Slavery didn't end because the slaves revolted. It ended because white people fought to abolish it. The North could have allowed the South to continue on as a separate nation with slaves, but they insisted the Confederacy remain with the Union, AND end slavery.

Often the downtrodden need those in power to use that power to fight for them.

Imagine thinking that only minorities can stand up for minority rights. What's your suggestion then, that White people have no business doing anything but maintaining the status quo, because it's not their place to speak out for others?

This is a hilarious take. How far do you think it would go if only black people cared about black problems? If only black people fought against slavery, I'm almost certain it would still be widespread publicly. It still certainly is t fixed. We still have systemic corruption and incarceration based servitude for slave wages, but on an individual level, it's been mostly taken care of and because it wasn't just the directly affect fighting against it. No, minorities do not need anyone to speak for them, but other people, especially those of the same race as the oppressors, it needs to happen. Otherwise "they're just being uppity again."

As a trans white woman, tbh I remember when the discussion was that privileged people should be amplifying minority voices and talking points, and at least on the axes I'm oppressed along I stand by that position. A lot of people are unwilling to listen to me about my humanity, but they are a hell of a lot more likely to listen to my cis relatives.

Also those discussions can be exhausting for the affected and having the non affected doing 101 level talks with each other spares me them.

Damn we getting mad at white women again?

As someone that defended humanity of Palestinians and spoke out against Israel genocide, it's okay if white women talk about the plight of others or the oppression they suffer

i think some people are missing the point in that its making fun of the people that do this for the vanity instead of actually caring

I worry about this sometimes. I don't ever want to be seen as speaking "for" minorities I'm not a member of, but I do want to be seen speaking "up for" them. And I worry about finding the right balance. I don't want to speak over them, but do want to help make it clear that I support them and I am opposed to those who are opposed to them. I don't want to be MLK's "white moderate".

I am a cis white woman. My opinion has never, in my life, mattered to any real consequence. I am not liberal, I am an anarchist. Fuck this title. My opinion has never mattered in the scheme of things and never will. What's the best I could ever do? Be loud on Twitter? Maybe run for minor local office and lose to a rich fuck? No. My opinions do not, in fact matter. They never have, and they never will.

So, back in real life. At a protest? Yes, it's valuable for white people to speak up, since they're more difficult for police to persecute. Sorry you're too uninformed and naice to realize this, so wise OP.

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

Nobody needs/wants the white liberal to speak for them, but another voice in the crowd demanding something surely can't be a bad thing?

Racist post. I hope it isn't tolerated by the community.

Do activists with a messiah complex exist? Yes. Are they annoying? Yes. Should folks considered "white" and politically "liberal" be generalized into having this attribute? No. It's racist to do so.

OP is quite bigoted and should know better.

As long as you don't "correct" or act like you know better that minorities, you will be a good Ally.

Don't say "I will help you!", instead ask "how can i help you?"

I think there isn't a black and white (no pun intended) rule when it comes to standing up for someone else.

There are situations where it's appropriate and situations it's not.

And it's hard to say across the board to keep your mouth shut if you are white and see another group being discriminated against. Or to always interject yourself.

I'm a woman and I think of the times I've been in a situation where I really would have appreciated a man stepping in so that I didn't have to be the one woman calling out something so blatantly misogynist.

Because then I'm seen as the bad person. The snowflake.

But other times, I think . Men need to shut up about what they think women need or want about our reproductive health because they don't know anything. But I sure would like it if they supported what we said.

My general rule is. I back people up if they say something about an injustice and show I support them.

But if I see blatant discrimination and injustices being enacted on someone, I will call it out.

And try my best not to draw attention to the person being discriminated against and make them feel embarrassed.