#uplift their voices

[lmanburgseulogy]

please don’t forget about palestine guys. it’s not getting any better

#/gen #free palestine #important #please boycott and donate if you can #uplift their voices #it’s not too late #there’s still so much more fighting to do #free gaza

[mindofserenity]

#silence only uplifts the voice of those in power #freedom to every child suffering from destruction #freedomisntfree #palestine #yemen #congo

[tendermimi]

Palestine will be free. (frantz fanon, the wretched of the earth)

#palestine #فلسطين #I’ve been off tumblr again because I’ve been dealing with death threats and a lot of other things from fucking zionists #decolonisation #this is literally what decolonisation looks like #it is exhausting constantly having to educate and deal with misinformation on the genocide of your own blood #thank you tumblr for uplifting Palestinian voices #writings #frantz fanon #the wretched of the earth

[kaspavanlortsyal]

Let It Be Enough - 1 Year Anniversary

"You will always be enough."

This beautiful art was commissioned from the incredibly talented Elle Noir (twitter/instagram/deviantart)! Thank you, Elle, for bringing this beautiful moment in their story to life.

This time last year, I posted the first chapter of Let It Be Enough on AO3. The butterfly effect of my simple desire to share my silly little story is unbelievable. In one year it garnered over 50k hits on AO3, and that isn't even the coolest part. I made lifelong friends, found a community of wonderful writers, and fell in love. I reflect upon 2023 and bear witness to the power of storytelling. I never thought that I'd still be writing fanfiction about Petra and Miles a year later in the form of my Fairytale AU, The Memory of Stars, and yet here I am.

The world of Avatar is magnificent. It gives me hope that the highest grossing movie of all time is an allegory about colonialism. It emphasizes the importance and beauty of our connection to the Earth (or in the case of the Na’vi, Pandora), and condemns corporate greed. I sincerely love Avatar, not just because of the nostalgia, but because of how bold it is in its storytelling.

Stories are the backbone of society. For all of human history, we have told each other stories. Stories shape our worldview and helps us convey emotions and ideas. Every person finds their own truth in the shape of words.

James Cameron is a fantastic storyteller. However, he is also a white man, and some stories are not his to tell. Many aspects of the Na’vi are drawn from real world indigenous cultures. I understand that he consulted various groups in his development of the Na’vi, but if you enjoy Avatar, I strongly encourage you to seek out own voices stories as well. Our world is troubled and complicated, but I truly believe that it gets better each time someone opens their mind to traditional indigenous knowledge. That gives me hope more than anything: the will to listen. 

One of my favourite books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (If you're a fan of audiobooks, Robin reads the audiobook herself and it’s incredible. I highly highly recommend picking this up, especially if you like plants.)

Also, if you are playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, please dedicate time to researching Residential Schools and their dark legacy in North America. You will better understand the real world inspiration of the Ambassador Program, but more importantly, you will be offering a listening ear to the important stories of survivors. Feel free to add more book suggestions to the comments as well!

Thank you for being here. 

#I recognize the irony in loving Quaritch as someone who tries to uplift indigenous voices and is an advocate for indigenous sovereignty #he's fictional and hot I'm sorry okay?? #LISTEN TO INDIGENOUS STORIES #YOU WILL GET SO MUCH OUT OF THEM! #art commission #anniversary #quaritch fanfic #quaritch #avatar 2 #ao3 #miles quaritch #colonel quaritch #avatar fanfic #fanfic #the way of water #petra hart #2023 #2024 #archive of our own #fanfiction #frontiers of pandora #avatar frontiers of pandora #butterfly effect #story art #let it be enough #kaspavanlortsyal #Miles Jr

[dykeinthedark]

Somerton's misogyny and lesbophobia was fucking blatant and the fact his fans didn't care / notice until a man made a video on it is abhorrent. That IS a problem, people NEED to do better or else bigotry towards women will only continue to be accepted! Lesbians were calling this loser out for years and no one cared!

