Anyone have thoughts about this? I mean maybe I’m not one to talk, I did recast Rey as Kawennáhere Jacobs in my alternate sequel trilogy after all, but I’ve also seen racebends of Rey being pointed out as racist.
I mean why use a character who actually fits when you can turn the Black guy who is NOTHING like Gaston into a caricature straight out of a KKK wet dream?
Given that Rey was a child for most of her time on Jakku, I hope it’s mostly a reference to some people helping her out/taking care of her while others were exploitative and cruel. I don’t rule out sexual and relationship abuse as part of her experiences of course, it’s all too common for children and also adults who have no one.
I’m honored that reylows see me as the ringleader in this despite @captainamericagf delving deeper into the fic and exposing more of not only the author’s but her readers’ disgusting racism. That’s me, chief anti! (I hope I didn’t end up directing any anon clowns at you, Amanda. Wanted to give credit where it’s due.)
Also the lack of self-awareness here… like… holy shit. “It shouldn’t cause me this much heartache.” ME. Because she’s the victim here. “Besides the fact that it’s just cruel, it’s completely unnecessary.” Exactly. No one forced you to write something so hurtful and insidious. “Being popular on the internet is more important than being a nice person, right?” Says the person who got hundreds of kudos and comments writing Birth of a Nation: The Fanfic 😂
The app is called Be My Eyes and allows blind people to phone or message for help. The app seems to allow video and photos to be sent and the sighted person on the other end can send a message to the blind person, answering whatever inquiry they have.
[This is a set of screenshots about the app called Be My Eyes.
First photo: The overview page for the app. The top says “Be My Eyes- helping the blind.”
Second photo: The preview page on the app store. It shows two phones. The one on the left is titled “Volunteer” and says “Join the community and help it grow.” The one on the right is titled “Blind.” The phone under the title has “Call first available volunteer,” written in large font.
Third photo: More previews. Shows the messages between two people texting each other. The visually impaired person sent a picture of two cans of food, and is asking which one is beans. Another example shows the person sending a picture of their milk carton, and asking if it is expired.
Fourth photo: An iphone lock screen. A notification from the app says “a blind or visually impaired person is calling for help.”
Fifth photo: The profile page of a sighted user named Francis, who speaks English and Español. The top says there are 74,768 Blind and 1,033,846 Volunteers using the app.
Sixth photo: Text that says “Learn how to answer a call. When a blind or visually impaired person requests help, the app notifies multiple volunteers, and the first to respond is connected. The notification might look different whether your phone is locked or unlocked. Here you can try both scenarios.
Seventh photo: A notification from the app on an iphone home screen. The instructions say to pull the notification down or tap it to answer a call.
Eighth photo: The same notification on an iphone lock screen. The instructions say to tap it or slide it to answer the call.]
Please reblog the version of this post with image descriptions. It’s a service for blind folks, posted about in a format blind folks don’t have access to (without the descriptions).
Also, if you’re willing to download and use this app but you don’t go out of your way to add image descriptions to the images you share, please reevaluate that! Contact me if you need help adding image descriptions to things.
This app is actually very useful. The way sighted people are talking about it is not.
know your rights and don’t be afraid to share your experience
[Image Transcription: Tweet thread from Qasim Rashid, Esq.
Today I returned home after a week in London. Customs & Border Protection “randomly selected” me even after I passed passport check
They threatened me with intimidation tactics and claims I was breaking the law. It was garbage and among the worst experiences I’ve ever had
Dulles was super busy. I clear passport control and head for the exit.
CBP: Hi sir can I check your passport?
Me: Fine (hands over passport)
CBP: Where’d you travel?
Me: UK.
CBP: Sir you’ve been randomly selected. Follow me
Me: (tired emoji. I follow her. I’m the *only* one selected.)
She asks me the same questions I was just asked:
CBP: Have you handled livestock?
Me: No.
CBP: Are you smuggling fruits or vegetables?
Me: No.
CBP: Place your luggage on the X-Ray belt and pick them up on the other side.
