MICROAGRESSION I am an activist at Occupy Boston. I make a proposal at a General Assembly and I get no response.

RIGHT AFTER ME, A MAN GETS UP AND MAKES THE SAME ONE. HIS GETS PASSED. This is a pattern here. Makes me feel belittled, silenced and not welcome in this movement. I am 21. First published at Microagressions http://tumblr.com/ZKxVWyAVXl-3 LISTENING Not listening to women is a misogynist act. If your rst reaction upon reading that statement is a contrarian urge to point out that some women arent worth listening to, or to aggressively question if Im arguing that every woman is an expert on every subject, or in any other way in whatever variation try to nd some exception to my statement, that is a misogynist impulse. Because this is a statement of fact: Not listening to women is a misogynist act. Actively tuning out women is a misogynist act. Passively failing to seek out womens perspectives is a misogynist act. Shouting down or talking over or reexively contradicting women is a misogynist act. Treating women as though they are not experts on their own lives and experiences is a misogynist act. Appropriating womens ideas is a misogynist act. Tokenizing women in lieu of making room for meaningful participation is a misogynist act. Marginalizing womens voices, through systemic and deliberate exclusion or a careless failure to practice diversity, is a misogynist act. Not listening takes many forms. That is hardly a comprehensive list. There are, unfortunately, many ways to not listen to women. Women with intersectional identities are not listened to in specic ways. One womans ethnicity makes her too loud to be listened to. Another womans fatness renders her too invisible to be listened to. Another womans disability... Another womans age... Another womans class... This is not an argument that women are always right, or wise. It is an argument that, even if a woman is wrong, the wrongest that any wrong person could be, she still deserves to be heard, and her wrongness dismissed on its merits, which requires listening in the rst place. To be heard is to be valued. This, then, is also a true thing: Listening to women is a feminist act. By Melissa McEwan Originally published at shakespearessister.blogspot.com

WHO ARE THE

99%
COLONIALISM
JESSICA YEE ERIN KONSMO AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT / OCCUPY DENVER

A READER ON POWER AND DIFFERENCE

RACISM
ERNESTO AGUILAR ZAINEB MOHAMMED

GENDER
MELISSA MCEWAN

The readings gathered here are offered as a starting point for thinking about how we are not (yet?) united as the 99%, but they are by no means an exhaustive list of the writing and thinking and acting that has been done on the topic. For more, check out: A Biography of Class, by Sady Doyle http://tigerbeatdown.com/2011/10/08/the-percentagesa-biography-of-class/ http://infrontandcenter.wordpress.com/ @occupythehood as well as these more general resources: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh On Situational and Relative Privilege, by Melissa McEwan http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/01/ feminism-101.html http://unsettlingminnesota.org/

conditions as long as weve been here. Several speakers acknowledged that the participation of educated, middle-class whites helped the movement gain traction. Ethnic demonstrators at the Oakland rally were less critical of white protesters than emphatic about the need for diversity. People of color need to step up and claim a space in the movement and make sure our stories are represented, stated Chelsie Brooks, an Oakland resident and fundraising associate at Californians for Justice declared. Brooks stressed that more ethnic involvement would give the new movement a more historical context than a limited outcry against oppression. James Mott, a former Black Panther, reected on the similarities of the protest to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Its like dj vu all over again, he said. In the 60s and 70s it was a populist movement, too. While saddened that young people must now carry on the same ght he had been part of 40 years ago, Mott was hopeful that the movement would gain enough momentum to echo the impact of the Civil Rights movement. Few Protestors of Color in the Crowd Many protestors saw Tuesdays events as only the beginning and said they intended to camp out for the long haul. Some, though, recognized the privilege associated with being able to protest at all. They reected on why more people of color were not in the crowd.

Those struggling with joblessness, oppression and poverty for years, tend not to set protesting as a priority, explained Jessi Thrash, an Oakland resident and retired gerontologist. We only have so much energy, were just trying to survive. Naina Khanna, who coordinator the U.S. Positive Womens Network, said, There are reasons why brown folks didnt show up until ve. Some were likely absent out of fear of law enforcement. HIV positive folks cant afford to be arrested, she said. Khanna added, though, It is a privilege to be standing out here in the rain. Khanna suggested encouraging participation where people dont necessarily have to be physically present at the protests, possibly through video messaging. We are going to have a lot more work to do to make this truly representative, she said. By Zaineb Mohammed for New America Media www.newamericamedia.org

Please copy and distribute this reader far and wide. If you would like to excerpt or translate any of the pieces, contact the authors/ artist directly.

