It's been a long time since I checked in and for that, I apologize. I've been thinking lately that I do want to write more posts on my blog because I've neglected it these past few months.
Well, something has happened lately that I must share. I'll share it either you instead of making it a letter to Facebook like I initially intended to, but they probably receive thousands of letters daily and consequently, don't give a f!@#.
So I am saying it right here, right now: Facebook is RACIST.
Yeah, I said it. I was actually banned from posting at the time I started writing this entry (September 11th, 2016). And I'll be banned until sometime on Sunday, after my seven-day ban is complete. At which point, I'll share this post.
And get this: only last week was I released from the previous ban, which lasted for three days. And earlier this summer, I was banned for one day.
Why? What's my crime?
I as a black woman dared to open my mouth and speak out on the rampant racism in America and speaking out against the injustices and stereotypes plaguing black people to this day.
I actually dared to believe that I had free speech on Facebook. After all, I've really never had any problems with Facebook before; I believe it was around 2008 or so when I joined it. No problems whatsoever until now.
Now = summer 2016, a time where we have an openly bigoted presidential candidate preying on the fears of the shrinking (afraid) white majority, a time when a black football player peacefully protests and still receives death threats, a time where people condone the unnecessary deaths of black men by cops.
A time where many white people tell black people to shut up, go back to Africa, and stop playing the race card, although their ancestors were the ones who manufactured it.
Speak out against racism toward blacks and other minorities Facebook, and be reminded of not only how much certain whites hate blacks, but of how Facebook hates blacks as well.
Remind them of how this country wasn't theirs to begin with; about the systematic slaughter of the natives, and pay the price.
Always remember the horror of 9/11, and we should remember that horrible day when approximately 3,000 people lost their lives. But black people need to get over centuries of slavery and the unspeakably horrible Middle Passage where nearly 2,500,000 million Africans died.
And when I say 2,500,000 Africans died, that means, during the Middle Passage alone. Disease, murder by being tossed overboard and fed to the sharks who after a while realized slave ships were a guaranteed food source and followed them. Shackled to other slaves that had been dead for days. But we're not permitted to discuss it. It happened a long time ago. Forget about it, you whiny black people. Not surprisingly, there is no accurate statistic that exists on how many black souls were lost if they survived the Middle Passage, once they were herded onto American soil. So we can only assume and imagine how many lives were lost then, and I assume millions more. I could go on and discuss the black lives lost in the time immediately after slavery with lynchings during Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Era, but it would take too much time. Either way, we're expected to sweep it under the rug and move on although it's never suggested to other races to forget about the tragedies their ancestors suffered. Instead, it's thrown in our faces that the "Irish were slaves too" and that "Africans sold Africans to the white man" to undermine and minimize the very wrong horror of black American slavery. But I digress.
I say Facebook hates blacks because they'll ban me for speaking in a civilized tone, minus cussing and threats.....simply because a group of white supremacists inbox each other to report the uppity nigger that clearly doesn't know her place. Facebook then automatically assumes that I'm the problem and places the ban. They then suggest that I remind myself of the terms and conditions.....or else.
Yet, these same people can wish death on me, call me a colored nigger monkey welfare recipient and various other names and be allowed to go on and antagonize the next minority that dares to speak out against racism. Just like their ancestors before them believed, black folks are 3/5ths human and are just animals to be seen and not heard.
Report any of these people wishing black people into extinction and Facebook quickly responds that these people haven't done anything wrong. Even if they said you're a jigaboo blackie chicken bucket (yes, someone actually called me that).
Yes, Facebook somehow doesn't have a problem with angry racist whites.
It makes me wonder, what kind of people in charge of deciding who gets banned and who gets to stay and continue to post hate over there at Facebook headquarters?
Oh, I did my research and found an answer to my question. Behold, story #1 from over a year ago:
http://www.businessinsider.com/new-facebook-diversity-report-shows-company-still-mainly-white-and-male-2015-6
And story #2, written not even a month ago:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/08/facebook-cant-figure-out-how-to-diversify-its-staff/
Not surprising or earth-shattering information, but it causes two puzzle pieces in my mind to connect. And I've come to a couple of conclusion. My first, yet weak conclusion tries to give Facebook the benefit of the doubt: that Facebook doesn't give any one person or group of people, no matter how many, the power to ban another person. If they don't like what you're saying, they should only have the right to block you. This is a problem.
My second conclusion, as much as I don't want to believe it, is spot on. That the majority of the majority of white people who work for Facebook are racists who use their bias to decide who's banned and who's not. This is a problem.
I mean, how else do you explain white supremacist posters having free reign of the comments section and black people getting banned, just for simply speaking? You as a black person don't even have to address these supremacists directly. You can make a statement that they don't agree with and ban together to block you and have you banned. When a black person reports a page, Facebook smirks and says it's not a problem, that you being called a black nigger that needs to die in no way violates their terms and conditions and that no action will be taken. This is a problem.
However, if you state that black lives do indeed matter and that 85% of whites are murdered by other whites, you'll be promptly banned. Simply because they don't want black people to have a voice. Shut up nigger, we don't care. We're not on the shitty end of racism, so you just hush up. It's the message that some (NOT all whites send and that Facebook endorses. This is a problem.
Disgusting, isn't it? Less than four months away from the year 2017 and this is what we're dealing with. Facebook may as well include in their so-called terms and conditions that minorities practice their first amendment rights at the risk of being banned and to deal with racism. After all, that's the message they've sent to me more than once. This is a problem.
All I have left to say is, my voice feels stifled. I have to "watch my mouth," because at this point, I can say anything that makes one white person angry and/or uncomfortable and I'll probably be banned from Facebook for good. All my pictures and friends, gone because there are people who feel I don't have the right to speak out. Such bullshit. However, I do thank my some of my white friends for attempting to empathize and speaking against racial injustice in America. I marvel at their bravery in a counary that urges them to ignore their privilege. You are who proves that not all white people are racist. When a black counterpart says it, I'm quick to remind them that it's far from the truth.
We do need to stand as one, but we can't stand as one on an uneven playing field.
This may go viral, maybe it won't. I realize that penning this post probably subjects me to being banned yet again, but I have the insatiable need to speak out. Besides, being banned from Facebook has allowed me to turn my attention to other things in life despite me enjoying interactions with family and friends far and wide.
It's the the risk I'm taking to speak out, to have my voice heard. My black grandparents and other ancestors didn't have that right and I'm vocal because they weren't allowed to be. They had to stay in their place and deal with it.
I won't. I will continue to speak out, no matter how much discomfort it causes those who don't want equality for all. I'm no black militant, but a fighter for the underdog, which to this day is black people and other minorities. I owe it to the memory of my ancestors. Their bravery and long-suffering is the only reason why we as black people today enjoy the freedoms and lives we have today.
I hope they're proud of me.
Not-so-sincerely, Charmin J. Bristol