hey. as a lesbian who watched somerton's videos you have to understand that it wasn't "fucking blatant" and it was embedded between smart (stolen) points in the structure of the argument, and was given fake "evidence" to prove it --- something hbomberguy specifically shows with every example. i personally always noticed that it was weird and it was always a critical point when watching his videos (and also uh, side note but you shouldn't primarily go to cis white men for good takes about feminism and the lesbian experience anyways --- like, you should be watching a diverse intake of thought from underrepresented creators and understand that the cis/white/male perspective will always be limited because it's not universal)

to many, though, it for sure didn't register as a pattern of behavior until the instances were laid out. saying that audiences were "abhorrent" for "excusing" it just shows a complete lack of sympathy, because again: the pattern of behavior was the problem, and rhetorically each individual instance was relegated to enough plausible deniability where it slipped by most audiences who were probably watching the video in the background while they folded laundry or something. when bigotry is shrouded under the guise of fact, it takes on the affect of truth and abuses the viewer's trust in the creator. sure, media literacy is a huge problem, and i've written and researched so much into that, and yeah yeah audiences should "do better." the reality is though, putting the blame on the audience feels a little misogynistic in itself, bc you're just shifting the blame from the literal people who need to be blamed for practicing bigotry --- cis white men with a large platform.

the real thing u should be saying here is to call for a diversification of one's media intake, but no -- let's blame the audience for getting lied to, instead of uplifting female, queer, trans, poc, etc voices. the only way people "need" to do better, imo, is listening to those people instead and seeking multiple perspectives.

like y'all, let's retire this very new narrative that all james somerton fans were evil misogynists who willingly supported this and need to be destroyed. really most people who watched his content were younger queer people genuinely interested in queer media analysis, film theory, and queer history, probably excited that a long video essay was dedicated to their favorite show/movie/etc, and lets not pretend this wasn't disappointing for them as well. can everyone like chill out.

#hbomberguy #james somerton #like for me personally it was always like. yeah his view is hindered by being a cis white gay man. and when ur a lesbian noncis poc like me #u just kind of accept bigotry like that as inevitable?? fucked up but in that instance u literally just watch fem creators of color instead #DIVERSITY YOUR MEDIA OR DIE!!!!!!!!!! UPLIFT MARGINALIZED VOICES!!!!! STOP BLAMING AUDIENCES FOR BEING DUMB #LITERALLY IF U KNOW ANYTHING ABT MEDIA STUDIES RULE 1 IS AUDIENCES ARE LAZY AND WON'T FACTCHECK #IT'S UP TO CREATORS TO PRESENT THE TRUTH AND UP TO THE LISTENER TO SEEK MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

[autismserenity]

pretty please, my fellow progressives

Could we please all keep in mind that the concept of "The Jews In General, or A Specific Type Of Jew, Controls Education, Government, Media, and/or Banking", is a longstanding antisemitic trope?

And most of all, that it is false??

No, a marginalized group does not also control education, the government, the media, and/or banking?

No, Jews do not secretly control these things and just pretend to be marginalized? No, Jews have not secretly been accumulating power since the Holocaust, granted by too-generous gentiles, out of pity?

No, it isn't better if you just mean a specific subgroup or kind of Jews. It's still specifically Jews.

It's like when people who hate trans/queer people are fine with rich white cis gay men. So they think it's not bigoted to blame "people with blue hair and pronouns" for the downfall of society.

We all know this means, "I only see some of you as human like me. You have to speak and act a certain way to count. Everyone in your group has to pass a test to get into the Good group."

Doesn't work.

Sure, it gives them plausible deniability to the people who matter to them. But everyone else can see exactly how they feel.

We've all known for years that it's bad to think of a marginalized group as having some "good ones." Rein it the heck in, please.

Because YES, all of those examples are ones I've seen implied, or stated outright, over and over, within the progressive community. This month alone.