OCCUPY OAKLAND PROTESTORS WANT MORE DIVERSITY IN MOVEMENT

OCCUPY WALL STREET: THE GAME OF COLONIALISM AND FURTHER NATIONALISM TO BE DECOLONIZED FROM THE LEFT
The OCCUPY WALL STREET slogan has gone viral and international now. From the protests on the streets of WALL STREET in the name of ending capitalism organizers, protestors, and activists have been encouraged to occupy different places that symbolize greed and power. Theres just one problem: THE UNITED STATES IS ALREADY BEING OCCUPIED. THIS IS INDIGENOUS LAND. And its been occupied for quite some time now. I also need to mention that New York City is Haudenosaunee territory and home to many other First Nations. Waiting to see if thats been mentioned anywhere. (Authors note: Manhattan proper is home to to the Lenape who were defrauded of the island by the Dutch in 1626 see more from Tequila Sovereign).1 Not that Im surprised that this was a misstep in organizing against Wall Street or really any organizing that happens when the left decides that its going to take back America for the people (which people?!). This is part of a much larger issue, and in fact there is so much nationalistic, patriotic language of imperialism wrapped up in these types of campaigns that its no wonder people cant see the erasure of existence of the First Peoples of THIS territory that happens when we get all high and mighty with the pro-America agendas, and forget our OWN complicity and accountability to the way things are today not just the corporations and the state. Let me be clear. Im not against ending capitalism and Im not against people organizing to hold big corporations accountable for the extreme damage they are causing. Yes, we need to end globalization. What I am saying is that I have all kinds of problems when to get to ending capitalism we step on other peoples rights and in this case erode Indigenous rights to make the point. Im not saying people did it intentionally but that doesnt even matter good intentions are not enough and good intentions obviously can have adverse affects. This is such a played out old record too, walking on other peoples backs to get to a mystical land of equity. Is it really just and equitable when specic people continue to be oppressed to get there? And it doesnt have to be done! We dont need more occupation we need decolonization and its everyones responsibility to participate in that because COLONIALISM AFFECTS EVERYONE. EVERYONE! Colonialism also leads to capitalism, globalization, and industrialization. How can we truly end capitalism without ending colonialism? How does doing things in the name of

OAKLAND, Calif.--Criticisms of the Occupy Wall Street movement have ranged from its lack of focus to the composition of its constituency. Mocked for wielding their smart phones and ordering pizza during the protests, the middle-class white youth who have characterized the movement have fed its ridicule. During Tuesdays kick-off of Occupy Oakland at Frank Ogawa Plaza, people of color challenged the movements mantra, We are the 99%. They commented on the need for more of that 99% to represent more of those the movement claims to speak for. Starting off at the protests open mike was Needa Bee, an Oakland resident and member of the Occupy

Oakland organizing committee. Noting that the movement originated with white, middle- to upper-class men, she declared, They felt good because they started something, but its going to take us to nish it. Oppression New to White Majority Several minority members there stated that although white middle-class Americans have only recently begun to experience oppression and economic distress, most people of color have dealt with these struggles for years. George Jackson, a teacher in Oakland, commented, Its a new thing for a majority of white people to live under these conditions, but black people have been living with these

1. http://tequilasovereign.blogspot.com/2011/10/manna-hata.html

America which was created by the imposition of hierarchies of class, race, ability, gender, and sexuality help that? I cant get on board with the nationalism of an American (or now Canadian!) revolution I just cant. There has been too much genocide and violence for the United States and Canada to be founded and to continue to exist as nation states. I think John Paul Montano, Anishnaabe writer captured it quite well in his Open Letter to Occupy Wall Street Activists:2 I hope you would make mention of the fact that the very land upon which you are protesting does not belong to you that you are guests upon that stolen indigenous land. I had hoped mention would be made of the indigenous nation whose land that is. I had hoped that you would address the centuries-long history that we indigenous peoples of this continent have endured being subject to the countless -isms of do-gooders claiming to be building a more just society, a better world, a land of freedom on top of our indigenous societies, on our indigenous lands, while destroying and/or ignoring our ways of life. I had hoped that you would acknowledge that, since you are settlers on indigenous land, you need and want our indigenous consent to your building anything on our land never mind an entire society.

