abbeyisnotclever

[abbeyisnotclever]

[abbeyisnotclever]

When you and your besties favorite song come on

[abbeyisnotclever]

Sandra Bland was stopped Friday by authorities in Waller County, Texas for a traffic violation. In a video of her arrest, while being forcibly held face down, Ms. Bland can clearly be heard saying to the officer, “You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that?” As she’s being picked up off the ground and placed into the police vehicle, Ms. Bland can be heard again, this time thanking the person recording the video, saying, “Thank you for recording.” 

Bland was arrested and booked on “assault of a public servant” charges.

A police statement says the following Monday morning Ms. Bland was released on a $5,000 bond, and was subsequently “found dead” by a female jailer who was “worried” about her recreation time. Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith claims this was a case of self-inflicted asphyxiation. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed Bland’s death “has been classified as a suicide, with the cause of death (listed as) hanging,” according to Tricia Bentley, a spokeswoman for the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston.

Hanged. Suicide. A young 28-year old woman who was moving to Texas to begin working her dream job suddenly decided to commit suicide, supposedly because of a small traffic infraction? 

Ms. Bland’s friends and family feel that the police’s story doesn’t add up. For one thing, the odd quickness with which everything seemed to escalate seems off. In a matter of 72 hours Bland went from being pulled over for a minor traffic violation, to being arrested for assaulting a cop, and then to killing herself, according to the police’s story. There’s also the fact that Bland is black, and Waller county has a history of discriminatory law enforcement behavior.

The police are lying again. 

#WhatHappenedToSandyBland #JusticeForSandy #ALLBlackLivesMatter

[abbeyisnotclever]

Why I am embarrassed to be a Wellesley alum

The “Wellesley Network” may be as old as the College itself, but in recent years, it has gone into overdrive thanks to the rise of social media, including Facebook. Now, no matter where in the world an alumna lives, or in what year she graduated, she can instantly connect with thousands of other Wellesley grads at any moment of the day. And although Facebook is often criticized for being shallow and ephemeral, many of the relationships that have formed through the Wellesley alumnae Facebook groups have proved deep and lasting.

Congratulations, racists, you won. After having my Facebook page blocked for the past 24 hours, I have decided that y'all are not worth my wellbeing or my mental health. Prior to this year, I was a lurker on Community. I liked every comment calling out racism, but was not in a place in my life where I was comfortable being vulnerable with thousands of people on the internet. But y'all have been way out of control as of late, so I decided to start saying shit. I started calling out people, both for blatantly racist comments and for various microagressions (I’m looking at you white ladies who say “bye felicia” and “on fleek” but then turn around and like racist comments).

Over the past month, I’ve been shit on for being unapologetically fat, poor, and brown. I have been labeled a bully for calling out people who make fatphobic, classist, and racist comments.  

Y'all called me a bully for holding an alum accountable for her racism. Homegirl is gonna post an article about the importance of gendered language RIGHT after posting on the pet forum that “Most Chinese eat dogs and are near sighted”? Without an apology, without ever acknowledging that she’d publicly been called out for hurting other Wellesley Sibs? No. I am not here for your basic, white, bland-as-hell feminism. Nor am I hear for your white tears. Fuck that noise.

And let’s not forget the alum who defended her: you defended her comments, and when you were called out, you turned into a sea of white tears. It was all about your white lady feelings and how I was a bully for asking why “white people always fuck it up.” (In case it bears repeating: BECAUSE YOU DO).

This week, y'all crossed a line. In your desire to cling to your “I’m not a racist” argument, you compared me to Hitler. Yes, I will take screenshots of racist, classist, and fatphobic comments, but they are for my own mental health. It’s a coping mechanism. There are so many fools who trigger the crap out of me that it’s hard to remember everyone who does. But rather than evaluate why a PoC feels unsafe and needs to avoid certain alums, you compared me to Hitler for keeping a list. That is some next level foolishness. I am poor, brown, grew up in the hood, and am a daughter of two Mexican immigrants, one of whom was undocumented until I was born. And you compared me to Hitler.

