dirtybrokebeautiful:

cassket:

grrspit:

angrybrownbaby:

hexvenus:

fracturedrefuge:

angrybrownbaby:

neetainari:

apihtawikosisan:

What is the context of this picture?  I know I’ve seen it on tumblr before with some great comments.  It is related to the Belo Monte Dam project, but I do not know which indigenous nation this woman is from.  It is freaking everywhere on FB right now and it’s really pissing me off.  Indigenous peoples and our struggles are so often used in ‘mascot’ form for other people’s battles, and it rubs me the wrong way.  Yes, this is a beautiful picture, but is it really appropriate to use this woman (with no context EVER provided by those who pass the picture around) as a symbol for “lactivism”?

Thoughts?  Comments?  What have you been saying in response to this picture?  I want to formulate an argument that makes sense without just being dismissed as ‘omg you’re so sensitive!’.

It bugs me that white activists don’t feel they need a context for anything; I’ve seen Native Americans and even my own people, the Saami of Finland, invoked in more than one meme picture as an example of the harmfulness of immigration. Fucking IMMIGRATION.

They can bloody well fight their own fights; someone’s right to breastfeed doesn’t even begin to reach the same level of importance as someone’s right to not have their lands seized and drowned and their people killed.

As for the origin of the picture, I couldn’t say. Anyone?

If I can recall correctly, this woman is in Brazil. I could be wrong. The text annoys the shit out of me. Her breastfeeding is the fucking least we should even be focusing on. This woman is protecting her homeland, child, and herself. How she is feeding her child is the very least of her worries, give me a fucking break. Way to miss the point, as usual, white folks.

I am sick and tired of us Natives below the border being ignored unless we could be a part of a fucking meme, t-shirt, or whatever pop culture bullshit they can think of. “Woman protecting her and her child’s basic human rights? LET’S MAKE IT A LACTIVIST MEME!” Eat shit.

This also really bothered me because it seems like it perpetuates the “aggressive brown person” trope, particularly how said trope is and has been used to classify Indigenous people as “savages” in need of the White Savior to teach them the ways of the “civilized human being”.  Topless?  Check.  Covered in paint (which ZOMG MUST BE WAR PAINT)?  Check.  Holding a knife?  Check.  CLEARLY AN AGGRESSIVE BROWN PERSON IN NEED OF CIVILIZING.

I’m one of those “annoying white folks” who clearly “missed the point” here. I love this image. Not because she’s ‘brown’ or ‘native’ or whatever you want to call her. Because she is a strong woman, breastfeeding her child in the most natural sense. Us “white folk” have lost touch with this tribal part of ourselves. We are taught to be ashamed - She is not. We are taught to cover up - She is not. We are taught to repress our warrior-mama nature - She is not.  You’re right; I don’t know the context of this image. Do you know the context of EVERY IMAGE you post or repost?

As a fat woman I am constantly seeing images of fat people used in memes to poke fun or illustrate a negative point - so I actually know how it feels to be the butt of jokes or have my likeness used to express stupidity, laziness, greed (fat cats, anyone??), disgusting, unhygienic habits and the list goes on and on.  This image is doing none of those things. I understand the whole war-paint, machete comments - but to me those images invoke strength and determination, not stereotypes..

Good to know that images of Indigenous folks’ struggles is simple eye candy for you to romanticize.

Err… you’re talking about this woman being ~*~close to nature~*~ and ~*~oh so tribal~*~ while being close to her ~*~warrior mama nature~*~ so how in the fuck are you not stereotyping this woman in the picture? LMAO You don’t get to speak about what this invokes for you as a white woman because you will never know her life or her situation because your kind are the reason this is happening. Her “strength and determination” is called her trying to survive. SHE HAS NO CHOICE.

I’m going to be quite frank in that no one gives a shit about your struggles as a fat, white woman when this woman’s kinfolk are at risk of no longer existing. Really. Get over yourself. You, as a white woman, aren’t afraid of genocide any time soon so shut the fuck up.

ugh, hexvenus needs to Google “Noble Savage” and then never say anything like that ever again.

“Us “white folk” have lost touch with this tribal part of ourselves.”

What the fuck? Are you serious?

^Commentary. 

so glad this commentary happened.. I saw this picture in a bunch of internet places with tons of endorsements.. 

(via ismashpatriarchyonthefirstdate)