I understand that. But I think we ought to be creating new movements instead of trying to continue any kind of legacy. Take inspiration, know the history, that’s fine. But leave it at that and come up with a modern approach to social change. I think we all just get really bogged down in what a movement was and don’t focus enough on what it could become.
I think it’s asking a damn lot of people to completely ignore the harm that’s been done to them and listen to leaders who take inspiration from those who did the harm. History exists. Just because you’re not aware of it doesn’t mean the people you’re hoping to work with aren’t.
I never said we should completely ignore history. I know history exists; I do have a degree in it. So back the fuck off a bit and read what I wrote: “Take inspiration, know the history”. My point was that the words of historical figures very rarely have much to do with their historical truths, so equating a person taking inspiration from the wise words of a historical figure with them advocating all of the negative thoughts/deeds of that figure is going a bit far.
