Whiteness stole our yesterday

Christina M. Tapper

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ZORA

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4 min readJan 7, 2021

ZORA Fam,

Yesterday, many of us watched whiteness at work. I was in my living room, glued to CNN, unable to peel myself away from witnessing white terrorists invade the U.S. Capitol with caucasity and confederate flags. On the same day members of Congress were set to count electoral votes to confirm Joe Biden as our next president, they had to seek safety from a riotous mob. A coup attempt unfolded. The imminent next step of “stand back and stand by.”

Despite having a full slate of work, I couldn’t look away. After 1:30 P.M. EST, my day was toast. I lost my focus to the pro-Trump extremists on my screen. I swapped texts with friends, remembering a time when politicians had the nerve to urge us to reach across the aisle to heal as a nation. I took a short walk in my Harlem neighborhood, headphones in tow, in an attempt to distance myself from the news — only to turn to NPR and listen for updates. I scrolled through Twitter and Instagram, sinking further into an abyss of video footage, memes, and commentary about the mayhem. One person was shot and killed by police. Only 52 arrests were made, so far. A stark contrast to how peaceful protestors at Black Lives Matter marches have been treated over the years.

So much time was taken from me yesterday. Time I can’t get back.

That’s how whiteness works. It steals. It disrupts.

➡️ Read: Imagine a World That Doesn’t Center Whiteness

Emboldened by a fascist president, white terrorists stormed the Capitol believing an election was stolen from them. Yet, whiteness is the real thief. Whiteness snatches Black lives, with bullets and knees; pilfers possibilities with voter disenfranchisement; robs us of the chance to close widening racial gaps in health care, education, and wealth. It interrupts our train of thought, turns our day upside down, and impedes the good energy we’re trying to usher into this new year.

Yesterday was yet another example of whiteness’ thievery. Instead of celebrating the Senate wins in Georgia, fueled by the leadership of Black women, our day was discombobulated by legitimate fear. Disrupted by frustration.

Whiteness stole my yesterday. I’m determined to not let it steal my today.

Wishing you a beautiful day to protect as your own, as best as you can.

Take care,
Christina M. Tapper, deputy editor

Zero to 💯

Who kept it 100 this week? Let’s take a look.

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Bianca Smith becomes the first Black woman to coach professional baseball: 💯/💯

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Flo Milli’s confusing commercial for Beats by Dre: 10/💯

In a recently resurfaced commercial for Beats by Dre, rapper and activist Flo Milli dances in front of a Confederate statue. But… why? What does “Flex That Clapback” even mean? The messaging behind the campaign was super confusing. We love seeing Flo Milli’s moves, though!

GOP has lost what was left of its mind: 🚮/💯

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell keeps trying to block increasing stimulus funds, our soon-to-be ex-president was caught begging the Georgia secretary of state to “find” votes to flip the state in his favor, and other GOP reps continue to deny the validity of Biden’s election. Just throw the whole dang government away. They don’t really care about us.