- Jan 2, 2015
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There's a saying which (I think) actually comes out of disability advocacy but works well for any advocacy situation: Nothing about me, without me.
White people can't be blamed for the misfortunes of others if we work with them on a consensus agenda. We can't be fought tooth and nail if, instead of trying to impose our own solutions on others, we work with them to create solutions.
We should invest in the welfare of minority communities, but we shouldn't do that in a way which says, "I'm successful, I have the answers, you should do what I did (or as I say)." Rather we should do it in a way which says, "Tell me what obstacles you're facing, and let's see what we can do together to shift them."
That's called "leading" from behind. It ridiculous as it handcuffs those who know, by those who know not.
If I'm in a financial mess, I can hire an accountant to advise me, and help me out of the ditch I'm in, but if I assume to know more than he, I am firstly mistaken, and the evidence of my predicament demonstrates that, and secondly, I am a fool for asking his help if I don't intend to heed his advice.
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