unspeakablehorror | Reading Activists (Reply)

One reason it's important to read what prominent marginalized activists have to say rather than just getting everything from social media is the tendency for ego to play such a large part in social media interactions. There's also the tendency to use one's more marginalized friends to validate their beliefs, which self-selects for less critical introspection. Like, your friends often either a.) are your friends because they already agree with you or b.) in an online space, are very unlikely to feel comfortable criticizing you if they want (or need) to remain your friend. Don't use your marginalized friends as props to validate your beliefs. That previous sentence seems to be a problem I've seen most often when race is involved (eg. 'but I have black friends'), though it's equally obnoxious when applied to other types of marginalized identities. Anyway, one reason it's important to read the works of marginalized activists that one isn't personally friends with is that the distance provided allows for better self-reflection and self-criticism to be applied. A book or essay doesn't feel the need to be planning in realtime how to assauge one's feelings and ego as a friend might, but also feels less threatening than receiving the same criticisms directly in a conversation.