Much of the conversation and advocacy surrounding anti-Asian racism has failed to connect it with anti-Blackness, and has itself been mired in carceral and anti-Black thinking. By Jordana Allen-Shim Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been a massive spike in documented cases of anti-Asian violence. A February 9 report from Stop AAPI Hate, “the...
Tag: oppression
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Artists are Making The Case For Art As Good Propaganda
Art, particularly about systems of oppression, necessarily has to choose a side. After all, choosing not to speak out for those who are oppressed, is also choosing a side. By Ragini Srikrishna “All art is propaganda…” Upton Sinclair A full year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit us and while George Floyd was still alive, community...
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In The Saturated Space of Food Writing, We Have Lost That Food is Political
Colonialism, caste, and capitalism are essential to understanding Indian food. Not only with regard to what is eaten, but also who gets to eat it. By Madhuri Sastry Food is having a real moment — from documentaries to memoirs to artfully curated Instagram accounts. It even found its way into Kamala Harris’ campaign strategy, when...
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The History of the Medical Industry’s Role in Oppression is Well Documented
Social media is reshaping the medical industry’s abuse or, at least, the extent to which that abuse can be shared. It also provides a platform where workers can reinforce dangerous beliefs. By Vanessa Taylor Tyra Hunter. 1995. Dead after EMTs withdrew medical care upon realizing she was a transgender woman. Barbara Dawson. 2015. Dead from...
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‘Joker’ Propagates The “Mentally Ill Loner” Narrative Without Introspection or Challenge
“Joker” potentially allows men who identify with Arthur Fleck’s descent into violent criminality to find not only acceptance, but also celebration, empathy, and vindication—and that is both irresponsible and dangerous. This essay contains spoilers for “Joker” “Among many mass killers, the triple privileges of white heterosexual masculinity, which make subsequent life course losses more unexpected...
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I’m Not Here For Your Presidential Candidates
I want things that disrupt the way that governments and societies operate, and so why would I be in favor of any presidential candidate? I’m tired, and that exhaustion is going to follow me deep into the 2020 presidential election. I’m not looking forward to being yelled at about voting for “the right candidate”, I’m...
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Online Dating is Terrible and I Give Up
All the oppressive things we already have to deal with in our material world only become amplified in the virtual world. I quit, y’all. I put in a solid few years on dating apps and I’ve decided that I’m not carrying them with me into 2019. This isn’t to denounce dating apps as being completely...
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Comfortable Allies Are Not Allies
If your allyship only extends as far as your comfort, you are not an ally. John Brown was an abolitionist who died in 1859. He was hanged after a failed attempt to attack a federal arsenal to provide arms to a future slave rebellion. He was a flawed human being but he lived by his principles...
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‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is Not a Radical Win for Representation
“Crazy Rich Asians” promotes the ongoing systematic erasure and oppression of Singapore minorities on a global screen. By Sangeetha Thanapal After the trailer for “Crazy Rich Asians” was released, the internet went wild over it, especially those of us who care about representation and diversity. Based on Kevin Kwan’s book by the same title, the...
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Taking Self-Care Beyond its Commercialized Version
Self-care that fails to address the full dimension of individual healing simply isn’t enough. Self-care honestly gets a bad rep. There is a time for action and a time for rest, and our bodies and spirits need the balance of both to work their best. And while there’s a space for self-care that incorporates face masks...