With Glitter Comes Grit!: A letter to the kawaii community.

     

   

  I never thought I'd get back into writing. I originally planned to stop creating content in order to focus on other areas of my life. My health has never been particularly great and I wanted to focus on my relationships offline.  However, I can't sit by and do nothing. Let's not beat around the bush, I'm black. I'm a black woman with an alternative lifestyle. There are, unfortunately, some unsavory things that come along with that. There are the weird looks, and the ever so unoriginal "it's not Halloween". I haven’t been in a play in years, and I’ve become an expert in dodging nonconsensual photographs. However, there's a very thick layer of added hurt that I don't typically talk about. While it's not as rare as it once was, finding artwork or merchandise of cuties who share my skin complexion isn't something that goes unnoticed. It's not just about the availabilities of products, it's also the abundance of voices saying "you can't wear pastels because your skin is too dark" you can't participate in things because of your race. First off, they're wrong. Secondly, allowing these comments to go unchecked leads to people not feeling welcomed in spaces where we should be. It's the racism and passivity that has snuck its fingers into the corners of kawaii and alternative communities. It occasionally rears it's head as a "black people shouldn't wear pastel wigs", or we don't suit this or that because of the skin color. It may come out as a "goth is white" shirt. All too often I find myself holding my breath when watching certain content creators or shop owners, just hoping that they're not secretly racist.

         This is something that has bugged me for a long time. I don't like to speak out about such things online because it makes people uncomfortable; It makes me uncomfortable to have to confront such an ugly side of humanity. It's uncomfortable doing it in spaces where inclusivity is assumed but the nuances of certain topics go unaddressed, or in places where people try to silence me by rolling their eyes and saying "stop playing the race card". It's frustrating having to explain why creating representation withing fanart or original characters is needed.  It's exhausting constantly explaining these things in real life. I've had 3-hour conversations on why my hair curls, and why I look up if a place is full of racists before traveling. I've had to educate Americans on American history and the judicial system and I didn't want to bring that into my online circle. When I come home and shut the doors I want to rest, just for a moment. I want to be able to get my bearing before taking on more emotional labor. But that’s not always possible and maybe we need that discomfort if anything is to change. Personally, I don't think it's the responsibility of the oppressed to educate those who are privileged on matters they can easily lookup but I know not everyone is going to look it up for themselves. I dread inadvertently becoming the voice of all black people. That’s problematic because, while all black people face discrimination, all of our struggles are not the same. Reducing the struggles of a people to a tiny sound bite of information is dangerous. It shaves away the cultural and situational nuances, paints over the years. of suffering and buffs away the multiple layers of grief. It glosses over the valid voices who have remained calm with guns in their faces and wraps up a complex topic into a nice bow. It's dangerous because it's easy to forget about the ugly truth when it's packaged nicely. 


              The fact is that complacency isn't cute. Racism isn't cute. 



I hear things like "I don't want to get involved with the movement or protests, I want to live in my pastel world. I don't want to get involved in politics." The thing about that is... a lot of people don't want to get involved, but it's necessary. There are black and brown people all over who just "want to live in a pastel bubble." If we're being blunt and straightforward, we just want to live. Period. The alternative lifestyle is inherently political whether you want to admit it or not. From bucking against the establishment with the punks in the '70s, or embracing the macabre with the 80's goth scene. Gyraru popping up and gaining traction in the '90s and 2000s was a perfect example of daring people to look at the youth going against the norm. It's in your face, it makes a statement and it's political.  Lolita started as a way for women to combat the expectations of society, Menhera tackles mental health issues (which is very stigmatized, especially in Japan). Saying you're not political doesn't make much sense if you engage in an alternative lifestyle. Especially if you participate in a kawaii lifestyle. Let's not pretend Mori kei's "appreciation of slowing down, and enjoying life" isn't blowing raspberries at the fast-paced, productivity-driven, hyper consumeristic characteristics of modern life. So why was the kawaii community so slow to respond?

           Red flags just look like regular flags when you're wearing rose-tinted glasses. We can’t wish away the problems of reality; They have to be faced. 