#antisemitism #anti-semitic #yes this is about how gentiles use zionism #yes this is about how fast it went from 'this isn't NECESSARILY antisemitic' to 'this ISN'T antisemitic' #yes this is about claiming that we claim antisemitism to deflect valid criticism #yes this is part of a larger pattern of violating every progressive standard but only for jews #none of us would ever say 'people are just claiming misogyny to deflect valid criticism' #we would never claim that trans people secretly control or “influence” the government #we would never treat Ukrainians like “'noble savages” who need us to speak for them #but we treat Palestinians like “noble savages” who need us to speak for them #we know to center the people affected and uplift their voices in every other situation #but in this situation we ignore the fact that we're supporting palestinians by talking ABOUT them #we swallow far-right Palestinian propaganda channeled through diaspora organizations #while Palestinians in Gaza demand completely different solutions and support #zionists echo Palestinian solutions and experiences because we know people in Israel and Palestine #and we get told we love genocide or just blocked #this is how Hamas propaganda is designed to work. Hamas has systematically silenced Palestinians for 18 years and now it's all you know #it is genuinely terrifying to see the entire progressive community sound exactly like the alt-right while it absolutely insists it's not #we also know to center marginalized people's voices about what harms them -- except the Jews? #honestly I think that progressives listened before Oct 7 and that the “no we just mean ZIONISTS are evil” has done wonders to reverse that #let's be real the zionists-not-jews trope comes from Hamas too #all it had to do was claim it definitely meant Zionists not Jews and that it was the Palestinian resistance and progressives flocked to it #its fighters were calling home from the massacre to boast about how many Jews they had killed. it has not changed. #i suppose that the zionists-not-jews thing gave freedom to unexamined antisemitism that people felt guilty about #but oh my god it caught on like absolute wildfire #wall of words

[spitblaze]

You guys know that American Jews have nothing to do with the actions of Israel, right. You guys know that it's a sovereign nation with a government full of shitheads that has nothing to do with individual Jewish people in other countries. You understand this right. You get that Jewish people are not a monolith and don't unilaterally support Israel by virtue of it being a 'Jewish State', right. You get that being antisemitic at home doesn't remotely help the people in Gaza. Please tell me you understand this

#spitblaze says things #making my own post bc im not a zionist but also dont particularly enjoy hearing about the uptick in violent antisemitic hate crime #its not nearly as bad as whats going on with the ppl in gaza but theres a lot of idiots out there that dont realize that minorities #(and jews in particular) #are not a goddamn hive mind. so #maybe use some of that energy to demand action from the government or raise money or uplift palestinean voices #instead of being a shithead to people who may very well *AGREE* with you. #but ppl dont care bc jews are in charge of israel therefore all jews must agree with its actions (could not be more incorrect) #anyway im gonna...maybe have this be the only post on the subject unless ppl start getting REAL weird abt this #this isnt about us. this isnt about jews. its about the citizens of gaza. thats the fuckin point here

[alkalinefrog]

“I love you. Goodbye.”

@twiafom drew homunculus!Jack and it was so beautiful and the quote they chose was super poignant aslfkjsaldkf. It inspired me to TELL MORE OF THE STORY.

Quick background context, this is an FMA au and Hiccup lost half his heart trying to revive Jack bawwww :’’’D

#my art #hijack #jack frost #hiccup horrendous haddock lll #POKEDEX VOICE: THEY(ME) HURT THEMSELF IN THEIR (AGONY) #hey maybe hiccstrid happens after this and I can pretend to be normal for a hot sec laskdfjlasdfkj #HEY do you want LESS angst in your hijack FMA AU?? check out Twia's hijack week piece!! It's MUCH MORE UPLIFTING I LOVE IT #I'm planning a alchemist!Jack and mechanic!Hiccup drawing as we speak! #FLOWER/COFFEE SHOP AND PUNK/NERD ARE COMING I SWEAR #for those writing fics for this au you don't have to take this as the 'canon'! #your interpretations are just as good as mine and I'm so excited to see what you make!!! #feel free to take inspo if you want! #twia we spiraling #storyboards #rise of the guardians #how to train your dragon #hijack fma au

[tortadecuchufli]

former gifted kids are to discussions about schools' systematic abuse what very skinny people are to discussions of body shaming

#bit of a controversial take maybe #and im fully aware this is going to me misinterpreted #so to be clear: im not saying that those systems dont affect those people negatively #im saying that they still sit in a position where their 'qualities' are desirable #and as such their exposure to the system is becoming 'undesirable' #instead of embodying the traits that the system sees as lesser #and being openly stigmatized for it #... if u ask me more about this i think these groups should show more solidarity with others but also uplift those voices #and not take over the conversations #their exposure to the system is FEAR** and pressure against beconing 'undesirable'

