Yesterday
Yesterday I shared my thoughts about the lack of diversity in the sewing and quilting world and called out for those who felt moved to also pay attention and advocate when possible for a greater diversity when it comes to how quilters, knitters and those who sew are portrayed in the media. I used not only my brand-spanking new hashtag # SewDiverstiy but also the hastag #blacklivesmatter.
To say that there was a shit-storm of response to this post would be kind. Some of it wildly supportive and others not so much (I am the dominatrix of understatement on this count). I was pelted with vile insults both public and private as well as vows to ruin my business and never read at BAQS again based on the fact that I support the idea that as a white person I need to be part of the solution to the inequality endured by black people every damn day.
This support was taken by some to mean that I don’t give a flying fuck about white people, yellow or purple people either, or that I just don’t understand or possibly worst of all that I am speaking out in order to pander to my readers (where is the middle finger emoticon when you need it?). This left me in shock since as adults we are fully capable of holding disparate ideas and reflecting on both in a way that does not require tossing around threats or hateful response.
I challenge each person who got their knickers in a twist and insisted that #Alllivesmatter is the replacement for #blacklivesmatter to sit down and talk to a group of black people about their experience being black today. I want you to understand the fear a black mother has that her child will be ruthlessly gunned down just because of their skin color, a fear I do not hold for my white sons. I want you to talk to a black quilter and understand the slights they endure each day, getting lesser service and assumptions about their level of skill.
When I say that #Blacklivesmatter I not saying something negative about white lives. No more than if I say ~ Save the forests~ do I mean ~ fuck the oceans~. The truth is that for those who have alway felt privileged, to be equal can feel like being unduly restricted and to admit we are privileged can feel shameful. I really like Chris Boeskool’s words on this matter and thought I would share them with you. (click on his name to go see his great article)
The Moon and Me
I stood last night staring at the moon. Outside was a hot, wet oven like one can only experience in July in the South. I thought of those who sent words of support today (thank you) and those who spoke from their point of privilege wrapped in fear or even hate and directed their anger and threats (no bueno) towards me for saying little more than the fact that we can do better as a people and a community in supporting our friends who are black. In many ways our views are worlds apart and yet we look at the same moon. The difference being that we look at it from different directions. It looks different to each of us and yet never fails to be the same moon… nothing changes that. Just like nothing changes the abuses suffered by black people in our culture. ( Again this does not exclude the abuses suffered by any other group it just so happens right now we are talking about black lives)
Kris Straub nailed it
I believe I have been very clear as founder of BAQS that I am a fierce and vocal advocate for those who have been disenfranchised no matter the reason. So for someone to be “horrified” or “disgusted” at the use of my voice and influence to express my thoughts on any matter ranging from those about using polyester thread on cotton fabric to my support of LGBT rights and diversity should not be a surprise ( have they spent anytime at all reading here?). To be told to “shut the hell up and just sell quilting fabric” only further convinces me that we can’t back away from such an important topic and honestly only really makes me dig my heels in further as an advocate.
To bastardized a quote … What part of BadAss don’t people understand?
EVERY DAMN TIME I am going to use my position, influence and platform to advocate for coming down on the right side of history. And those who don’t like it are more than welcome not to read my blog or hang out on my FB page.
For those who do like it.. or who have found BAQS due to these issue… welcome, I could not be more pleased to have you here.
And as a note.. this week we have lost a total of 15 readers and gained 210, if you happen to be interested in that sort of thing.
Maddie, please continue to speak out! Your voice is important and I agree with your concerns completely!! Love your badass self!
So glad to have found a blog where the author considers that more than one side does exist and is a quilter. About the Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter: BLM says nothing about other lives not mattering. They are indeed non-violent and not going out of their way to push a “kill all cops” agenda, as so many would like us to believe. Black Lives Matter is necessary because sometimes we do forget that the lives of others are not at all like our own. There is a marked difference in how people of color are treated in the court system, in the criminal justice system, in housing, heck, even in the supermarket, etc. Statistics do exist from reputable sources that support that the difference in treatment is real. All lives do indeed matter, but…all Americans are not treated the same way. Why feel threatened because one group of Americans wants to make their voices heard when many forces are at work to squash that voice and deny the truth of its claim?
I set foot in your shop this morning as a beginner quilter and didn’t find this till tonight. I am shocked!! Honey, this girl loves that she has found a real Badass, finally. Thanks for all the encouragement both of you gave me this morning, you two will never know how good you made me feel. Hugs.