I will leave you with this new art piece from Erin Konsmo (pictured at right), our fabulous intern at The Native Youth Sexual Health Network: she created on Occupy: The Game of Colonialism. Hopefully you get the picture now. By Jessica Yee First published on September 30 at http://www.racialicious.com

ed earlier, Occupy spaces often have people with known and unknown biases. Bringing new communities in then asking them to submit themselves to the will of such individuals as a representation of the ideals Occupy activists hold dear seems a surere way to chase them off. Conclusion My last words are directed to people of color interested in these movements. Though most of my words address how largely white activist endeavors should review their approach, activists of color striving for this sort of institutionality are just as culpable. It is the obligation of people of color who want to be involved in Occupy efforts and wish to see more political investment by communities of color to organize in a united fashion independent of Occupy actions, and to do community outreach. It is on you to meet with our communities who cannot or will not come out to these events, for whatever reason, hear openly and share their concerns with a movement you clearly wish to support. It is up to you to lead community mobilizations. If you have no relationships or credibility in those communities, beyond your skin tone, it is up to you to be honest about that and mend fences and/or build relationships. It is also on you to remember that having a space created in the Occupy movement, having a spokes or leadership role, being taken seriously, having caucuses or forwarding demands to be adopted by your citys general assembly are not political

Erin Konsmo (art at right) is a Mtis/ Cree Indigenous Feminist from Innisfail, Alberta. She is currently an Intern for the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and on the National Aboriginal Youth Council on HIV/AIDS. She is an Indigenous artist, focusing on art forms that incorporate traditional knowledge while telling stories of struggle, resistance, self-determination, identity and sexual and reproductive justice. You can see her work at: erinkonsmo.blogspot.com

objectives. These are needs you may personally have specic to a political subculture with little to no bearing on what communities of color coping with American austerity and nancial meltdowns are dealing with. Please remember that. It is up to people of color involved in these movements to formulate and forward a political agenda. Black and brown people holding the bullhorn changes nothing, and our focus needs to be on conveying what our communities face. Finally, people of color involved in these movements should remember your political futures and aspirations are only as dependent on the Occupy project as you allow. Too often, people act as if their existence depends on particular causes, but really, one should hang fortunes solely on a single movement. I am hopeful for the work that is going into the Occupy Wall Street struggle and hope these ideas help conversations that need to be had. By Ernesto Aguilar First published at www.peopleofcolororganize.com

2. http:/mzzainal-straten.blogspot.com/2011/09/open-letter-to-occupywall-street.html

looked at as something that looks to please everyone but please no one. As we saw with Egypt, raising grievances without a manner for achieving them gives an opening for those who are organized, have leadership and clear objectives to ascend quickly in a political moment. Much was made by U.S. conservatives of the Muslim Brotherhoods rise during the Arab Spring, but students of history can tell you such uprisings are bound to push forward consolidated resistance forces and always have. Further, Occupy activists must comprehend that movements that do not set their own programs are doomed to have one set for them. This is the nature of Western politics and no degree of idealism can alter how business works. 6. Occupy Language Many activists have written extensively about the use of the word occupy and how it is used as well as the practice applied historically. Occupation for people of color, many of whom have roots in countries that are past colonial subjects, has a particularly monstrous history. I am sure nobody meant offense or harm by choosing the word, but intent really isnt the issue. Embracing this language is certain to alienate many people. If the movement is unwilling to change the name or move racial justice up as a priority, what does that communicate to communities of color, especially those who see the word occupy and think guns, rape and degradation?

