better than any POC around, but I still had the colonized mind of a wage-slave.
Thankfully I grew up in crumbling steel town where the lessons were pretty stark and clear and I learned how power worked to divide workers of all stripes. Another thing I learned was that race was a subset of class; meaning racism was used to perpetuate a class system that kept the workers ignorant of the power of collective action. Unfortunately, not many others around me did or were beaten down by the state apparatus so that any hint of class-consciousness was attacked as soon as it appeared.
The Occupy movement is a reform movement and will sell you out at the first offer; they want your help, then it will be “wait a while, and we’ll get you in too!” “White” people can never lead people from oppression, and by white I mean those ideologically wedded to the capitalist system. This means beware of those around you who will sell you out to move out and up. The best thing privilege can do is assist those who understand the experience of oppression in rejecting any capitalist compromise. Problem is they always want to lead the show, they want socialism from above, that what they learned at Berkeley and at meetings of the SWP trumps what you have lived. Don’t hold your breath, you’re going to be waiting a long time. But all is not lost, whatever the payoff it won’t be enough, capitalism cannot be saved this time by letting a few sit on the porch so let don’t raise a fuss. Be prepared to lead for when the time comes by creating alliances and coalitions that will understand their roles and we who are the oppressed will do the rest.
Powerful. Thank you.
I think that this article is very relevant and poignant. I’ve heard people make similar arguments before, but never so succinctly. I’m glad that I read this.
I will say, though, that one line bothered me:
“Now you see that they will—just like they did to ‘us,’ all people of color in this country—extrapolate every single ounce of energy, money and value out of you, your kids, your wife, your mistress.”
I understand and agree with the point that is being made here, but I have great distaste for the way it is stated. Writing “your wife” and “your mistress” makes it seem like this is addressing only straight, white males. If it were addressing all adults, it wouldn’t say anything like “your husband or wife,” or even “your partner,” because it would just seem unnecessary. (And if it only said “your husband” instead of “your wife” people would surely realize that this was geared specifically towards a straight, female audience!) The way that this is worded also makes it seem like wives and mistresses are things that men are in charge of, in the same way that they are in charge of their children.
Furthermore, if “the truth is that we want to make something very serious and very permanent happen for the betterment of all poor and middle-class Americans,” then let’s really include ALL poor and middle-class Americans. It’s only appropriate to acknowledge those people who would not want to be called “he” or “she,” or be referred to as a man, woman, sister, or brother. I’m in total support of what this article is saying, but I would advocate getting rid of the speech here that excludes our gender-variant, genderqueer, and trans* community members who may not consider themselves strictly male or female. (After all, they are in marginalized groups that experience largely ignored oppression, aggression, and discrimination, too!)
Ok, I’m with you. Seriously. What can I do to help moving forward from here?
Aho..and MVTO! thank you for speaking the words of my heart. I’m from Tulsa and i’ve watched the movement move into the city and I found myself wondering, how do I fit into this movement? Am i part of the 99 or the 1? Do I join? Do I let it go? All of these questions were answered today when I found this site. I’m already in the movement, whether I choose to be or not. I don’t have to go stand in the cold and be thrown around with police brutality anymore, because my the sad truth of the fact is, my ancestors have fought this one already. Being a Vanguard has always and will always be in my blood, and to fight for whats just and right is something I will always be attracted to do. My lover is white, and I thank Ibofunga (Great spirit) everyday that he found me and saved me from a life that was headed the wrong direction. Please follow your hearts and know that you will be guided and steered the direction that you need to go. may the Great Spirit wrap you with his loving blankets and peace to all…