As an outsider (Spaniard here), I was wondering something and I know I might be missing something.
I will ask this assuming most of you defending the issue at hand are somewhat in the same line of thought.
There seems to be a big concern and anger with white people voting for Trump, but you also don't want white people to help your cause since some can be very arrogant or condescending.
What is the goal for all these protests? Show the discomfort against a certain issue, or be able to gather the numbers in order to make a change?
To me it feels like most people in general are doing this in order to help with some outliers being arrogant or whatever they might be. Wouldn't you want any help possible in order to become as large a united group as possible?
Again, it's an honest question since I know I'm missing many things regarding this issue but I find it interesting that this is happening.
The best way I can put it, is comparing it to Men and feminism. There are a LOT of feminists that will say, out of context, very inflammatory towards men. Many times they will not make the distinction to say "some" or "not all" men. Should I, as a man who tries not to be sexist and oppressive of women, be upset that these women might be painting me in a bad light through generalized statements?
The answer is no. Because at the end of the day,
the best way to be an ally to a person/group is to ask them how do they want you to help. When you're dealing with power structures, you want to empower and center the most marginalized if you are a part of the oppressing class. You don't want to be a "savior", although I can help the feminist cause in many ways a woman can't, because, again, this isn't about me. Many times allies (whether it be men to women, white to black, straight to gay, etc) approach the people they desire to help and feel that they are the experts on how to get them free. They feel that, because they are "helping" that the marginalized individual should be grateful that they would risk their status amongst the oppressive class to free them from oppression.
Many people who have not had to struggle under multiple identities tend to treat social justice through a pragmatic lens, and not a radical lens. This pragmatism leads them to believe that the support of people from the oppressive class (white people, men, etc) is the surefire, correct, and only way to end oppression. This, however is wrong. As a black man, I don't want help from a white person who wants a thank you for helping me. But this is going into very
radical dogma of oppressed people.
An ally should want to do everything they can do support the self determination of who they are helping. Many people think I should be grateful the white person is helping me at all, I mean, why shouldn't I be? Benevolent White people have no obligation to help me. It's thought paradigms like that, that lead to resentment. If I punch you in the face, and I then help you up, why am I entitled to your gratitude?
Back to the Men/Feminism example. As a Man, I believe in the empowerment and self determination of women. That means that I do not get upset when angry women start "man bashing", I do not center my opinions on what women should do to reduce their oppression, and
I do not make their struggle about my feelings as a man. I will always support women, because that is what I know to be right and true. And I will take time to sit and listen when they have critique, harsh or soft, about me or other men. Because as a man, thats the very least I can do.