Token Colonialist Speaker at Anti-colonial Protests
Are we still too colonised to be anti-colonial?[edit | edit source]
This mixed blood australian mutt's perspective on legitimacy in anti-colonial movements
Having a token Jew to speak at every Palestine protest is a constant reminder that Arab values are worth less. You wouldn't have a token German at every anti-Nazi protest.
We seem to value people who belong to the class the supremacist state accepts, admitting it is a supremacist state, more than hearing the oppressed people tell those stories. But as australians, this weirds me out because we wouldn't apply the same logic to australia and have a token white australian at every Aboriginal rally. We wouldn’t believe the white australian saying it is a colonial state over the black one...
...Well, actually, the last part probably is true for many. But it is still the same underlying mindset that is the problem.
People say it is to prove our enemies wrong about anti-Judaic sentiment being part of the Palestinian movement. But part of the colonial struggle is to defeat the racist narrative that the oppressed natives should ignore their own oppression and suffering and put the feelings of the colonisers first.
Alternative Version- written by AURA EID
In the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation, the presence of a "token Jew" at every protest serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive undervaluation of Arab voices. It's akin to having a token German at every anti-Nazi rally—an absurdity that highlights the skewed priorities in our narratives of oppression and resistance. This practice underscores a troubling reality: we seem to prioritize voices from within the oppressor's group, as if their acknowledgment of the state's supremacist nature holds more weight than the lived experiences of those directly oppressed.
As Australians, this should unsettle us deeply. We wouldn't insist on a token white Australian at every Aboriginal rally to validate claims of colonialism. Yet, disturbingly, many might still accept the white narrative over the black one, revealing an ingrained mindset that perpetuates colonial logic. This mindset insists that oppressed peoples must prioritize the sensitivities of their oppressors over their own narratives and struggles.
The argument often made is that including Jewish voices in Palestinian protests serves to counter accusations of anti-Semitism within the movement. However, this rationale itself is steeped in colonial thinking. It demands that Palestinians and their allies prove their humanity by centering the feelings of those who benefit from their oppression. True solidarity requires dismantling these racist narratives and amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced and marginalized.
In essence, the struggle against colonialism is not just about land or sovereignty; it's about reclaiming the narrative and asserting the legitimacy of oppressed voices. It's about recognizing that the path to justice is paved by listening to those who have been systematically silenced, not by seeking validation from those who represent the structures of power.
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This article is open for contributions. Feel free to add perspectives and examples from other anti-colonial struggles.