this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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Honest question, really asking in good faith, why is it ok to make this joke, but anyone who doesn't accept that Kamala Harris isn't 'black', despite the color of her skin being light toned, is told off?
Because of the concept of "passing". Identities are more than just who someone's parents are. They include the life they live and the experiences they have. Someone who looks white, lives white, and is perceived as white can very well have a Cherokee parent, but identifying as Cherokee is more like a technicality than a reality. Especially if they don't live on reserve, speak the language, or practice the customs.
That explains why this joke is ok - which I do appreciate you took the effort to do - but not why you can't call Kamala Harris white.
Because she isn't white. End of story.
She looks like she's mixed to me. I think that if you're not sure, look up her family history. It'll prob be on Wikipedia.
Beyond being directed at a specific person (the main reason), there are many out there who believe that privilege on a systemic level somehow means it is impossible to be racist or bigoted to the group "on top".
I've also seen this stated as "No bad tactics, only bad targets" and "punching down vs punching up".
See the other comment on this post saying you can't be racist to white people for a direct example of someone with this sort of belief.
So that would mean that this is acceptable, as it targets whites (historically/generally/systemically "on top"), but similar things targeting any minority group are not.
At the risk of drawing fire, I disagree wholeheartedly. Racism, sexism, etc exists regardless of the power dynamics involved. The effect of it is what can be changed due to "who's on top", not whether or not it exists or can happen.
But I've also been a "class war is more important than culture war" type person for ages, so take it as you will.
I would guess it's because this is not toward a specific person. But rather it's saying that many people who claim to be part Cherokee really aren't, not just that don't appear to be. At least, that's how I take it.
Supposedly I'm part Cherokee but I've seen no evidence that I'm anything other than European decent. Palest mf you've seen.
My SO is super white with red hair, but is 1/8 native American. Genetics are weird.
Being the curly red headed one who can't tan in an extended family full of people who lean heavy on the native and Hispanic side of things... Agreed. Genetics are very weird
I know enough of my family tree to know it's bullshit.
Nobody else has mentioned this so I'll step in. There is a concept known as a "pretendian" who is someone that, despite having no roots in the culture, piggybacks on top of it in order to claim that they also suffered.
It's not simply appropriation but it's closer to saying your grandfather died in the Holocaust when he was actually an accountant in Oklahoma during WW2 and never actually even went off to war.
A more modern example would be when George Santos claimed his mother died in 9/11 and it turns out his mother wasn't in New York and died years later.
Piggybacking on a tragedy or a genocide for sympathy points is bad and the meme is making fun of people who do this. Not specifically all white people.