If you are on Instagram or Ravelry you have probably seen things about how BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) people are marginalized. Since they are marginalized and we are white (even though I know lots of people who don't agree who are not white) we need to boost them up. We need to purchase from BIPOC designers and dyers because they are disadvantaged.
First off, let me say, racism is bad. Not liking someone based on something they can't control is not ok. But, I don't feel like I need to seek someone out and purchase from them based on their skin color. A prime example is my friend who is a quilter. Her aesthetic is Primitive Americana. When she was at a quilt show there was a vendor who was a woman of color. Her booth was full of African inspired fabrics. My friend skipped the booth. Her reasoning was because it didn't fit with her home and her decor. It had nothing to do with her personal feelings toward the vendor. She was not discriminating against her because of her color. It just didn't work for her. Should she have bought something from the woman, even though it wasn't anything she would ever use? Most rational people would say no, but all of a sudden in the yarn community they are saying we should. It's honestly a bit crazy. Another example would be me shouting at people to download my patterns and subscribe to my newsletter even though they don't agree with me politically. It's insane and people would condemn me for behavior like that. A yarn dyer has been publicly shamed this week for calling out the bullies. She pointed out that the "conversation" was one sided and if you didn't fall in line you were belittled and shouted down. She has been pretty much run off the internet after these comments. It makes my heart hurt. For some reason these people feel the have the RIGHT to "call out" or "name" people who don't agree. Usually, it is people who refuse to follow the status quo and have the guts to go against the mob mentality. There are so many more things to say on this issue. I probably will in the future. This world is going to hell in a hand basket. It's sad and scary, and God help you if you don't agree with the mob.
8 Comments
Esther
2/6/2019 09:35:01 am
I hate racism, but I also hate taking people's rights away to chose. I feel this is a one sided conversation. I have felt many times over my life "not included" and it has nothing to do with my race, because I'm "white". It's good to talk about these things, but to not let others be heard because they don't agree is very prejudiced. It's like they are doing the very thing they are adamantly saying they are against.
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RationalKnitter
2/16/2019 08:40:30 am
I agree; discriminating against someone based on something out of their control is stupid. That means it's stupid to judge someone for being white. Or straight.
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Laura
2/26/2019 11:20:20 am
I thought the conversation was ridiculous. I am not going to apologize for being white anymore than someone should apologize for being whatever race they are. And asking someone to pose with you for an instagram picture being they are a certain skin tone should be insulting to that person! I buy what I like without any expectation of who designed it. I just like it. If you want to knit, knit. If you want to design, design. Why would you let your skin tone stop you or ruin a hobby you enjoy because you want to be more "visible" in the "community". I knit with acrylic, often. If you use only designer, pure wools and can afford to do so, good on you! I do what works for me. No jealousy involved. We both like knitting!
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Malena
2/26/2019 11:31:04 am
Yes, this was quite the "conversation." But it wasn't a conversation, was it? If you didn't participate, you were "uncomfortable" or unwilling to face your white privilege. If you expressed anything remotely in disagreement, you were racist.
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Aimee
2/26/2019 06:54:14 pm
You ladies said everything I've been thinking and friends and I have been saying since this whole thing blew up over a blog post. If I suddenly got hundreds of new IG followers because I was a POC dyer or designer after people were shamed into, I wouldn't want them. I also can't apologize for being a white woman, and I'm tired of being told I should be uncomfortable because of my privilege and my skin color. If I don't like your yarn or patterns, I'm not going to give you my money. I don't care what you look like. If someone is not buying from someone because of race or any other form of discrimination, that is on THEM. Don't lump us all into the same pile. Oh my, I could go on and on because I'm so frustrated by this. I wish I could stop reading the IG posts but I'm just fascinated at how hard some people are trying to make others feel bad about their choices and things they had no choice about. I started following knitters and dyers on IG because there was no political garbage. That sure changed fast. Okay, I'll stop. Just wanted to say thank you for your blog (I just found you) and your patterns.
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Dianne
4/1/2019 09:11:49 am
I am glad to see that there are still many strong knitters who feel that they don't have to respond to the ridiculousness in the IG world. I have unsubbed from quite a few "popular" IG/YouTube knitters because I'm sick and tired of hearing their one-sidedness. I too have never NOT purchased from another merchant because they didn't look like me. Frankly, I don't care what your beliefs are (politically, faith, skin color, sexual orientation, etc). When a person or group of people make something "all of a sudden important" on social media, don't expect me to jump on the bandwagon. I have my own brain. My own beliefs and my own reasons for doing so. I'm very happy to have found you and this place to come see great patterns! Thank you.
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Francie
6/26/2019 11:39:25 am
Please let us know when you find or create a website for crafters that is TRULY accepting of ALL.
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Sherril
6/27/2019 11:39:08 am
Hello
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AuthorDeplorable Knitter accidentally became a knitwear designer. She loves to design hats, but you never know where this adventure leads us. Archives
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