And you couldn’t just leave it at that. All the tone policing that was occurring–and let’s be real, will continue to occur unless the mods do their fucking job–is ridiculous. I know I was going hard at the alum  who posted about being civil, but so many of you cowards liked and agreed with her. Y'all just as bad as her. Which brings me to the last 24 hours. In the last 24 hours, I have gone from being one of the loudest Wellesley supporters to being embarrassed and ashamed of being associated with an institution that produced so many of you racists. Y'all don’t know how hard I rep Wellesley. How hard my family reps Wellesley. When my father bought a new truck last year, because his previous one was from 1989, the very same year I was born, and he works all fucking day to provide for us and never treats himself to shit, his first comment was “You need to order me a new Wellesley Dad car decal.” Homie was more concerned about repping Wellesley than getting home and showing my family the car he bought.

And you know why? Because he’s a garbage man and is treated like shit at work by his supervisors. But then they found out his daughter went to Wellesley and were suddenly impressed. Well, let’s be honest, they were surprised at first: had the nerve to ask him if he was wearing a Wellesley hat because he found it in the garbage because how can a Mexican immigrant who barely speaks English and works as a garbage man raise daughter worthy of Wellesley? THAT IS WHO YOU COMPARED TO HITLER. Dragging my name through the dirt was not enough for your racists. One of you had to be a fucking coward and report me to Facebook for harassment, a silencing tactic if there ever was one. Because you were uncomfortable acknowledging the racism you display as a result of your whiteness and privilege, because you wanted a poor brown woman you’re supposed to support and respect as your sibling, you attempted to get me removed from Facebook entirely.

And this is where you’ve won, because fuck you, I am out.

I do not wish to be a part of a Community that silences and oppresses people. I am done making myself vulnerable and recalling years of traumatic and racist experiences. YOU ARE NOT WORTH IT.

You are not my siblings and you will no longer continue to be a part of my Wellesley family. I have screen captures, I know which ones of you liked and agreed with racist comments. If we are in the same reunion cycle, don’t approach me. Don’t try to talk to me. Don’t pretend you aren’t a racist. If you can’t come correct, don’t come at all. And special shout out to the alum who made me cry yesterday. And to the condescending moderator who made it worse. While I was bringing up legitimate concerns to you about being blocked, you stated, “Mimi, I am busy, I am running a political campaign.” I ain’t got time for your bs. I am busy. I have a life, too. I get up every day and bust my ass for my kids. Because I want other hood babies like me to have a chance at college. But according to you, your time is more valuable. I wish I had the privilege of walking away from racism, but I don’t, because it  could get me killed. I am sorry that my concerns are ruining a forum that was supposed to be “fun,” but I can’t have fun when I share a space with racists and bigots. And to the allies who checked in on me and posted publicly, thank you. To the well meaning white allies who reached out via PM but were not willing to call people out publicly, please do better in the future. You have to be willing to stand against oppression publicly, otherwise you’re just as responsible for the hurt and the injustice that have been committed so flagrantly in the Wellesley community this week.

Is that civil enough for you? Mimi Maciel (@mimimaciel)

Class of 2011

[abbeyisnotclever]

So proud to be able to say that this hilarious lady has seen me at my best (read: in my PJs in a dorm bathroom!) many times. 

A Series of Comebacks 

#Wellesley #Funny women #Women can't drive #Claire Ayoub #A series of comebacks

[abbeyisnotclever]

Aujourd’hui, Dakar me manque.

Dakar, Senegal Africa

#Senegal #Dakar #l'afrique #la nostalgie

[abbeyisnotclever]

[abbeyisnotclever]

#Amy Poehler #advice #words to live by

[abbeyisnotclever]

Episode 2 of Claire Ayoub ‘11 (@intoosteep)’s “A Series of Comebacks.”

[abbeyisnotclever]

When someone tries to get me to go to the gym with them

[abbeyisnotclever]

MDK: Egg(head) Noodles!

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[abbeyisnotclever]

Tune-Yards at Live on King Street with @nataliembyrne #loks #madison (at Majestic Madison)

#loks #madison

[abbeyisnotclever]

Groggin. @nataliembyrne @mogin @_kevin_leslie_ (at The Grog)

[abbeyisnotclever]

Plum Island sunset with @nataliembyrne @mogin and @_kevin_leslie_ after Carol's rehearsal dinner. #plumisland #sprague628wedding (at Plum Island beach)

#sprague628wedding #plumisland

[abbeyisnotclever]

Scout decided to help me out with my laundry this afternoon. #cat #blackcat #kitten

#kitten #blackcat #cat

[abbeyisnotclever]

Team night out at the #orioles game! #camdenyards #worklife #teambonding (at Oriole Park at Camden Yards)

#orioles #teambonding #camdenyards #worklife