What is a social justice warrior to do when confronted with racism between minorities? According to HBO's Insecure, just ignore it.
In the July 30th episode, "Hella Questions," Issa (Issa Rae) and Frieda (Lisa Joyce) are faced with this question during their work at an after-school program. Things become uncomfortable for them when the school's principal, who is black, makes comments about the racial makeup of the school, which he says used to be largely comprised of black students, but is becoming more and more Hispanic.
The first issue for the pair comes up when they meet with the principal and he apologizes for issues with the after school program. "Things kind of fall through the cracks now," he laughs, "You know, now that the school's so overpopulated. Might have to build a wall or something. Have them pay for it." Issa and Freida later discuss his "racist joke," but move on.
However, the next time the program meets, they see him confront a Hispanic student in the hallway afterwards about speaking Spanish. Frieda (who is white) wants to say something about this instance of "racism," but Issa (who is black) wants to let it go, causing Frieda to think that Issa wouldn't be so lenient if the principal were white, but she's deferential because "I know that the oppressed cannot be the oppressor, obviously."
Principal: We speak English here at school. You save that Spanish for the bus.
Frieda: Okay, we at least have to put that in our notes for Joanne.
Issa: So she can see that and not all the good stuff? I mean, the kids have come two times in a row. We're already making progress.
Frieda: Yeah, that's great, but we're just gonna go along with his kind of thinking? ( Stutters )
Issa: Who cares what he thinks? We're the ones who have the kids after school, and we don't think like that, so.
Frieda: Okay. I know that the oppressed cannot be the oppressor, obviously-- obviously, but... Would it still be okay if he said those things if he was, you know... white?
Frieda: I mean, we're not gonna change him. It's, like, he is who he is.
Is that the standard now? People of color can't oppress other people of color and white people are supposed to turn a blind eye to situations that they think are wrong?
In some ways, it was almost funny watching Frieda trying to make sure she spoke with appropriate social justice warrior deference to Issa, using the word "obviously" twice to drive home the point that she knows that black people cannot possibly be racist but, in reality, it is a sad reflection on our discourse. She's overly concerned about checking her own "white privilege" and afraid to say what she really thinks, even about a situation she believes is wrong.
For the SJW, one must always be alert and ready, waiting for aggressions both micro and macro to make themselves known. Hopefully, they'll never find themselves in a situation this tricky, where they have to choose between their SJW training and being adults, protecting children against what they perceive as mistreatment by another adult.
It's a tough world out there for today's SJW, but somebody's gotta do it. Or, in this case, not.
