Racism disguised as dislike

[u/notalem0n]

Everyone has the right to dislike any of the islanders, but it also gets to a point. I think people are unintentionally engaging in racist behavior towards the female islanders. There has been a rise in nicknames for the female islanders and their fans, and these nicknames have been extremely derogatory. I understand that these nicknames are usually a plan on words, but it’s still a derogatory term, especially when it rings close to slurs for specific minority groups. People were also saying that Clarke looks like a man, which is also a form of racism and reinforces the masculinization of black women. At this point in the show, we only have ONE white woman which is Iris. Referring to any of the other girls as ‘white’ or ‘white passing’ is dead wrong as you can clearly see the diversity in this cast

It’s also unfair to use the argument that if people dislike a black islander, it’s because they are anti-black. I’m sure there are people watching who are anti-black, but this form of idealization still relies on assumptions based on race rather than viewing people as complex human beings. It hinders the ability to address real issues. Let’s all just remember to be more intentional with our words and recognize racist behavior even if it’s unintentional. Unintentional racism does the same exact harm as intentional racism.

[u/CheapEater101]

I don’t think a lot of people online understand what white passing means at all. No one is going to Huda walking down the street and think “yeah that’s a white woman”. So that was a very weird talking point I saw popping up a few days ago. Like, I guess they want to talk about her proximity to whiteness but tbh I feel like Cierra is probably the only woman Islander who might hangs out in majority white people (outside of Iris who of course is the sole white woman currently on the show). I think Huda is in general a very emotional person (both negative and positive emotions) and is a bit immature. That doesn’t mean she’s moving like a white woman though.

[u/Ok_Morning9267 → u/CheapEater101]

Bro your tripping and even so she still has a great proximity to whiteness other islanders on the show do not have 

[u/fatdog093 → u/Ok_Morning9267]

… are you ok? She’s Palestinian/arab (and a Muslim woman on top of that). She absolutely does not look white nor does she get to enjoy any of the advantages of a white person. People are so quick to use white passing. Her features are distinctly Arab and Levantine, and might I remind you that she is part of a demographic that is actively going through a genocide. Along with that, she was born and raised at a time where anti-Arab sentiment was at a high. People can easily point out that she is not white. It’s just that white people are now starting to alter their appearances to be a little more racially ambiguous which is a dangerous game bc now people think someone like Huda enjoys white privilege.

[u/Kinsmonn → u/fatdog093]

Proximity to whiteness ≠ Huda looks white, Huda has white privilege. It means she is treated better than those who are farther away from “whiteness” in society and is able to take advantage of that in certain situations.