     Most of us within the community want a place that is safe, and positive enough for us to share our interests. While some people have the experience of combating microaggressions within the community, I think it's fair to say that not everyone knows how to do it, or knows what kind of backlash there will be. It's easy to not speak up and to want to pretend this isn't reality. Maybe it's the feeling that you don't have a large enough platform to make a difference that may stop one from being vocal. The truth is that the size of your following doesn't matter. Keep talking about these issues, keep taking up space, keep educating yourselves, and keep supporting one another. It's time to take off the rose-tinted glasses and admit that having a safe kawaii community isn't easy. People put in a lot of work into making these spaces safe online and in real life. That pastel bubble has to be strong enough to support, protect, and give a voice to those who may not have the chance to speak. I'm sure we've all heard Uncle Ben's "with great power comes, great responsibility" quote from spiderman, right? Well, With glitter comes grit!

A community is as much about looking out for one another as it is bonding over shared interests.
Those of us who live alternatively know what it's like to be treated differently, but the difference between alternative clothes and being systematically target, arrested, and killed is that you can take the clothes off. You can remove the makeup at the end of the day, not the skin. It takes a lot of courage to dress abnormally. It takes inner strength to proudly show the world your true colors, so I know that people within the community are strong enough to voice our opinions on discrimination. We stand up for minors, people with disabilities, and for body positivity every day without losing an eyelash. We do it because it is right. I know we know how to make our voices heard, and by not saying anything about black lives speaks volumes. It's saying that the kawaii community welcomes everyone except black and brown people. That's not true at all. There are plenty of creatives and participants that make this worldwide community wonderful. We are here, present, deserve to live and we belong. I've heard people in the past say that they don't want to spread information on their blogs because "it doesn't match their aesthetic". There are people dying every day, I'm sure a break in posts isn't too terrible, and creating messaging that suits your aesthetic is meta! Not only are you fighting systematic oppression but having the nerve to do it in a way that's true to yourself is what I expect to see. I have seen people do this and that's good. It's a start, and I"m not here to downplay the efforts of the people who are already vocal within the community. I acknowledge the effort and support. This is directed towards the people who have yet to say anything. This isn’t an attack or said out of malice. I know that this is a subject that should be addressed with care. I understand not wanting to misrepresent the issue or people involved. That being said, the subject still needs to be addressed. It's not enough to be a non-racist, you have to be anti-racist.     


Disclaimer: And to anyone who is remotely worried about where this is going, no, I'm not inciting violence or encouraging hate speech. However, this is a call to action.

 Disclaimer: Before I continue I need to just put this out there. Don't just read this and not look into educating yourself on the matter more. I don't typically write lengthy posts, but there's a lot to cover. That being said, I'm not the voice for all black people so don't put me in that position. Yes, I'm focusing on Black lives because we're the ones who are in danger. No, that doesn't mean I think any less of another race. Let's not get distracted and focus on the matter at hand.


First, what are the protests even about?

    As frustrating as it is to look at the year on the calendar and still have to explain that Black lives matter and should be treated as such, and yet it must be done. To understand this there are a few things that need to be addressed.

Background Information:

       America was built on racism.  I was gonna make that statement easier to digest, but I'm tired and you can handle the truth. I'm not sorry. America was built with slaves, the last of whom weren't freed until June 19, 1865. (That's less than 200 years ago.) Even then, slave owners waited to tell slaves of the news until it was convenient for them. Slavery wasn't the end of discrimination. There were the Jim Crow laws. These laws enforced segregation from roughly 1877 to the 1950s. These laws were also referred to as "separate but equal" laws due to the supreme court ruling during the Plessy vs Ferguson case in 1896. While the constitution didn't allow for outright forms of racism, these laws segregated parks, cemeteries, theaters, restaurants, schools, and even drinking fountains. The laws imposed complex poll taxes, and reading requirements to allow continued discrimination. "The civil rights era" roughly 1950s-60s (don't quote me on the exact dates) was marked by boycotts, movements, and marches. Racism Didn't end in the '70s, It didn't end after Obama was elected in 2008. Housing discrimination, lack of equal opportunities, and police brutality are still prevalent. I'm aware that I glazed over a lot, however, this wasn't intended to be a full-fledge history lesson. It's simply showing some of the background information that isn't shown on the news. Racism never ended.

