“While assimilation is seen as an approach that ensures the successful entry of black people into the mainstream, at its very core it is dehumanizing. Embedded in the logic of assimilation is the white supremacist assumption that blackness must be eradicated so that a new self, in this case a “white” self, can come into being. Of course, since we who are black can never be white, this very effort promotes and fosters serious psychological stress and even severe mental illness.” — bell hooks (via wretchedoftheearth)
“When liberal whites fail to understand how they can and/or do embody white supremacist values and beliefs even though they may not embrace racism as prejudice or domination (especially domination that involves coercive control), they cannot recognize the ways their actions support and affirm the very structure of racist domination and oppression that they wish to see eradicated.” — bell hooks (via fifteenminuteslater)
“Eruption of rage in boys are most often deemed normal, explained by the age-old justification for adolescent patriarchal misbehavior, “boys will be boys.” Patriarchy both creates the rage in boys and then contains it for later use, making it a national product, this rage can be garnered to further imperialism, hatred, and oppression of women and men globally. This rage is needed if boys are to become men willing to travel around the world to fight wars without ever demanding that other ways of solving conflict be found.” — The Will To Change by bell hooks (via notonomatopoeia)
“Males as a group have and do benefit the most from patriarchy, from the assumption that they are superior to females and should rule over us. But those benefits have come with a price. In return for all the goodies men receive from patriarchy, they are required to dominate women, to exploit and oppress us, using violence if they must to keep patriarchy intact. Most men find it difficult to be patriarchs. Most men are disturbed by hatred and fear of women, by male violence against women, even the men who perpetuate this violence. But they fear letting go of the benefits. They are not certain what will happen to the world they know most intimately if patriarchy changes. So they find it easier to passively support male domination even when they know in their minds and hearts that it is wrong.” — bell hooks, Feminism is for Everybody (via poeticallyspeaking13)
“No history books used in public schools informed us about racial imperialism. Instead we were given romantic notions of the “new world,” the “American dream,” America as The great melting pot where all races come together as one. We were taught that Columbus discovered America; that “Indians” were scalphunters, killers of innocent women and children; that black people were enslaved because of the biblical curse of Ham, that God “himself” had decreed they would be hewers of wood, tillers of the field, and bringers of water. No one talked of Africa as the cradle of civilization, of the African and Asian people who came to America before Columbus. No one mentioned mass murders of Native Americans as genocide, or the rape of Native American and African women as terrorism. No one discussed slavery. No one descried the forced breeding of white wives to increase the white population as sexist oppression.” — Bell Hooks (via epitomeofsomething)
(Source: perennialflight)
“We understand that political solidarity between females expressed in sisterhood goes beyond positive recognition of the experiences of women and even shared sympathy for common suffering. Feminist sisterhood is rooted in shared commitment to struggle against patriarchal injustice, no matter the form that injustice takes. Political solidarity between women always undermines sexism and sets the stage for the overthrow of patriarchy.” — Bell Hooks (via daydreams-of-a-matriarchist)
Just saw that people I don’t know at all or have not paid or given gifts to in any way have reblogged or liked a poem I posted and even took the time to say nice things. Feeling all swoony. Poetayloca
“We are hung up
in giving
what we wish to be given
ourselves.”
— Audre Lorde (via bhargette)
The truth!
(via tierracita)(Source: noldarling, via gu-grrrl)
“Recognizing that the current system does not include everyone is not enough. It is necessary, precisely due to this recognition, to fight against it, and to not assume the fatalistic position forged by the system itself, according to which “nothing can be done; reality is what it is.” — Paulo Freire (via anthologyz)
(Source: miswritten, via anthologyz)
What the Tea Party protesters are really trying to say.
You think?
(via historicalslut)
“The victim who is able to articulate the situation of the victim has ceased to be a victim: he or she has become a threat.” — James Baldwin (via funkyfest)
(Source: menologic, via sinidentidades)
TUMBLR TRIFECTA
(via teachingliteracy)