Category: immigration

What Defines a Karen?

by ADRIAN MARIE JONES (AJay), posted in #AJAYNY, History, immigration, race

Karens are not merely “annoying customers of  ‘any race’ demanding to speak to managers.” A “Karen” is a hateful, racist, white woman who is aware her white privilege.  And while she won’t acknowledge it publicly, she will use it every opportunity she gets.  Her targets are usually Black or Hispanic people. Although no non-white is safe from her violence. These are white women lying about assaults and more, calling the police on Black people and non-Black POC, with the hope that they will at least get arrested but knowing far worse can happen. 

There is no such thing as a “Black Karen.”  White people started to apply that term to everyone so that it will soften their racism. By changing the definition and application of the label, they are managing to do just that. Don’t let them. 

The next time someone applies “Karen” to anyone other than a white woman, swiftly correct them.  In this same way, they insist “anyone can be racist.” While bigotry and prejudice do not require a power structure, racism absolutely requires power.  

“Best Music Videos List: Ranking Greatest Music Videos of All Time – Rolling Stone” GARBAGE

by ADRIAN MARIE JONES (AJay), posted in #AJAYNY, entertainment, immigration, race, Uncategorized

Rolling Stone released their list of the greatest music videos of all time but excluded Michael Jackson’s Thriller but… included another one of his videos? I don’t even know which one it was. I didn’t go further into the article. Because the fact that you must state that the video isn’t on the list means you know you did wrong.

The article states that “all of these picks are perfect examples of how pairing sound and vision created an entire artistic vocabulary, gave us a handful of miniature-movie masterpieces, and changed how we heard (and saw) music.” Really? But no Thriller? Really? And then they gave Beyonce’s Formation the top nod. I love Bey. Formation was awesome. But they can keep that. It’s offensive. It’s like “Well it’s ok because we put another Black there.” No it’s not ok.

They are trying to erase Michael’s musical legacy and they aren’t even being slick about it. It’s disgusting. Rolling Stone messed this one up. I didn’t even link the article. They disserve no traffic.

Black African Immigrant Woman, Therese Patricia Okoumou, Climbs the Statue of Liberty and Black Americans Ask Why She Would Protest For Mexicans

by ADRIAN MARIE JONES (AJay), posted in immigration, solidarity

The year is 2018 and Black Americans, Descendants of the Black Africans who were shipped to North America, and became victims of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, still don’t understand that Black people are bigger than African Americans. Black people are global. But even here in The United States of America, these African Americans don’t understand that other Black people, who emigrated from other countries, after the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, have a different experience from “African Americans.”

Coming to a country on a student visa or travel visa and staying is cheaper than going through proper channels.

Many Black people weren’t born here. Some came legally and others came illegally. The immigration laws worked against people of color, especially Black people, and they still do. Getting here legally takes money. Across the globe, Black people are impoverished. Coming to a country on a student visa or travel visa and staying is cheaper than going through proper channels.

#Therese Patricia Okoumou is an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is an activist. She works hard. It would be easy for her to just live her life and not worry about what happens to others. Why did Patricia Okoumou decide to fight for others? Because she’s a fighter and that’s what fighters do. If we continue to only worry about ourselves, or our immediate families, what kind of world would this be?

Why should anyone be concerned with any issue that doesn’t affect them? Because that’s how change happens.

So when Black people ask why would a Black person worry about the rights or fates Mexicans, it’s quite baffling. And it displays a new level of ignorance. Are there not Black Mexicans? That’s one, and two, no struggle is won without solidarity. Why are we looking at Mexicans as our enemies anyway. Technically, they were here first. And if Black people buy into these immigration policies that wreak of nationalism and racism, why should anyone look at any policies that affect Black people in the majority, if they aren’t Black? Why should anyone be concerned with any issue that doesn’t affect them? Because that’s how change happens.

It pains me to see traditionally educated Black Americans that are ignorant of these facts. It pains me even more to see them speak on these facts with such conviction. Add to this, a huge social media following and it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s can also serve as ground zero for spreading commonly held misconceptions to the young and impressionable who rely on these opinion pieces written by these educated folks to bring them understanding and fresh insight. They aren’t looking for regurgitated garbage but many times, that’s what they find.

We must engage in actions that affect us directly, indirectly and actions that don’t affect us at all.

If we plan to see a different world for our children, we have to make a different world for our children. We must engage in actions that affect us directly, indirectly and actions that don’t affect us at all. Oppression Olympics is useless, Black solidarity shouldn’t stop at borders, and lastly, we, as Black Americans, cannot continue to support oppressive policies because we’re not the drawing the short straw.