There are other matters that the U.S government refuses to address. 
  1. The lack of universal health care. 
  2. Black and brown communities have been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic. The death toll has been incredibly high.
  3.  Mass incarceration. Black people are disproportionately targetted for arrests even though we are a minority. 
  4. The long history of police brutality and murders.
  5. lack of opportunities
  6. racist politicians
  7. racist judicial system
  8. no reparations
  9. little to no access to affordable education. 
  10. A black woman is 3 times more likely to die during labor than her white counterpart. 
     In other words, black people are tired. We're tired of dying. We're tired of people using the police to kill us. We're tired of the unfair treatment by the judicial system. We're tired of America treating us like we're disposable. We're tired of seeing our fathers and brothers shot. We're tired of the media refusing to cover the plethora of black women who've been murdered by the police. We're tired of black trans people being killed. We're tired of seeing our businesses targeted, and seeing a lack of opportunities. We're tired of the racism, the discrimination, the harassment. We're sick of being demonized, and being followed in stores because people think we'll steal. We're exhausted from the emotional labor of educating our children on how to not get shot. We know that it's not all white people, but this problem is systemic. It's embedded in American politics, education, and the legal system. Time and time again, protests have been met with violence by the police. When armed white protesters walked on government property to demand the economy reopen there was no brutality by the police. Yet, when unarmed black and brown people peacefully protest so that we may live, tear gas and concision grenades are thrown without hesitation. People are beaten and injured.  The protests are about the unfair treatment of Black Americans. They’re about the injustices we see every day. I'm not going to lie to you. It's scary seeing what's happening. I can't explain the feeling of having to look over your shoulder every two seconds. The police won't listen; The government won't listen. Police won't let black people explain themselves, instead, they're arresting and shooting anyone who is black or brown. Protesters and random pedestrians are being targeted. The absolute malice and disregard for people is undeniable. The police won't protect us. They're killing us, and this isn't anything new.

  What you can do to help

        I’ve never been one to complain without offering a solution or at least a couple of options. While there are posts out there that cover what people can do right now, (which is great, and I implore you to read them.)  I want to focus on sustainable options. These are the things that can be done year-round. Why? Because Black lives matter, not just in February and not just after a killing. Black lives matter every day, year-round. 

