by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Like many Americans, Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo was troubled at the announcement of A&E’s documentary series Generation KKK, billed as a look at young people struggling to leave the organization. Many saw it as the media’s continued normalization of white supremacy with soft and, at times, flattering coverage of those in and associated with neo Nazi and white nationalist organizations.
The actress expressed her concerns over several days on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811670293655629825
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811671335843676160
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811674549460705280
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811683221662371840
After pressure from the public, A&E changed the name of the series from Generation KKK to Escaping the KKK (the series has since been canceled after continued public outcry.) And Pompeo expressed her joy at the name change in a tweet using black emojis.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812412675468599296
Most of Pompeo’s fans applauded her social media activism, but some black fans expressed concern that she was celebrating a name change when the show was still set to air and. Others were frustrated at her use of black emojis.
https://twitter.com/bukabez/status/812496126121246720
https://twitter.com/TiffanyBleu08/status/812836446864375809
And then things went left.
Pompeo chose to address critics of her emoji use, while completely ignoring those who asked why, after days of saying the show should be off the air, she was celebrating a name change. She claimed that any criticism she was receiving as “all about emojis.”
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812440778140045312
In defending her use of the black emojis, Pompeo employed several cringeworthy arguments.
She cried reverse racism, stating the many times she has been called a “white bitch” on Twitter. And she pushed back against commenters who tried to explain that insults are not the same as being systematically targeted based on race.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812441867669250048
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812444011608715264
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812452952795332608
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812453789059776513
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812454691015561217
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812455486863720448
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812456389184364544
She said she was being attacked for “standing up for equality” and started retweeting white fans whose support had an uncomfortable ‘after all she’s done for YOU people’ tone.
https://twitter.com/dempeoskeen/status/812461521196482560
At one point Pompeo referenced her black husband and biracial daughter, stating that white people are targets of racism for having black partners.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812450597840437248
*Phew*
This is a case of something relatively small being needlessly turned into something big. But it’s also a case of what happens when a public figure doesn’t have a full understanding of the cause they’re advocating for. Is it petty to drag Pompeo for using black emojis? I’d say yes. Donald Trump is about to be president. In the grand scheme of things, a white celeb using a black ‘hands clap’ emoji isn’t high on my list of ‘things to go off on Twitter’ about. Also, this is a bit of a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ scenario. White women with black partners and biracial children are often accused of staying silent in the face of racism. But when Pompeo used her 1.2 million fan Twitter platform to speak up, she was criticized for a relatively minor infraction.
On the other hand Pompeo has betrayed her own shallow understanding of race issues. She chose to respond to criticism about emojis instead of engaging in a more thoughtful discussion about why a name-change was an essential non-victory. She was also very quick to cast herself as a martyr and bemoan the “racism from all sides”.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/812446668629032960
This feels particularly tone deaf in a year when Leslie Jones was driven off Twitter by violently racist white men, and then had her driver’s license and nude photos leaked, simply for being cast in the Ghostbusters remake. Fifth Harmony member Normani Kordei had to leave Twitter in August after fans of the band (of which she is the only black member) photoshopped her head onto pictures of black women being lynched.
It is also telling that Pompeo perceives her speaking out as doing something noble for people of color. White supremacy is a belief system that is dangerous not just to people of color, but to everyone — including whites. This past election white people voted against their own interests (social security, Medicare, The Affordable Care Act, public education, Wall Street reform, etc) in a bid to suppress people of color. White people cannot continue to view speaking out against racism as something they do for others, although it does undoubtedly benefit others. It’s something they do for themselves, in honor of their own humanity and in defense of the multicultural world they live in.
Adding to the distastefulness of the situation Pompeo, at one point, used the A&E controversy as a way to promote her show, Grey’s Anatomy, asking fans to get the phrase “who needs A&E when you have ABC!” trending. ABC is the network Grey’s appears on.
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811670709323722753
https://twitter.com/EllenPompeo/status/811673389144227840
The whole thing is just… unfortunate. Ladies, what are your thoughts?
29 Responses
She’s not above criticism, because she’s sleeping with a Black man. The emojis to me – was away to deflect (they were probably from kids questioning her using them – so what?) – her words went racist victim very quick.
Why do white women with MIXED RACE children love calling them black? You cant get a black child from a white/asian/european hispanic VIJAY so call them what they are MIXED RACE.
And with that said good day ??
It wasn’t cancelled because of “outcry,” but because it was discovered producers PAID them to create certain scenes.
The writer is right. So right in many instances.
I saw the emoji thing but I haven’t seen the “reverse racism” tweets. Disappointing. First of all, people shouldn’t have come at her for using black emojis (it’s ridiculous), but I feel like most backlash she received was because she rejoiced over the name change of the show which really isn’t doing much, then she tried to dismiss it by saying people were coming at her just because she was using emojis.
Second, REVERSE RACISM DOES NOT EXIST. I noticed these past few years some white people love to say other races are “racist” against them. How can you put the hatred against the black race in the same category as the hatred against the white race? Racism is a social, economical and political construct that lasted for centuries and still affects black communities heavily in all parts of the world. How can you say that white people hating black people is the same as black people hating white people? Do these “hating black people” think the white race is beneath humanity, that they’re animals ? OR, do they “hate” white people BECAUSE OF THE WAY SOME WHITE PEOPLE TREATED OTHER RACES AND SOME STILL DO TO THIS DAY ? Thinking all white people are the same is not very clever but it is not “racism”. They could at least call it race discrimination, race prejudice, but reverse racism does not exist. It would take other races centuries to 1)overturn nowadays social system 2)accomplish. (Some) Whites are the only race that can hurt other races and play victim at the same time.