7. Process Issues Finally, something has to be said about the utterly stiing and fundamentally anti-democratic format that Occupy Wall Street and its offshoots are using, consensus and its variants. For those who have not had the joy of sitting through a meeting run via the consensus process, smile. Picture this: meetings of dozens of people, with the ability to completely halt or block a proposal, idea or suggestion by as little as one person. Wonderful if you are a person who completely hates a proposal and just cant work with the majority that favors it. A nightmare if you are a person who has worked with others to craft something that virtually everyone else can agree on. The problem with consensus, as you can guess, is that the rest of the world understands the population is composed of people who obfuscate, who harbor prejudices against people and politics, and who are sufciently incoherent that building support for their positions is next to impossible. In that world, such folks do not have the political capital to halt society because they are not able to grind life to a stop with a single motion. While I certainly share Occupy Wall Streets opinion that money and other inuence can shape majorityrule democracy, were not talking Iowa here. We are talking relatively small groups, where decisions can be reached by a simple vote. By Occupy activists admission, their process is slow. But this acknowledgment fails to get to the heart of the matter. Consensus is not democratic, radically or in any other way. As not-

AN INDIGENOUS PLATFORM PROPOSAL FOR OCCUPY DENVER

Now we put our minds together to see what kind of world we can create for the seventh generation yet to come. John Mohawk (1944-2006), Seneca Nation As indigenous peoples, we welcome the awakening of those who are relatively new to our homeland. We are thankful, and rejoice, for the emergence of a movement that is mindful of its place in the environment, that seeks economic and social justice, that strives for an end to oppression in all its forms, that demands an adequate standard of food, employment, shelter and health care for all, and that calls for envisioning a new, respectful and honorable society. We have been waiting for 519 years for such a movement, ever since that fateful day in October, 1492 when a different worldview arrived one of greed, hierarchy, destruction and genocide. In observing the Occupy Together expansion, we are reminded that the territories of our indigenous nations have been under occupation for decades, if not centuries. We remind the occupants of this encampment in Denver that they are on the territories of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute peoples. In the U.S., indigenous nations were the rst targets of corporate/government oppression. The landmark case of Johnson v. McIntosh (1823), which institutionalized the doctrine of discovery in U.S. law, and which justied the theft of 2 billion acres of indigenous territory, established a framework of corrupt political/ legal/corporate collusion that continues throughout indigenous America, to the present. If this movement is serious about confronting the foundational assumptions of the current U.S. system, then it must begin by addressing the original crimes of the U.S. colonizing system against indigenous nations. Without addressing justice for indigenous peoples, there can never be a genuine movement for justice and equality in the United States. Toward that end, we challenge Occupy Denver to take the lead, and to be the rst Occupy city to integrate into its philosophy, a set of values that respects the rights of indigenous peoples, and that recognizes the importance of employing indigenous visions and models in restoring environmental, social, cultural, economic and political health to our homeland. We call on Occupy Denver to adopt, as a starting point, the following: 1. To repudiate the Doctrine of Christian Discovery, to endorse the repeal of the papal bull Inter Caetera (1493) to work for the reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court case of Johnson v. MIntosh 1823), and call for a repeal of the Columbus Day holiday as a Colorado and United States holiday. 2. To endorse the right of all indigenous peoples to the international right of self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status, and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural futures. 3. To demand the recognition, observance and enforcement of all treaties and agreements freely entered into between indigenous nations and the United States. Treaties should be recognized as binding international instruments. Disputes should be recognized as a proper concern of international law, and should be arbitrated by impartial international bodies.

The rationale for telling everyone that no one is leading is obvious: it is harder for law enforcement to quash protests, for organizations and different political stripes to squabble over power, for media to single out people and so on. But it is naive to think the rest of the world around us is in such denial when a reportedly leaderless group defers in various ways to individuals who clearly have leading roles, but are not accountable or chosen formally to do so. Inherently, the ideas of leaderlessness in Western countries depend on notions of meritocracy, or the belief that intelligence, education and skill organically bring people to the top. In practice, meritocracy does not address the networking, connections, preconceived notions and assumptions that reside in our world. Without a process and commitment to develop organizers and leaders, those closest to leaders get opportunities to develop. People of color have historically been shut out of these circles, and Occupy activists should be aware of this. Yet simply choosing people of color (who may be friends, associates, etc.) to participate in organizing does not address the issue; practical efforts must be made to ensure transparency. Organizations still need to prioritize racial justice structurally in organizations and act on disempowerment of people of color, if they want regard from communities of color. 5. Lack of Agenda More than a few people have pointed out that the Occupy Wall Street protests will merely be a cover to shore