You just keep doing you Maddie. Your compass is pointing true and those who will follow you will be better for doing it. It’s too bad that some people misinterpreted BadAss as a place for BAD people or ASSholes… You set them straight and showed that a real BadAss does what is right, not just what is popular. A real BadAss speaks her (or his) mind and has no problem standing up to be counted for it. I WILL make it down there one day to see the store in person and meet you and I will shake your hand when I do.
I admire your outspokenness. Thank you. We ALL need to be doing more.
I’m with you wholeheartedly. Open dialogue is necessary to open eyes and hearts to the reality around us. Only by listening to others and voicing our own views can we come together in peace. I’m proud to be a member of this society!
Sew true, brave and strong! Thank you for standing up. As a retired gray haired white woman who spent her professional career mainly working with people of color, I can tell you my biggest relief upon retirement was to not have to listen to the back room talk disparaging people from whatever culture or group happened to be in evidence that day. Hippocratic oath, my Aunt Fannie! I’m new to quilting and I experienced the snooty guild culture and decided it wouldn’t work for me. It doesn’t surprise me you were blasted for speaking out. That’s internet culture. Shrug it off and show us how fearless badass quilters can be. There are lots of us who agree with you. Count me in.
Love your ‘tude! ?. Never change.
I guess I should have weighed in the other day when I read and heartily applauded your stance. Keep doing what you’re doing, saying what your heart tells you to–I love it, and, as your numbers suggest, so do a lot of other folk!! Don’t let a few loudmouths con you into thinking they speak for the majority of us. Thanks for being brave enough to speak out in the first place, and keep it up!
Brava.
You go girl!!! Agree with everything you said and am really disappointed in the negativity, really people????
Sadly, I am afraid that we will always share a common moon with bigots, chauvinists, dogmatists,and racists. It is the way of the world since written history. I applaud you for your well written words. For those who have denounced you for your opinions, you can only continue to good fight and I stand solidly by your side!
You keep on speaking up! I may not agree with everything you say, but defend
to the death your right to say it! If quilting/fabric is your forum, so be it. Go girl!
Being Bad ass can not only be a good thing, it can be a great thing..
Thank you Maddie, as a young child my siblings and I were discriminated against because my mother is Native American. There were children who were not allowed to play with us, my mother was called names. This impacted us in our life greatly. I cannot even fathom the fear a black mother has for her children. I fear for my children and grandchildren because of the world we now live in. my fear stems from bad people, her fear stems from injustice. She fears the people who are to be protectors of us. I know many racially diverse police officers, their parents fear for their lives each time they leave for work, I also know many white officers whose families fear for them as well. My heart goes out to all the individuals and their families, past and present who have lost their lives due to racial incidents. From the black man gunned down in his vehicle to the police officers who ran towards the sniper, out to kill as many officers as possible. That too was racially motivated. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I enjoy reading them, and to know your tender heart
Please keep fighting the good fight.
Actually you should fear for your sons, as far more white people are killed by police than black. Maybe we should attempt to understand why law enforcement shoots anyone, of any race.
A few stats to help people …
http://www.dailywire.com/news/7264/5-statistics-you-need-know-about-cops-killing-aaron-bandler
Unfortunately those who have never suffered injustices do not understand those of us who have. It seems as if the ‘privileged’ (to use your term) feel if they acknowledge there is injustice it will somehow affect their status. I too have been a lone voice in the wind about injustice, about saving our children, about saving our neighborhoods, about work place unfairness. I do it to make the road smoother for those who come behind me. Others have done that for me. I do it for my grandchildren and generations to come. You have a voice, use it how you see fit. All will not agree with you but is that what you really want? Change comes when others speak up.
There are many diverse quilters creating art and some may never surface in the popular media. But we continue to create this art anyway because we can. We create our support circles and we happen to find each other in this vast world. When I look at all of the modern day quilters who were influenced by the works of Anna Williams or that the Gee’s Bend quilters were creating improv quilting generations ago and the many quilters who have been influenced by their works, I am convinced that diversity will continue to be a part of quilting world whether or not it is splashed across the pages of social media.
Ditto to every supportive quote above……which is pretty much all of them. I don’t think there’s anything I can add that hasn’t already been said! Love you!
We need to hear more comments and conversations like you have provoked. It is new and unsettling for some and important for all of us to understand the diversity of ideas in our country. I hope this brings support to those who wish to participate, the more diversity the more creativity. Power to your voice!
Here is the simple truth. We do not need to agree on issues, however, we can still be respectful of a differing opinion, and be kind to one another.
I appreciate and enjoy your posts as they make me think and broaden my perspective. I don’t often stop to read the comments and was surprised to read today about the negative response you got. Please continue your good work having difficult discussions and being open and honest. Thank you.