A modern memetic incarnation of an old racist custom to deflect, diminish or excuse the unique reality, history, significance and legacy of racialised chattel slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
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It is shared mainly by a white demographic in countries w/ a mostly unreconciled history of racial slavery, terrorism, segregation & discrimination. It thrives in the current socio-political climate because it (a) centres them as victims and immediately derails the conversation.
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(b) acts as a preemptive denial, excusing their lack of engagement with, or acceptance of uncomfortable history. (c) provides “proof” that protests against police brutality are not only without basis, but that the unrest confirms the protesters’ racial and cultural inferiority.
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(d) equates white nationalist propaganda w/ evidence-based history. Takes their racism and projects it as “evidence” of an unfounded black pathology of unique victimhood, reinforcing their adherence to white supremacist ideology & justifying their pre-existing racial prejudices.
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Since 2014 interest in the “Irish slaves” term on Google surges in the U.S. after every protest at police brutality. This week is no different.pic.twitter.com/uJ2o3bojVW
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Here is just a handful of examples of how it is currently being used on social media to belittle calls for racial justice.
#GeorgeFloydpic.twitter.com/r9zIogZ4I4
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I was browsing the U.S. google trending data for the past 12 months and I noticed that the previous peak occurred in June 2019. The week of June 16-22 to be precise. Why is that significant?pic.twitter.com/NydrvCvawr
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On 19 June 2019 the first ever Congressional Hearing On Slavery Reparations was held. The proposed bill aimed to develop proposals to address the legacy of slavery and consider a national apology for the damage it caused.pic.twitter.com/g8wbgvOOv2
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Meanwhile the Scottish version of the mythology is appearing once again in response to a BBC video about Glasgow’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.pic.twitter.com/8ukHf9kMZR
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For a refutation of this see Dr. Stephen Mullen’s excellent article on how the myth of 'Scottish slaves' is used to deflect from the wider story of Scottish involvement in the slave trade (2016). Still highly relevant in light of a continued obfuscation.http://sceptical.scot/2016/03/the-myth-of-scottish-slaves/ …
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Thanks for this. Got into it with some guy over Scottish slaves a few days ago.
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