Invading Safe Spaces is an Entitlement Issue [View all]

[Haveadream]

and one that is worthy of discussion. Especially when it occurs in progressive environments.

The same trend that is occurring in the present election cycle towards people of color and women is one we have seen time and again. It reminds us we are clearly not post racism, post sexism or post ableism even when working to overthrow the status quo.

Whether it is #BLM, Occupy Wall Street or the Democratic Primary, some participants seem to be more equal than others and have an overarching sense of entitlement. A sense of that allows them to think it is alright to invade the boundaries of, speak for, lecture, interrogate and shut down dissent from historically marginalized people. What causes this? The privilege to assume that the ideas, words and even spaces of others will serve as extensions of the entitled group's narrative and desires. Any autonomy or resistance to that is met with reprisal.

That this dynamic occurs most in cultures with the widest gaps in rights between the privileged and the marginalized does not speak well for the current climate in the Democratic Party. Too often, there are those who trample the rights of others and then unashamedly celebrate their abuses of power. Do the perpetrators realize their actions expose their platform of equality to be without the very foundation it needs to make that happen? That they are destroying the ideals of a better future through actions that maintain the status quo? We need to be a Party where the members are fighting for the rights of everyone to be autonomous and worthy of respect and representation.

Much of what is happening here reminds me of an article Brittany Cooper wrote for Salon entitled, "Listen When I Talk to You!". She teaches Women, Gender and Africana Studies at Rutgers. She is also a Hillary supporter.

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/17/listen_when_i_talk_to_you%E2%80%9D_how_white_entitlement_marred_my_trip_to_a_ferguson_teach_in/

Peace and blessings to us all