  • Vote. (I just heard a bunch of people groan.) I know there’s a lot of mistrust in politicians. I know, but we need to do everything in our power to end police brutality. That includes voting. I'm not saying our system is perfect, I'm saying that it is going to take every resource and option we have to make a change. It takes everyone. It's an uphill battle. Those in power will try to use the lack of votes as a way to justify continued cruelty. Educate yourselves on politicians’ stances and their actions over time. Plenty of people can pay lip service to a cause when it’s timely, look for the candidates that have a history of acting on their word. I know that it can feel like choosing between the lesser of two evils. (I know it feels like everyone is equally bad.) If you can’t find a candidate, look towards someone involved in grassroots efforts.  Use your signatures, and support to boost their platform so that your voices may be heard.
  •  Babysit. One tactic for voter suppression is making the process too inconvenient. If you can’t vote, babysit for those who can. If you can’t protest, babysit for someone who can.
  • Change the way you spread the news. Post better pictures of those who have been killed. I know it seems like an odd way to help, but let’s remember that each life is a life. They were a person before a statistic and a person afterward. Social media is a visual landscape, and one way to uplift people in pain is to acknowledge that pain and acknowledge their humanity. Show how they contributed to society, how they loved their families, how they owned businesses, and cared for people. Respect the humanity of those killed. Say their names. Don't forget them.
  • Document history. History is happening right now, so document it. The educational system glosses over the unsavory bits of American history, and it praises the winners. It recycles the same few sugarcoated stories every year.  So take notes, and write down what’s happening around you. Document what’s really happening. Save newspaper clippings and photographs. Share it with your descendants, family members, community. If you have the ability to, then share it with libraries. We can’t expect an oppressive system to educate people on its flaws. Please do this. Even if it's in a journal jotting down the details of what's going on. Racism is not new in America, and textbooks won't teach the truth or the full story. You are a living eyewitness to what will be history, don't turn away.
    • Don't let the news be your only source of information. The news can be skewed to suit anyone's agenda. Look at the footage from the protests, speak to those who were there.
  • That being said, please blur out the faces of protesters to protect their identity. Do this with every project, and march in support of equality. The police will use photos and videos to target individuals. 
  • Create spaces for black people. Create places where we can speak about our problems and then listen. Take our words into consideration when acting, and don’t do anything to undermine the movement. Bricks are intentionally left near the protesting site to be used as tools for vandalism. There have been reports of people vandalizing proprietary who aren’t apart of the black lives matter movement. The problem with this is that black people will be blamed for this, and those people won’t. If you’re curious as to what actions to take follow the directions of those who are a part of the movement and are in charge. 
  • Continue to buy from black-owned businesses. (On that note, don’t demand a discount just because someone is black. Artists put a lot of work into their trade, regardless of race. If you’d like a discount to see if there are any storewide sales or promotions. This is typically the case during the winter holiday season. If there’s not discount don’t get upset. An artist needs to make a livable wage and demanding a discount because of someone’s race is wrong. okay, side tangent over.)
  •  If you’re not black, continue to check in on your black friends, neighbors, colleagues, and coworkers. A lot of the awkwardness stems from not knowing what to say. It’s far better to be a little uncomfortable now than to do nothing. That being said, some individuals may not want that kind of attention right now. Simply ask if you can check in on them, and respect their wishes if they say no. 
    • If they're okay with you checking on them, please listen. Don't put words in their mouths and remember that the protests are about black people being targeted. This is not the time to make the situation about white people. The phrase "blue lives matter" is offensive because a police officer chose to take that job. Black people don't have a choice in their skin color. "Police officer" is a job, not a race. And bringing this up is a way to silence. and shame black people for speaking up against being killed. "All lives matter" is a given, but the phrase is used to deter attention away from the systemic oppression of a particular race. "All lives matter wasn't trending when people were protesting to get haircuts in the middle of a global pandemic. It only trends when members of black communities take it upon themselves to defend their humanity, and right to life. Saying these phrases are inappropriate is an understatement. Don't gloss over their feelings because it makes you may feel uncomfortable. Don't try to "fix" them and make them feel better because seeing them in pain makes you uncomfortable. Understand that this is over 400 years of abuse that's being perpetrated, There are a lot of emotions to process.
    • Show up to protest and stand in solidarity. Don't do it to look good on social media. Don't do it to trend, or for likes. Be there, and be present
    •  Donate to bail funds 
    • Provide supplies to those in need. 
    • Use your privilege to stand between the police during a protest. Use your privilege to help change the system from angels we can't work from. Check others who spread false information or fall back on stereotypes. Check yourself too.
  • If you are black do what you can to help. Go to protests, pressure your elected officials to listen to you. Create art and music. Share your story.  Educate, support, and show up but don’t run yourself into the ground. Don’t shame yourself for not being at every protest, or not being able to save everyone. Don’t beat yourself up for not being able to carry the world on your shoulders. Don’t turn your energy against yourself by wearing down your own mental resiliency. I’m aware that there’s a lot of work to be done, but it can’t be done if we don’t take care of ourselves. Don’t downplay the work that’s already been done. Ask for help if you need it. If you have a platform but need a short break then ask for contributors from those you trust will represent your views. Ask for help, or to collaborate. No one can read minds, so speak up if you need help. This is especially true for those in the kawaii community. People are ready and willing to help but they can’t help if they are unaware of the need for it. Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help. Use that time to regain your energy in order to come back stronger.   






Please see this not as condemnation, but as inspiration to be more active in protecting and standing up for each other.  For those of you who refuse to get involved even after this... You're a part of the problem.  
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
― Elie Wiesel
"There comes a time when silence is betrayal. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

-Martin Luther King Jr.



-Just Dandy




                                       Resources:

 I'll try to add more resources as I find them, but feel free to google more for yourself.
Petitions to sign:







Charities and funds
















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