Recommentunde | Really Bad Day | 18 Mar 2021

Baratunde Thurston

Mar 18, 2021

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Recommentunde - 18 Mar 2021

Really Bad Day

This morning at my local coffee/bike shop. Thanks for the love à bloc!

A BRIEF STATEMENT

In the matter of the heinous attack in Atlanta this week in which a man I will not name targeted workers at Asian-themed spa businesses, there is much we don’t know. We’ve seen reporting and headlines over the past year about the rise of anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate in this country, and we’ve even heard cautions that not every case is racially motivated. I will admit that sometimes we don’t know.

But there’s a lot we do know.

We know that just over a year ago, the President of the United States used ethnic slurs and childish rhetoric to scapegoat a specific racial group and blame them for the coronavirus pandemic. Predictably, many Americans saw this as permission to bully, harass, and assault members of this community.

We know that generations ago the US government formally excluded Chinese immigration and in a different time put Japanese-American citizens in internment camps, stole their land, and worse.

We know that in between these periods of time, we’ve lived in a culture which fetishizes Asian women while also treating them as less than human, which emasculates Asian men, which presumes that “Asian” is even definable as one group, ignoring the actual histories, religions, skin tones, and lives of many peoples.

We know that our culture elevates whiteness above all others at the expense of all.

And without knowing all the facts of the ugliness that happened in Atlanta, we know eight people are dead, and six of them were Asian. They all worked in Asian-themed businesses. And the killer is white.

Most important to me, we know that in a press conference yesterday, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jay Baker described the motivations of the shooter as follows: “He was pretty much fed up and kind of at the end of his rope. Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did.”

Whether the shooter ever acknowledges his actions had a racial motivation, this grossly negligent and hurtful statement/action by law enforcement is built on a foundation of white supremacy. Baker prioritized the experience, perspective, and feelings of a multiple-murderer. He centered the criminal and erased the victims. The statement is hateful, and as a member of a community which has been erased often, abused often, murdered often even by people sworn to protect and serve, the statement sickens me.

I extend my love, my solidarity, my energy, and my heart to my fellow humans of Asian descent who are hurting right now. This pain is too familiar to too many of us. You are not alone in this.

WHAT’S UP WITH ME

I’m ceding most of my self-promo space to the statement above. See you on the internet!

LINKS I’VE CLICKED FOR YOU

No Excuses: Recovery Recess | Indivisible

Now is a great time to apply pressure to our federal government. We can make phone calls and more, not just when the government is run by a crime family, but when we have a chance to institute some signficant and good changes.

Episode 48: A Mended Heart | The Osterholm Update

COVID alert. I know the vaccines are rolling out and cases are down, but I only listen to Dr. Michael Osterholm, and there’s a storm coming. This is an urgent public service announcement. Listen to this episode which offers clarity about the variants soon to trigger our next surge as well as sound interpretations of the AstraZeneca situation in Europe.

Meghan Markle, the monarchy and racism | CBC Radio

This is the best analysis of Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview I’ve found, and I’ve digested a LOT. What I appreciate most is the honesty of culture writer Movie Biakolo who, like me, was shocked at the lack of awareness or curiosity Markle showed in entering a family build on oppression and empire. It’s a great analysis which empathizes deeply with Markle while asking bigger questions missed by most covering the situation.

What’s inside the $1.9T COVID-19 bill passed by Congress

I figured it’s good to know what’s in the largest relief package passed in American history.

A Hacker Got All My Texts for $16

If you’re using SMS as an authentication method with your apps, banks, or other online services, stop it. Stop it right now. It’s hella insecure.

Hollywood Loses Money When Undervaluing Black-Led Projects, Study Finds – Deadline

Representation matters and it costs us all!

Californians Could Ruin Texas—But Not the Way You Might Think – Texas Monthly

Good long read about this oft-cited trend of Californians moving to Texas, and what growth in Texas means. Spoiler: it’s not good for everyone, and governing out of petty spite is silly and useless.