Without trying, I see a lot of #trans, #gay, #autistic, #neurodivergent, and similar accounts of #marginalized people constantly in my #Home, #Local, and #Federated timelines, which seems to accurately reflect those who have built the #Mastodon #Fediverse and have made and kept it a viable, vibrant, safe platform.
I follow some, based on common interests and shared values.
What seems vastly underrepresented are #Black trans, gay, autistic, neurodivergent, and similar accounts.
Odd? Troubling.
@nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi That it may, and certainly seems to, require specific hashtags to find such people, rather than having them appear in our timelines exactly the same way such non-Black accounts do is the exact issue, that's the problem.
It seems to confirm what many other new Black users of this platform immediately pointed out: This seems to be an overly white-centered space even among users from otherwise marginalized communities.
Hopefully my perception is egregiously wrong.
@ricardoharvin @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi
I suspect its in the nature of the origin on Mastodon.
The IT world is predominantly white, at least in the UK. This in itsself is probably a feature of wider society.
So I think its more a symptom of a wider issue rather than something specific to this platform.
A problem? Definitely at every level.
Perhaps the good news is that at least here the answer is in our own hands. Somyes follow and boost POC
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi Your first line basically repeats what I wrote.
My point is Mastodon prides itself, loudly, on being a safe space built by and for ALL marginalized people, yet is apparently failing at being so for those marginalized people who are Black.
A clear illustration of the problem.
"marginalized white people built this for all marginalized people but Black people need to make an extra effort to be included" is not the winning argument you apparently believe it to be
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi You're missing the point. Black people of communities I listed, and others, should have LONG been here in ratios similar to those of the white members of marginalized peoples that have long been here.
It's not about the new arrivals but the apparent failure of the Mastodon Fediverse community to do the work long ago to bring Black people, always among the globally most marginalized people regardless of community, into this space.
@ricardoharvin @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi
Yes, acknowledged
But given that what do we do now? Given a past failing?
Dont get me wrong i don't want to minimise any past failings, we need to acknowledge them and the reasons why.
But more than that what domwe do now? How do we address the issue
@ricardoharvin @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi respectfully some slight disagreement
And apologies if I have misunderstood
Yes the work needs to be the responsibility of the white community. But if I dont ask then I risk implementing a fix based on my own prejudice.and yes after all this time we shouldnt need to ask but I would rather ask than assume
1/2
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi I'm not saying to not ask questions (but certainly not of me, a cishet male) on how to resolve this.
But you and your communities must first ask yourselves how this came to be because it requires a complete and deliberate disregard to not have realized long ago that this was a major problem.
And if your personal networks and those of your friends, and of their friends, all missed this, that's where your work must begin.
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi If you have no connection to Black people who share your marginalized identities, even several degrees removed. why not?
If you do, then humility, an admission of failure, and a clear commitment to being better can be a good way to start when reaching out to representatives of those who've been neglected.
And don't expect acceptance, thanks, or any positive reinforcement. You're not owed that by them.
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi You shouldn't have to imagine how you'd feel if you were in a similar situation. You probably don't need to.
What would (or does) it take for someone who knows or shares your struggle but has ignored you while they've found some measure of safety or comfort to gain your trust?
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi It's not incumbent on Black people in these marginalized communities to fix the issue of their being neglected.
white marginalized communities must do the work of establishing communication, admitting failures, and then *doing* whatever it takes to prove to those who've been left behind that they are welcome.
You all will need to ask them individually and collectively how to do so. I can't answer that.
@ricardoharvin @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi
I dont and never have expected oppressed peoples to fix thjngs, thats those doing the oppression and those allowing the oppression to happen
I do feel however that at an individual level a recognition that we may need help to gajn that interior understanding and what really would he,l rather than what we i, might thjnk would
@StevieP @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi Deflecting isn't the answer.
If you don't feel safe *on this platform*, then this entire conversation has been pointless.
I'm not advocating for making this platform inviting and welcoming to *anyone* if it's not safe.
At least you understand what you just tried to do?.
Anyway, I'm done with this. I hate deflection and disingenuousness.
@ricardoharvin @nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi
Not deflecting just not happy to brjng some things in my experence into this discussion
I obviously respect your decision to withdraw from the discussion just not sure how it helps anybody
@ricardoharvin You are correct, the whiteness of this space (including especially the "marginalized" parts) is obvious to even the most casual observer.
But I'm with @StevieP in that most of us white folks (me included) have existed in a structural white bubble all our lives and are CLUELESS, down to the root, about how to coexist, much less deconstruct the systems our ancestors set up and we continue to participate in. 1/
@ricardoharvin @StevieP
Yes, we are the majority (at least in the US and Europe), and it is our responsibility, but most of us, individually and personally, are starting in a hole.
Hmm, I thought I'd have a grand conclusion, but I don't.
@nomdeb @BlackAzizAnansi
Ricardo Harvin
Nomdeb
Stevie Ancasta 🏳️⚧️⚧️
John Lusk
Bill Day