[seoafin]

List of some palestinian works that are on my to-read list (both fiction and nonfiction)

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

On Palestine by Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

The Question of Palestine by Edward Said

In the Presence of Absence by Mahmoud Darwish

The Butterfly's Burden by Mahmoud Darwish

Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh

#if you can't donate or protest consider uplifting palestinian voices by informing yourself via literature! #in case you didn't know adania shibli was set to be awarded the LiBeraturpreis at the frankfurt book fair #which has now been cancelled (or postponed). minor detail is about the 1949 rape and murder of a palestinian girl by israeli soldiers #also another discussion entirely about the role literary institutions play in being complicit in the act of silencing voices #which makes it even more relevant than ever to support her! #mt

[tariah23]

I mean, it’s just crazy how whenever horrible atrocities can be going on within the world, being HEAVILY covered mind you, and how some people will still use justifications such as “but my aesthetic-,” and “I’m apolitical, so…,” (whatever tf that means. White people love this one.) as excuses in order to remain silent on such matters and not even share anything related to it… not even a simple donation post to help aid these people in their suffering. And then whenever others point out shit like this to them, they’re always met with these clowns complaining about how they shouldn’t have to feel “forced,” to talk about or share “anything,” regarding the matter. Like, it’s your account, it’s your social media, whatever, right? But I just find it funny how that “anything,” usually always ends up being code for “people suffering a great deal because of the brutality that usually ends in the deaths of black and brown people in masses.”

#it’s just crazy af to me like y’all are grown and will share a gazillion post about some random bullshit that no one cares about but can’t #even reblog one post about the genocide #weird to me #y’all do this whenever minorities are suffering in the droves but will still smile in the faces of that probably one poc in your life and #pretend like you give a shit when you really don’t #y’all don’t go to marches you don’t protest you don’t donate you don’t help uplift the voices of those who need it but will still think #yourself to be a decent person just because you don’t use slurs or whatever the fuck #rambling #I’ll never get it #what is even the point of you being here especially if you’re white this goes double for you

[vaxxildamn]

very happy Matt decided to clarify his stance on the genocide of the Palestinian people rn. Pretty unhappy with the way he worded it, who he centered in his video, and disappointed to see the responses to it on Twitter.

kinda scared to even post about it bc CR fans can get so defensive about their favorite white people that they can often leave little room for criticism or nuance. but man I have thoughts.

#lemme just say. if you have a public platform that has set a precedent for philanthropic work. messages of positivity and love. #and have called attention to various political and social conflicts *in stream*. & whose employees and cast members are vocal #on socials about political topics #then it is NOT unreasonable for fans to expect them to address one of the deadliest orchestrated conflicts in recent history #a literal genocide is happening. thanks in part to the US. #it is good that they donated as a company and as individuals. so good! #but to everyone saying that publicizing good deeds like donations is virtue signaling or demanding CR cast to show their support is #or that activism shouldnt be all about what you post bc then it becomes performative #are kinda missing the point. and theyre not listening to palestinians at all #a huge issue with this conflict & the way its being received in the western world - ESPECIALLY the US bc of its partnership w israel - #is the sheer amount of disgusting minsinformation and propaganda convincing ppl this genocide is either not that bad or that its necessary #everyday citizens CANNOT change foreign policy. we cant do anything! #so what have Palestinians been asking us to do?? SPREAD AWARENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. MAKE PEOPLE AWARE. UPLIFT PALESTINIAN VOICES. SHARE LINKS #SHOW PPL THE TRUTH. #and yes its hard! its difficult to watch what theyre going thru. but we HAVE to. #i didnt rlly like matts statement. he said he didnt have the spoons to engage in the discourse. which i get. god i get it. #but ive also seen many many creators/influencers who are also disabled or whose families are directly involved gather their spoons to help #and no one was asking CR to harm themselves in the name of helping palestine. we only wanted them to spread awareness #bc the comments on their tweet about finally donating were full of mostly white centrist takes not able to see any benefit to donating or #addressing the issue at all. which is EXACTLY why CR should addresss it. bc they can reach so many who dont understand #but theyd been radio silent for almost 5 months. i didnt like that he didnt really apologize. i didnt like that he centered himself #i didnt like his lowkey flippant language either. saying all that.. ridiculousness in regards to a genocide not well worded. #but i dont feel right holding that against him. should he have thought it through better? sure but i get it #& unfortunately his parting message left a bad taste in my mouth - one of positivity & self care & hugging each other #nice important words but it didnt feel like he was talking about ppl who are affected by this conflict. but rather ppl who are watching #it just felt like a very white thing to say in response to this. we are not burdened and easily victimized bc of it #we are responsible. and so we must center palestinians. #if i were him i wldnt have gone in detail about how hard the palestinian genocide is for me to watch. #but thats just me #*CORRECTION: radio silent for almost 4 months

