As election day comes closer and closer, it’s not hard to think about colonialism and white supremacy, particularly how it still is affecting the world we live in. With that in mind, here are 3 recommended reads on the subject.
1. When the Moon Met the Tiger: Homecoming and Loss in Myanmar
I felt an anger growing. I wanted my old Burma, not this “new Myanmar.” The old Burma was palm trees in moonlight and bougainvillea petals in black hair; Buddhist monks who promised spirituality and political reform as opposed to golden pagodas built to the God of ego; bicycle bells instead of traffic jams. But then I immediately felt embarrassed, ashamed. The old Burma was also summary executions and no free press, poverty and starvation, secret police and the promise of torture for an overheard gripe in a tea house. The new Myanmar wasn’t perfect; even in 2015, the groundwork was being laid for the present-day displacement and genocide of the Rohingya people. But to want an old Orientalist fantasy back—no matter how beautiful the real edges of that fantasy often were—was the height of selfishness. I was indulging in the traveler’s conceit: wanting a country to bend to my desires, rather than bending myself to fit its reality.
When I think about colonialism, it’s hard not to think about Myanmar, and how much I don’t know about it. This piece is another look at Myanmar, how it’s changed, and how much it’s the same.
2. Is ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ A Subversive Takedown Of White Supremacy?
But it’s one line in particular that I keep returning to:
“Proud to have it, ashamed of how he got it.” (I remembered this later as “Proud of where you are; ashamed of how you got there.”)
When Hela uttered these words about Odin’s rise to dominance, I froze in my seat. This sentence, spoken as she destroyed the veneer of Asgard and shattered its image of itself, was so much truth. This sentiment is at the core of American exceptionalism, this pride in being American without acknowledging the horrors committed to become this nation people are proud of.
Thor: Ragnarok has to be one of my favorite Marvel films period and I love this analysis of the film. It’s amazing what can happen when other voices are let in the room.
3. ‘BlacKkKlansman’ Shows How White Supremacists Make Language Into a Weapon
Unchallenged manipulation of language has allowed white supremacists like Duke to legitimize themselves on a national scale. Duke sees this strategic play at respectability — suits not hoods — as his ticket to the White House, the end game of the white nationalist agenda. Lee clearly establishes how analogous his linguistic and sartorial deception is to today’s political reality
BlackKkKlansman is definitely an interesting film. I love how this writer uses language to break down how white supremacy uses language.
Those are just a couple interesting essay’s I found! Of course, there’s no limit to what you can read about white supremacy and racism. Let us know if you have any favorite essays!