Beware, Criminal!

Just throwing this out there...

Beware the meme culture. Beware the pseudo-intellectual who thinks they’re creating constructive commentary with an image such as this. Beware the homophobic sports world, music world, and well as unfortunate as it is true, the world at large who continually perpetuate the stereotypes and preconceived notions that hold us back from any semblance of actual progress. Beware your cousin or old high school “friend” who reposts these types of memes and considers him/herself funny, even worse clever. Beware J.R. Smith, who not only shot the Cavaliers out of Game 1 of the NBA Finals but also shot himself and #society in the foot by reposting the above to his followers. Beware those who feel the need to distinguish between different types of heroism, by having the indecency to proclaim one type a “science project.” These are people we’re talking about, people with basic human rights. F**k.
Is it important that Akon is helping Africa obtain solar energy? Abso-f****n-lutely! But one landmark event does not discount another. Explain to me how Akon jumpstarting The Humanitarian Solar Academy and Caitlyn Jenner announcing her transition with a cover shoot for Vanity Fair have become mutually exclusive events. I’ll wait…
I haven’t found myself doing this, I would venture to say ever, but I agree with The Kardashians. I don’t “keep up with” them in the way some might, but their undying support and encouragement for Caitlyn during her transition has been nothing short of admirable. More people and family units should strive for such unconditional acceptance and unwavering welcome. On the other hand, I’ve seen randoms post on facebook their ignorant disdain for what Caitlyn has done by sharing something like this (come to find out the irony of this image at a later point. Hilarious):

Accompanied by text like this:
“As I see post after post about Bruce Jenner’s transition to a woman, and I hear words like, bravery, heroism, and courage, just thought I’d remind all of us what real American courage, heroism, and bravery looks like!”
What the s**t is this? Not only do I find the sentiments incredibly insensitive, but once again, I do not understand why some feel the need to distinguish the many forms of bravery, heroism, and courage. The damned definitions and the hetero-normative narrative for this country along with the patriarchal plutonomy plaguing our people restricts opportunity for us to truly progress to the point of power.
I would once again like to appreciate America’s brave, heroic, and courageous soldiers who are fighting for freedom. Not just your freedom, not just my freedom, not just a select few’s freedom.** Freedom for all**. This country’s past has challenged its present and future by setting up a paradigm; enforcing and reinforcing countless definitions, stereotypes, and status quo bullshit that plenty of people are happy to go along with, so long as they never have to form an opinion for themselves. Beware conformity, for it will surely oppress the very freedom you hold so dearly. Beware hypocrisy. Beware the hidden agendas.
Beware m***********s who say things like, “You don’t act black” or “You don’t sound Mexican” or “I never would’ve guessed that you’re gay” or “I’m not racist, but…” followed by something unbelievably racist. These are the people you’ve got to watch out for and school on the fundamentals of interacting with the world at large. This is not a liberal agenda. This is not political, in fact I invite you and everyone you know to drop all notions of politics or agendas and simply focus on basic human rights. Put yourself in the shoes of others. Get out of your own headspace and become aware of the infinite number of personalities that make up the world in which you live.
Repeat: This has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with basic human rights. We need to change the way we think. We need to reprogram the system. We need to change the way we live and interact with each other.
We need more pictures like this:

With accompanying text like this (From the official Laverne Cox tumblr):
On May 29, 2014, the issue of Time Magazine which proclaimed the “Transgender Tipping Point” was revealed with me on the cover. June 1, 2015 a year and 3 days later, Caitlyn Jenner’s vanityfair cover was revealed proclaiming #CallMeCaitlyn I am so moved by all the love and support Caitlyn is receiving. It feels like a new day, indeed, when a trans person can present her authentic self to the world for the first time and be celebrated for it so universally. Many have commented on how gorgeous Caitlyn looks in her photos, how she is “slaying for the Gods.” I must echo these comments in the vernacular, “Yasss Gawd! Werk Caitlyn! Get it!” But this has made me reflect critically on my own desires to ‘work a photo shoot’, to serve up various forms of glamour, power, sexiness, body affirming, racially empowering images of the various sides of my black, trans womanhood. I love working a photo shoot and creating inspiring images for my fans, for the world and above all for myself. But I also hope that it is my talent, my intelligence, my heart and spirit that most captivate, inspire, move and encourage folks to think more critically about the world around them. Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me. A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am “drop dead gorgeous” and that that doesn’t represent most trans people. (It was news to be that I am drop dead gorgeous but I’ll certainly take it). But what I think they meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards. Now, there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans folks don’t want to embody them and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves . It is important to note that these standards are also informed by race, class and ability among other intersections. I have always been aware that I can never represent all trans people. No one or two or three trans people can. This is why we need diverse media representations of trans folks to multiply trans narratives in the media and depict our beautiful diversities. I started #TransIsBeautiful as a way to celebrate all those things that make trans folks uniquely trans, those things that don’t necessarily align with cisnormative beauty standards. For me it is necessary everyday to celebrate every aspect of myself especially those things about myself that don’t align with other people’s ideas about what is beautiful. #TransIsBeautiful is about, whether you’re trans or not, celebrating all those things that make us uniquely ourselves. Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class. I have hoped over the past few years that the incredible love I have received from the public can translate to the lives of all trans folks. Trans folks of all races, gender expressions, ability, sexual orientations, classes, immigration status, employment status, transition status, genital status etc.. I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues…
Guess what, America. Freedom doesn’t pick and choose. Freedom does not give one single f**k if you are white, black, brown, yellow, red, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, young, old, male, female, or anything in between or unmentioned. You shouldn’t either. Freedom is real. Oppression is real. Think about the struggle next time you find yourself taking that freedom for granted. Soldiers have died protecting freedom. Don’t let them die in vain.
Live, let live, get up, stand up and uplift…

Author's Note

How do we push this conversation into a greater movement of equality for all. America is "and justice for all," no? Ignore missing images from post. They're included in original post on my blog.