Me: (Complies as instructed & walks to the other side)
CBP: Your luggage cleared. You can go.
Me: Ok. (grabs my things to walk away)
CBP2: What’s the problem here?
Me: Nothing, I’m leaving.
CBP2: Why are you giving us attitude?
Me: Can I go now?
CBP2: No. I need to check your bag again.
Me: (tired emoji)
Me: Look, I have Global Entry. This officer checked my things. She cleared me. What’s the issue?
CBP2: What’s this?
Me: Chocolate.
CBP2: Where’d you buy it?
Me: Heathrow. Here’s the receipt.
CBP2: Do an explosives check
Me: My kid’s chocolate is a matter of national security now?
My chocolate was non-explosive.
CBP2: Ok you can go.
Third CPB officer walks up to me.
CBP3: Sir we’re just doing our jobs.
Me: Heard that before. Bye.
CBP3: Give me your Global Entry Card.
Me: Ok? (hand him my card)
CBP3: I’m confiscating this.
Me: Why are you confiscating my card?
CBP3: Because you’re being non-compliant.
Me: Pardon? I’ve been cleared three times now. How am I non-compliant?
CBP3: You mocked us for checking your chocolate for explosives.
Me: I mean, seriously? And you didn’t answer. How was I being non-compliant?
CBP3: You’re breaking the law.
Me: Asking a third time. How was I non-compliant? What law have I broken?
CBP3 walks away.
Me: I need to speak to your supervisor.
CBP2: He is the supervisor.
Me: Then I need his supervisor.
I asked five times more how I was non-compliant? No one answered.
CBP4 walks up
CBP4: I’m the supervisor. So you think because you have Global Entry you’re exempt from screening?
Me: What? No. I said I’ve been screened and cleared 3 times so far. But your CBP took my GE card and said I’m being non-compliant and broken the law. Please explain.
CBP4(to CBP3): Why’d you stop him?
CBP3: He was laughing at us.
CBP4: But did he refuse orders?
CBP3: No, I mean, he harassed us
Me: This is ridiculous. You have the power. You’re detaining me. You have my property. But I’m harassing you? What? Do you hear yourself?
Me: Asking for about the tenth time now. How was I non-compliant and what law did I break?
CBP4: Well those are his words – not mine.
Me: Great, so you won’t even stand by your own officer’s words. Meanwhile, you have my GE card. I’m still detained. Why am I still here?
CBP4: What do you do for a living?
Me: I’m a civil rights lawyer with expertise on racial and religious discrimination and profiling.
CBP4: (embarrassed emoji)
Me: Asking for the last time. What law have I broken, how was I non-compliant?
CBP4: I think everything checks out. You can go.
Me: (Leaves)
The whole time, no one else was “randomly selected”.
They never told me what law I “broke” or how I was being “non-compliant”.
I get stopped often. Every time I mention I’m a lawyer, they release me immediately. Funny how that works?
They know they’re illegally profiling.
I’m a US Citizen, an attorney, I understand American culture, the English language, and the law – and CBP still tries to intimidate me with lies and threats.
Now imagine you’re an undocumented asylee who doesn’t speak English, after a 2000 mile trip with a baby – and you have to face CBP?
I know if I tell CBP upfront I’m a lawyer, they’d let me go pretty quickly. I don’t – because it’s not fair to non-lawyers. I shouldn’t have to be a lawyer to get equal treatment under the law.
If this is how CBP treats US Citizen attorneys, just imagine how they treat refugees?
Fellow POC: We have a bad habit of not sharing our stories publicly.
This isn’t my opinion. It’s fact. Hate crimes and discrimination incidents are wayyyyyyyy underreported, making reform more difficult.
If safe, please share your stories. Let the world hear and learn.
In short: Don’t be bullied. Know your rights. Share your story. Thanks for reading. Human rights are my passion – it’s a key element of my podcast.
And remember, if you don’t write your own narrative, someone else will – and it won’t be in your favor.
L.J.'s Obsessions 