up Democratic Party support in the 2012 elections. With an agenda focused on corporate greed, an occasional campaign stump point during the 2008 Obama run, but little else, one has to give credence to this worry. Every community wants to represent their agenda as well as broader interests. But is, in seeking to appeal to lots of people by making no real demand, appealing to only those who will quickly be led a direction by a contingent with a clearer message? Most noteworthy in the agenda matter is how little we are talking about the role of capital. Corporate greed does not cut it. Nor do CEO salaries. Capitals role intersects many complaints about how things are run, and the hardships people face. Why cant Occupy say it formally? And are people ceding that ground unconsciously so to not alienate particular people, while forgetting others in that decision? For communities of color, the dangers of no-agenda should be apparent. There are many issues of great importance in our communities. Simply bringing them to a protest, as some Occupy outgrowths suggest, does not substantively address those issues. In fact, just doing that likely would be drowned out by the goulash of grievances and causes that are dominating the platform. It feels like something people of color have been told before: bring it up, but do not expect the majority to take it seriously, make it a discussion point or act as a group on it. Without an agenda that centers racial justice, the Occupy Wall Street ght will be

3. The Power of Political Trickle Down Speaking of earning support, some people of color, I have found, engage in movements like Occupy Wall Street, regardless of who is leading things, in hope that everyone (people of color) can gain if the majority gains. Call this political trickle down after the Reagan Administration contention that gain for the wealthy would benet the working class by improving the overall economy. Its also known as the magic of low expectations. But these kinds of approaches would not happen if not for implicit and explicit messaging that such movements and their participants supersede the needs of communities of color. A good friend and activist puts it this way: why is it considered an opportunity for people of color to participate in this movement? This epitomizes the arrogance and ignorance of these people in this movement and even other people of color who are in argument that the settler should always be seen as subjects of history as opposed to objects of history. This puts forth a mindset that nothing real or substantial is put forward without the settlers agreement. While political trickle down is a tendency that should be struggled against (very little historically indicates that the majoritys gain will be enjoyed by anyone but the majority in the case of people of color),

it is incumbent for Occupy activists and others to actively resist this notion that their message somehow is more important than the needs of everyday communities. Intentional or not, when one talks about the greater purpose when responding to concerns, the message is that one groups objectives are a movements and indeed an entire countrys objectives. Not only can a lot wrong be read into this, but given the Occupy Wall Street movements pretensions of egalitarianism, it likely may not be what participants want to say to communities of color.

4. Lack of Leaders Means Leaders Move Covertly Many Occupy actions are forwarded around the idea of no leadership. Im reminded of what Jo Freeman wrote about striving for structurelessness: it is useful as it is deceptive, for these ideas do not prevent the idea of informal structures (validated by existing power and relationship dynamics), only formal ones (which can be voted on).

4. To insist that Indigenous people shall never be forcibly relocated from their lands or territories. 5. To acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and teach their spiritual and religious traditions customs and ceremonies, including in institutions of the State, e.g. prisons, jails and hospitals, and to have access in privacy their religious and cultural sites, and the right to the repatriation of their human remains and funeral objects. 6. To recognize that Indigenous peoples and nations are entitled to the permanent control and enjoyment of their aboriginal-ancestral territories. This includes surface and subsurface rights, inland and coastal waters, renewable and non-renewable resources, and the economies based on these resources. In advancement of this position, to stand in solidarity with the Cree nations, whose territories are located in occupied northern Alberta, Canada, in their opposition to the Tar Sands development, the largest industrial project on earth. Further, to demand that President Barack Obama deny the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline, proposed to run from the tar sands in Canada into the United States, and that the United States prohibit the use or transportation of Tar Sands oil in the United States. 7. To assert that Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. They have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. Further, indigenous peoples have the right to the ownership and protection of their human biological and genetic materials, samples, and stewardship of non-human biological and genetic materials found in indigenous territories. 8. To recognize that the settler state boundaries in the Americas are colonial fabrications that should not limit or restrict the ability of indigenous peoples to travel freely, without inhibition or restriction, throughout the Americas. This is especially true for indigenous nations whose people and territories have been separated by the acts of settler states that established international borders without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples affected. 9. To demand that the United States shall take no adverse action regarding the territories, lands, resources or people of indigenous nations without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples affected. 10. To demand the immediate release of American Indian political prisoner, Leonard Peltier, U.S. Prisoner #89637-132, from U.S. federal custody. Finally, we also remind Occupy Denver that indigenous histories, political, cultural, environmental, medical, spiritual and economic traditions provide rich examples for frameworks that can offer concrete models of alternatives to the current crises facing the United States. We request that Occupy Denver actively utilize and integrate indigenous perspectives, teachers, and voices in its deliberations and decision-making processes. American Indian Movement of Colorado P.O. Box 292, Sedalia, CO 80135 The resolution was unanimously endorsed by the Occupy Denver GA.