[oliverferrie]

It's Trans Day of Rememberance, time to support your local trans author while they are still alive

I originally put this thread up on blue birb hellsite, but I wanted to make a longer, more nuanced post for Tumblr. TDOR is a heavy day for me, and every time I see the list of names it makes me want to squirrel away and cry. So instead I want to spread around some books by trans authors, to uplift our voices. The books themselves are not necessarily about trans characters (mine is not) but my experience as a trans guy does inform the text, and when I read these other works, I feel a kinship to the author in that regard, however imagined that is.

I'll start, it's me, buy my horrific (seriously, read the content warning) fantasy book about young queers surviving atrocities: SUGAR PEOPLE

Next up: Δάιος, by Andromeda Ruins (@andromedaexists). A heavy anti-establishment retelling of the fall of Icarus that leans heavily into the reality of queer folk as outcast and put at risk by the powers that be. I have yet to finish it but the prose really slaps you with its urgency.

Next up: FEMININ GANGE (Feminine gait), by Molly Øxnevad, a contemporary novel about the trans healthcare system in Norway. It's written in Norwegian (bokmål) but I really hope to see it translated in English one day because it's such an important piece of literature on the state of our centralised transmedical health system here in norway.

Next up, MAO SIN RAUDE KJOLE (Mao's Red Dress), by Jan Elisabeth Lindvik, (also norwegian, nynorsk) a coming of age novel set in the backdrop of the sixties. It's only really available in Norway, and it's another one I hope to see translated someday, but it's worth knowing about, as it's a seminal novel by a trans activist with so many decades of lived experience, as the country slowly changed its views around trans folk.

Next, we have JACK OF THORNS, Book 1 of INHERITANCE by AK Faulkner, a dark urban fantasy featuring messy queers and LOTS of trauma. I had the pleasure of meeting Faulkner at a con earlier this year, and they have got an awesome thing going with the Inheritance universe. I've been enjoying Jack of Thorns a lot, it does not hold back.

Next, it's the astounding FRESHWATER by Akwaeke Emezi, a magical contemporary novel about dissociative experiences and trauma, and how they interplay with culture and growing up. A very intense and beautifully written book that isn't afraid to tackle dissociative identities AND gender identity (something those of us who have both often have to mask for fear of being denied treatment).

AND THEY LIVED... by Stephen Salvatore, a very contemporary YA romance that deals with societal issues around being gay and nonbinary. It's written from the POV of a cringey, hopeful teen, and dances between happily-ever-after romance and a pointed exhumation of incredibly dark things.

Finally, LARK & KASIM START A REVOLUTION by Kacen Callender, a contemporary YA written in a comfortably snappy rhythm, about love, friendship and a social media mishap that spirals out of control.

If you are an author listed here and you want off this list, just let me know! If you are an author and you want ON this list, feel free to reblog and add your stuff.

Otherwise, go forth and support a trans author today! Connect with our stories, real and imagined. Increase empathy and understanding around the world. Maybe TDOR will be a memorial of the past one day, instead of a memorial of the present day.

#tdor #trans day of remembrance #trans authors #uplift trans voices

[dots3a]

This morning I had an e-mail exchange with the office of Senator Budd because he responded to my pleas for a ceasefire by telling me he's going to "continue to supply lethal aid" to Israel and then that i should not use e-mail templates if I want to engage in discourse. He said if I had seen what he saw on the October 7th tapes, I'd understand. I have seen hundreds of dead bodies caked in dust and blood. There is nothing you could show me that will change me into someone who thinks dropping bombs -- on anyone -- is a reasonable solution to anything.

