On White Patriarchal Gun Violence
Author’s Note: As I was preparing this, another act of patriarchal gun violence occurred in Texas and yet another in Southern California. We continue to stand against patriarchal violence and to fight for meaningful policy change.
The murders in Buffalo on May 14, 2022, were violent, white supremacist acts, demonstrating the increase in domestic terrorism against Black, brown, and Indigenous people. In the last two decades, we have grieved many times: the Atlanta murders of Asian women and attacks against Asian elders, the murder of George Floyd, the murder of Breonna Taylor, and so on. These events are personal and painful every time to many of us. Our staff of color continue to experience trauma and emotional labor in the face of real everyday white supremacist violence. On top of living in a world made primarily for and by the white patriarchy, we are also often expected to perform for white people.
Once again, there are oversimplified portrayals of the shooting as an isolated incident, but it is clear to many that on May 14 a man drove to Buffalo to commit an act of white terror. Full stop. This tragic story is not new to our country. It is one example of a genocidal political movement. Ten people were murdered because they lived in a predominantly Black community and most of them were Black. We acknowledge that there are white supremacist groups targeting people of color today.
We also cannot avoid talking about the disproportionate number of shooters who were men with histories of domestic violence, sexual assault, extreme misogyny, and/or had spent a considerable amount of time online sharing plans of their actions beforehand.[1] A number of shooters were men who had been flagged by systems before but were never fully held accountable for previous violence.
The Violence Project estimated that 98% of mass shootings were carried out by men. [2] Six of the ten people killed in Buffalo were women. Although that might not be significant in this particular case, we do know from data on gun violence that non-white women are victims of homicide at the highest rates, and over 55% of these killings are committed by an intimate partner.[3] And furthermore, we have not forgotten about the missing and murdered Indigenous women, transgender women, and other women of color who did not make headlines.
Our organization does not seek to abolish guns or men, but rather to seek to understand the structural roots of violence against women, non-white people, and the LGBTQ+ community. How can our policies prevent this type of violence and protect those least likely to get the resources and services they need? Our first and foremost solution is to listen and support our local communities of people who are disproportionately affected by white patriarchy.
Finally, we are a small team – there are three of us full-time, a part-time friend who is moving on to their next adventure, and now a summer fellow. We are doing our best every day to work within the inequities and traumas of the current system both in our work and personal lives. Therefore, we write this much later, but hopefully with more intention, thought, and clarity. We do not want to immediately put out a statement every time there is a national tragedy, particularly as it relates to and affects us personally. It is not the job of our staff members of color to immediately respond, nor should it be. It is not in line with our values to make immediate and performative statements about events, especially when such sentiments are often not rooted in the care and attention such events deserve.
Some of the characteristics of white supremacy culture are urgency and perfectionism.[4] Under these internalized characteristics, people believe things must get done right and as soon as possible always. This is not a healthy way for an organization to sustain itself, nor a reasonable expectation for employees, particularly ones who are experiencing trauma in the aftermath of a tragic event. When we resist perfectionism and urgency for ourselves and our workplaces, we can create space to think deeply about ourselves and our communities: our mistakes, our successes, and challenges combatting white supremacy.
Below are just some ways to support communities in Buffalo that I suggest learning about and considering giving monetary support. I also recommend doing your own research where possible to support local, national, and global movements against white supremacy. There are also resources below about white supremacy and anti-racism in various media: a book for those who have the time, ability, and access, a podcast for audio learners or those on the go, and an article for those who prefer short form.
Finally: we will not forget about Black joy in this work. We will not forget that people of color are not just victims or survivors of violence. We will not forget to find love and community together. We will not forget Buffalo. And we will not stay silent against acts of white supremacist patriarchal violence.
Resources:
Buffalo Food Justice advocates and partners call for end to white supremacy and anti-blackness. Read the full statement and invest in Black-led food justice organizations in Buffalo, list here: https://lnkd.in/g_vRqKcq
Alexander Wright, Founder of the African Heritage Food Coop & Blegacy Farms, says "The attack was a physical manifestation of a problematic system. We have to take a hard look at everything and be honest about the racial bias inherent in the system, from funding, to licensing, to lending. And we, the community, must lead these efforts supported by allies and funding sources."
A Field Guide to White Supremacy - by Kathleen Belew & Ramon A. Gutierrez (book)
Talia Lavin on ‘It’s Been A Minute’ (podcast)
Ibram X. Kendi in The Atlantic about Buffalo (short read)
A reminder of What Black Joy Means And Why It’s More Important Than Ever (short read)
Learn more about guns and violence against women (long read)
No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us – by Rachel Louise Snyder (book)
A shorter article on the book (NY Times pay wall, short read)
In Solidarity,
Dania Bowie, for the Maine Women’s Lobby Team
[1] Silva, Jason R., Joel A. Capellan, Margaret A. Schmuhl, and Colleen E. Mills. “Gender-Based Mass Shootings: An Examination of Attacks Motivated by Grievances Against Women.” Violence Against Women 27, no. 12–13 (October 2021): 2163–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220981154.
[2] The Violence Project. Key Findings: Analyses of School and Workplace Shootings: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/mass-shooter-database-3/key-findings/. Accessed May 23, 2022.
[3] Petrosky E, Blair JM, Betz CJ, et al. Racial and ethnic differences in homicides of adult women and the role of intimate partner violence–United States, 2003-2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 2017;66(28):741–746.
[4] From Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups, by Kenneth Jones and
Tema Okun, ChangeWork, 2001. https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/preserve/museums/files/White_Supremacy_Culture.pdf. Accessed online May 24, 2022.