SEVEN OCCUPY WALL STREET RACIAL JU USTICE ROADBLOCKS

Already millions of people have been captivated by the Occupy Wall Street protests, as well as the Occupy events that have cropped up in Los Angeles, Houston and dozens of cities. The actions have recently raised discussions about race and how to connect Occupy Wall Street more widely with Black and Brown communities. There are many ways to advance this conversation. There are a number of disputes with the Occupy Wall Street movement, its approach and politics. Some have declared they have no interest in working with these movements. Others are supporters and see the Occupy clashes with the powerful as a revolutionary breaking point. I want to come at the issue from the position as one who believes in the power of people to seek justice, and who wants to assume the best of everyone. I nd so many valuable things about the space that Occupy Wall Street has created. Helping to foster popular conversations about capital, prot motives, privilege and class in some cases for those (white and of color) who do not think of society in those terms is one of those rare national moments that do not come around too often. I have frank assessments of how Occupy Wall Street and its myriad splinters are tackling the matter of race and, on a larger stage, racial justice. However, all critique is offered in an effort to make movements better. How does this Occupy movement confront racial justice head on? Issues facing those engaged in, and interested in, the campaign include: 1. Consciousness of History As is apparent to many, some communities of color are rightly suspicious of white left activist initiatives. Some whites react with defensiveness or, worse, as if they are at liberty to just ignore criticism because what they do is regarded to themselves as more essential to the world than what disenfranchised people think. More important than rehashing histories of such indifference or even understanding that people of color are suspicious is understanding why. Groups that are not sensitive to communities of color are marching up a well-worn hill. Obscuring needs particular to Black and Brown communities needs to also be understood by Anglos as it is perceived by those communities: deection. Even when one comes to politically inexperienced people and seeks to agitate around a line that says, in effect, a particular drives relevance trumps a communitys longstanding needs, such positioning needs to be understood for the problematic relations and tensions such set up. The regularity with which such occurrences go down is a part of why incursions by white-dominated movements get the sideeye. People of color are always expected to look beyond our needs, interests and ways we are treated in our seemingly endless toil for the greater good. And a lot of us are tired of it. Some people of color are open to coalition work and come to these events to do that. Others want to work independently of larger groups.

demonstrating discontent isnt valuable. But these movements need to Neither approach needs to be treated speak to communities of color and by whites as a threat. How groups ad- relate tangible gains for involvement, dress this can further be educational, for the truth is (as mentioned beand the Occupy movement needs to fore) that people of color have been be sensitive to the past. Even if none recruited by white-dominated moveof us are responsible for things that ment after movement with promises transpired generations ago, privilege of hope, so theres a lot of skeptiand power are passed down and we cism. are obligated to ensure the present It is often unspoken, but people of isnt one where past truths were de- color who actively go into communied or unreconciled. nities of color to back up white activist friends put themselves politically, socially and culturally on the line in those communities. These movements need to be aware of that reality, and act accordingly. Accountability is a related subject. One Black organizer I OCCUPY THE HOOD DETROIT know shared a story of how those leading her citys Occupy protests were, 2. Credibility Gaps in many past run-ins, openly hostile Its been said in comments on People to activists of color, treating comOf Color Organize! as well as on the munity concerns as identity polistreets generally, but it bears repeat- tics. Are these really the folks you ing, even if it stings. What do people want us to vouch for? How are these of color gain by staking our credibil- groups addressing internal racism ity in our communities on a group of and perceptions in communities of white left activists, many of whom color? Have they asked? If not, how we do not know, have no history or- can one reasonably expect people ganizing with, or have no knowledge of color to stake ourselves on white of their personal and political efforts people who come in (whether they in our communities? are responsible directly or not) with a Thats not to say, obviously, that the burden of history, but have not done Occupy Wall Street pickets have not the appropriate work to earn that been interesting or even valuable. support? Nor does that say participating and