I walked outside and the backyard is filled with blooming violets, daffodils, butterflies, various types of bees, and lady bugs. I saw my first wild strawberry flower of the season. The màxkwim has begun to sprout. The strawberry my youngest planted as a seed last year surprised me with flowers already. Each of the berry saplings I gifted myself for my birthday last July has new growth, they seem to be thriving in their new homes.

I am not getting better at straddling these two realities. I cannot sit next to the garden beds without carrying the people I've seen suffering in Palestine heavy in my heart. I can't water seeds that will hopefully grow into something my children can eat, without feeling acute awareness of the illegality of collecting rain water for Palestinians, whose children are starving to death to the sound of gunfire and American bombs -- Israel owns the water that falls from the sky, according to Israel.

I do not understand people who are able to carry on as usual. I do not understand people who are not moved to even the smallest actions of resistance. I do not understand the acquiescence. The acceptance of what is clearly unacceptable. The nonchalance of it all.

I wish there were quiet moments of peace in the dawning spring in Palestine, with children happy with their families among the flowers. I will continue to work towards that future in any way I can. I hope more will join those of us who cannot look away.

#words words words #ceasefire now #uplift palestinian voices #speak up for palestine #from the river to the sea palestine will be free #free free palestine #free palestine

[anyoldfandom]

I am genuinely so disgusted by people claiming anti-zionism is antisemitism, but none disgust me more than those who are Jewish themselves when they claim it. I don't expect goy to know about our history beyond WW2, but Jews? You should know better.

Our history has always been one soaked in blood, sweat, and tears as we defy all odds to survive and thrive. So much of our past speaks of enemies trying to kill us, trying to suppress our Jewish spirit. So often have we been forced to ghettos and camps because of who we are - and now you cheer as others are killed? Others who have done no crime but live? Do you not hold yourself to a higher standard than those who have killed us in the past as one of G-d's chosen children? Do you celebrate the death of children? Pray for those who kill them? And now you claim those who wish to stop a provable genocide are no better than those who have oppressed us in the past, because Israel claims to be killing for our sake? Do you think every single Palestinian is part of Hamas? And furthermore, that innocent people should die? Is it truly fitting of G-d's chosen children, that have fought for so long to exist, to choose ourselves over others? We should be standing by their side, for the Palestinians who huddle under rubble and risk everything to share the truth of their situation show more Jewish spirit than any zionist up in their warm, safe homes.

For all my Palestinian siblings out there - I know "you will survive" is not enough. I understand. Your children will live in the shadow of this event for so long to come, remembrance painted in blood. I can only hope that one day, they will be free, and the world will know that they can never truly break your spirit.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

#antisemitism #jewblr #goyim can reblog #And of course Palestinians can reblog #As you all should be the voices uplifted the most and while my tumblr struggles sometimes. I will gladly reblog any Palestinian input #So that it can see more eyes

[spitblaze]

Cannot overstated how gutting it feels to know how much of my life and charity has, in fact, gone to destroying the lives and personhood and ecosystem of Palestine while being told all my life that it was for the sake of MY people, that it was good, that Israel needs to exist. No it doesn't. It never did. Jerusalem is a holy site but it's not our site alone. For millenia 'israel' wasn’t supposed to be a place, it was supposed to be the people. I knew the Israeli government was held hostage by fascist ghouls, but I feel betrayed not knowing just how deep that bile runs.

But, well. Sitting here and being depressed about it won't help anything. I have no reason to support a country that does so many of the things to its native population that the US did to ours, that recreates so many of the actions that we promised would be 'never again', a country that was only ever an apartheid state at best. Healing the world is a core tenet and I intend to abide by it.

#spitblaze says things #i fuckin. sure hope i can anyway #its easy to be paralyzed and be all talk and no action #i. hope ive been uplifting voices and spreading the word enough #idk. theres always more i can do #im not writing this to be self aggrandizing or for glory or clout or w/e im just expressjng how i feel #knowing. every single fucking organization i have ever contributed to that claimed to help israel was only hurting palestine #idk man it kinda sucks knowing so much of what you were told was built on a foundation of fascist lies to start #but like i said! being said wont do shit #palestine