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It seems that in another bid to consider the feelings of white women, the term Karen is now a racial slur equivalent to the n-word (the Conservatives’ words, not mine). While I disagree with it being a racial slur, I don’t think we should call white women who transgress using racism, and their perceived divine sovereignty, to police people of color, Karens. Full disclosure, my mother’s name is Karen.
Also, shout out to Karen Hunter as well.
I somewhat feel that even though my mother does not care, I’d like only to think pleasant things when I hear her name. But selfish pursuits are not the real reason that I am against giving white women, who abuse their perceived credibility and assume their own authority, the privilege of nicknames that are not a direct assault on their racism but rather are a simple mocking of the dangerous behavior with which the moniker is associated.
Historically, white women have always received the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their interactions with people of color, most specifically Black people. Hell, whole towns have been completely decimated, and children have been murdered just by the words of an upset white woman. While this is the first time in history racist white women have been called to the carpet over their actions, there are still large swaths of white people who choose to continue to coddle the behaviors of these women. Calling these women Karen only further weaponizes their historically gifted victimhood and reverts them back into a position of protection. The best example of this is how conservative whites are calling “Karen” a racial slur. I’ve even seen it be referred to as equivalent to the n-word.
It’s funny how a name you can say is somehow equivalent to a word you can’t, a word that is not simply censored politically but also in the media as well. It’s funny how a name being used to mock racism is now equivalent to a word invented with actual virulent racist intentions and has been ubiquitous on the scene of many acts of racial terrorism. I have yet to hear of a white woman who has been physically assaulted and was called a Karen while being abused. Calling white women Karens gives racists an out to deflect and return the marginalization back to the oppressing party.
Additionally, calling racist white women Karens is not directly addressing the dangerousness of their specific actions; it is simply mocking them while still protecting them with a nickname and not a direct assault on their actions. No one else gets the dignity of a nickname that is actually a real name and fairly common when addressing (perceived) harmful behaviors associated with their demographic. A white woman will still put the lives of Black people in danger and the best we can do is give her a nickname, a nicknameeee. Hell, peaceful protestors are still called thugs.
Racism does not need an out. It does not need a soft life moniker. It needs to be directly addressed, and it definitely does not need another way for its purveyors to be the victim and the villain.
Don’t call them bitches Karens. Call them bitches out!
