Do you think there has been any progress on this front to embrace differences? I hope it is a growing movement. I think that there is this idea in the social justice realm of ‘fictitious kinship.’ The thing about ‘fictitious kinship’ is that as a human, you are tied to everyone o the earth. As a human, my life cannot be valued if everyone’s is not valued. I do see progress, I see people having those conversations, I see people struggling with that. I still think this idea of commonality is the dominant narrative, though. Like you see it in the debates when [candidates say] ‘we are all Americans.’ Well one, no we are not, and two what does that mean?” Why do we have to choose certain topics for it to be meaningful to have in common. Why is the religion that I have something that is divisive, instead of, I don’t know, what I’ve chosen to study? How does your sense of identity impact your activism? When the violence against women act was being past there was this concept of the ‘last girl’ which meant that they wanted to think of the last girl who has all of the disadvantaged identities and wanted to craft legislation to fit
her situation. Because all of these systemic problems would be solved, anyone with more privilege would be fine. For me it’s to not play to what is going to be where the majority is coming from, but really for trying to go as long and far out as possible, and so to know that anyone who is not so far out, that they will benefit but that the people on the most marginalized edge, that it was created for them to. So, for example, as an RA, instead of making an LGBTQIA session, making that the norm, something that they always get. Also I am always trying to challenge my peers. Is that hard to do? Based on my identities it is pretty challenging. As a cisgender white man, most programs put on by the university will be catered to my identities. It does take a lot of thought or intention, and stepping back, because there is this idea that a lot of when white liberals talk about racial justice, but still stay that affirmative action is racist. In order for someone else to advance, you might have to take a few steps back. Looking at my life and seeing in what ways I am willing to step back and where I am not. For example, I am a quarter Native American, and on thing
that my family has started doing paying our estate tax and then paying the same amount of money to the local tribes, whose land it really is. It’s fine and dandy to say ‘ let’s give resources to them’ but we have to be willing to give up those resources. I am constantly looking for fundamental things that I need to give up in order for someone else to get ahead. That might mean, in a class or something, not speaking or letting someone else speak. Or, I don’t know, when there are programs available, not signing up for them because there are a lot of programs not designed for me. Not speaking, listening. And being cognizant of the space I am taking up. Because I am given a lot of space, but that doesn’t mean I have to fill it up. Is it easy to give things away? It is the constant struggle of wanting to support but… well there’s this analogy of rowing a boat. That white liberals will stand on the beach and watch people of color row against oppression and support from the show. I want to get in the boat and help row, but I don’t want to take the spot form someone more acutely effected. It sucks to think that me meaning to help, hurt people.