Before the chat we asked participants to read John Metta’s “I, Racist”
Join @adriannerussell and me for #museumsrespondtoferguson today 2PM EST/ 1PM CST. Read I, Racist by John Metta https://t.co/u00zBlvkXA.
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
We planned this chat to flow differently than previous chats, so some of our initial reminders were different.
There's only one question today so it's important to use the #museumsrespondtoferguson hashtag.
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
Answer the question based on your interpretation. Feel free to ask me or @aleiabrown questions if you need help. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
Then we asked our one question.
Our 1 question for #museumsrespondtoferguson today is- Do you get it?
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
Time and silence moved in tandem. We waited. We tried to encourage participants to share their thoughts on the question.
This is a key question. We have to start talking about it. For real. #museumsrespondtoferguson. https://t.co/9rxcJ4Lx7M
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
The only "wrong" action in this #museumsrespondtoferguson chat is withholding your thoughts.
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
Responses trickled in nearly 20 minutes after we asked our question.
https://twitter.com/DTulo/status/621383074425794560
I (hope I) get:"Are[white people]brave enough to use that power to speak against the system that gave it to them?" #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Dr. Alyssa Greenberg (she/her) (@greenbergalyssa) July 15, 2015
@greenbergalyssa Not only speak against it but give up that power as well? #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/DTulo/status/621383419335942150
The black experience is framed as the collective. Always. #museumsrespondtoferguson https://t.co/04uF8E4xdE
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
A side conversation popped up about people thinking they couldn’t be racist based on the region where they resided.
Q1 – It's a funny thing to get it. Recently debated the same point with AA folks who felt NY couldn't be racist. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— jj logan (@jonell_logan) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/DRZZL/status/621383357646118912
The conversation continued to gain some traction.
Did that realization change your outlook on race relations in any way? #museumsrespondtoferguson https://t.co/fS7826MYOj
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/DTulo/status/621384816966135808
@DTulo and thank you for responding so openly. we are having trouble getting people to respond. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
And then we got perspective from people who do get it.
https://twitter.com/LanaeSpruce/status/621384924394823680
@LanaeSpruce I am feeling "educator" fatigue rn. #museumsrespondtoferguson.
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/artstuffmatters/status/621385212858118144
As Metta said, black ppl speak on racism, we're called "angry." This isn't about hurt white feelings. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
The convo gets derailed when white ppl get hung up on "but I'm not a…" Let that go. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
Got it, "The entire discussion of race in America centers around the protection of white feelings." #museumsrespondtoferguson
— The Culture Curator (@_culturecurator) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/SC_TheHistorian/status/621390171842441216
Truth. We don't have choice but to "get it." Then burden of educating others oft on us. #museumsrespondtoferguson https://t.co/FHo1WR6XSt
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
I get it. For me it's hard to ignore the intersection of race and gender b/c of my own identity/positioning. #Museumsrespondtoferguson
— Catherine Jones (@catt_jones) July 15, 2015
Some participants looked for something to make the question less nebulous.
@aleiabrown What part of it? I feel like "it" is a big thing. And I feel a bit silly, but could we clarify it…? #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Alyssa Boge (@museumrepgal) July 15, 2015
Sure. We purposefully left it vague so people could respond w. what came to mind 1st #museumsrespondtoferguson… https://t.co/H7oKO9c2xG
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
@museumrepgal Some have responded to "I, Racist," #museumsrespondtoferguson, Black Lives Matter, racism in America… You choose. No wrong a
— aleiabrown (@CollardStudies) July 15, 2015
The issue of “feeling bad” appeared throughout the conversation.
@adriannerussell it's unfortunate, but people don't like feeling bad and these types of convos make people think #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Alyssa Boge (@museumrepgal) July 15, 2015
@museumrepgal I have a hard time finding sympathy for "feeling bad" when ppl like me are being killed. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/LanaeSpruce/status/621389404591009792
Some pointed out that just saying, “I don’t get” is problematic.
https://twitter.com/DRZZL/status/621389745147543552
Some people expressed their hopes and the process they would like to see take place.
https://twitter.com/artstuffmatters/status/621389850575552512
@museumrepgal You have to accept responsibility. THEN make that change. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
Once you "get it", living it is another thing. Too often it's an intellectual exercise & not lived experience. #museumsrespondtoferguson
— Adrianne Russell (@adriannerussell) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/DRZZL/status/621392143752560645
Another key question came up towards the end of the chat.
https://twitter.com/DRZZL/status/621393502451187712
We concluded the chat, but participants continued to meditate on our one question.
https://twitter.com/ninalabovich/status/621396992565059584
https://twitter.com/artstuffmatters/status/621406318117711872
#museumsrespondtoferguson what are strategies for horizontality, giving up power & privilege, sharing authority for a de facto leader? 2/2
— Dr. Alyssa Greenberg (she/her) (@greenbergalyssa) July 15, 2015
#museumsrespondtoferguson in short, I've seen privilege & hierarchy playing out in activist spaces,& I want to do my part to end that cycle.
— Dr. Alyssa Greenberg (she/her) (@greenbergalyssa) July 15, 2015
Missed today's #museumsrespondtoferguson chat @adriannerussell @aleiabrown thx for keeping this convo going & strengthening it every time.
— Linda Norris (@lindabnorris) July 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/musewrite/status/621655015850143744
https://twitter.com/seededucation/status/621697978143768576
Thank you for your continued support. Please share with colleagues and join us for our next chat Wednesday, August 19, 2015 2P EST (1P CST).
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