Well said. It is a fact that every time it seems black folks are picking themselves up, or accomplish something, they ride in with their white hoods to take it away. This has happened over and over again. It happened in Tulsa OK (Black Wallstreet) when blacks were self-sufficient and didn’t need anything from them, so they literally dropped bombs on the town and slaughtered thousands. After we get a black president, they elect racist Trump. Enough said.
Exactly ! I noticed that too, they’re just finding new ways to keep us enslaved.
but did she have to respond? LOL Like the poster said way down below, people need to stop responding to everyone on Twitter. This chick went from boycotting A&E Generation KKK to arguing with a few randoms about black emojis. Girl bye!
We as a community need to decide if we want non black people to stand against racism and bigotry with us or not! She may not know all the nuances of ugliness that black ppl have to endure but damn, give her some credit for at least speaking up!! Rachel Dolical ( however her name is spelled) did more work for OUR causes than a lot of us will ever do! Her portrayal as a black person may have been strange but she actually put in the work and we dogged her! My step grandmother was a staunch activist and worked with Malcom X and Martin Luther King and she was an Asian woman! Let’s embrace whoever feels enough compassion for our struggle!!
Yes!
A big NO!!
They should be leading movements against racism in their own communities first. And sleeping with a Black guy is not leading a movement. And it should not be a qualification as we know and have seen how anti-Black some Black men can be.
They can do it amongst their own communities. White non racist should be fighting White racist – not trying to bully poc into the direction they feel we should go. And stop spreading lies. Rachel did more for herself and self promotion then any community help.
Because your grandmother was Asian doesn’t means she gets to lead this struggle or ANY movement. That’s how the movement gets thrown off course. You always want to consign for anyone regardless of their credentials and when no positive movement is made the Blacks are blamed.
No one gets to walk in and take over. And once again Blacks are not a monolith so stop talking to this one Black person in your head that you what you say.
“On the other hand Pompeo has betrayed her own shallow understanding of race issues. She chose to respond to criticism about emojis instead of engaging in a more thoughtful discussion about why a name-change was an essential non-victory. She was also very quick to cast herself as a martyr and bemoan the “racism from all sides”.”
SHE BETRAYED SQUAT!!!! POMPEO’S GOT A VALID POINT!!!
When her Black kid’s gonna face discrimination for the first time, s/he might turn to her parents to express his or her hurt. Her mother will rightfully heartbroken for her child and feel helpless because she knows that no matter empathetic she’s, she will never be able to relate to what her child’s going through unless she has been herself subjected to discrimination because of her skin color. It is ONE thing to get on our high horses and tell white people that they should tread lightly when they speak about issues, they actually know ish about. It is ANOTHER to tell the white parent of a mixed or black parent that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, because like it or not, the minute that person got involved with a black partner and have children with, she actually had more than her toes dipped in the river. So yeah, she was right to “cry reverse racism” by black extremists!
I disagree. That faux racism she or you face that has you sooooo up in arms is nothing to REAL racism that we face daily. And sleeping with a anti Black self hating Black man does NOT a movement make. Lastly, I notice White men with Black women are not trying to get higher status for their children over regular Black kids. ONLY White women, ant -Black self hating Black men coupling do that.
I did not bother to read this mess but why was she being attacked for using black emojis in the first place? Doesn’t she have black/biracial daughters? I am so confused.
People need to stop responding to teens, adolescents and young adults because 99 percent of the time that’s who’s attacking people on Twitter…KIDS. Just look at the profiles of the people cursing her out and attacking her. Stop responding to 15-year-olds. And more important STOP letting 15-year-olds get under your skin.
The only post that makes sense right now. lol
why couldn’t she just say sorry if i offended anyone in the first place she just made herself seem full of it :/ and what type of excuse is “well im called a white bitch all the time” she basically just said “YOU PEOPLE call me a white bitch all the time” this is just dumb
emoji’s tho !?!?!? like who cares ppl complain about too much
Who the fuck has time to complain about emojis? The only part people should be upset about is that she brought her TV show into the conversation, she went overboard with that.
Well… she does have freedom of speech. And in her own way, she denounced the KKK series. Black emojis were not necessary. But let her stay blowing in the with with the crickets. I’m sure she was more concerned about her daughter. That’s on of those things that I would just, comment on in my mind and move on…..
her use of the black emojis is not a big deal, IMO. i think people were petty for criticizing her over it. i don’t think this is “reverse racism.”
she is a white liberal who is trying REALLY HARD to fit into the image of a good white person. the black emoji was a tiny symptom of that. her reactions afterward are also emblematic of that…
I thought she used it because she gave birth to a half black human..?
I thought it was a statement that black can represent all, you know, like how before black emojis, we all had to use the white ones? It’s making sense in my head…
Good point
no idea what you’re talking about
Her children are part black..nvm
To me her using black emojis is a non-issue, it’s not like she was using it in a way to insult black people.
People get triggered for no reason a lot on twitter.
And her using reverse racism is really cringeworthy.
I think white women have gotta find some way to express feeling hurt and attacked without claiming it’s anything to do with racism. I mean, yeah, to be honest, sometimes it feels like speaking up against racism as a white person can get you attacked from both POC and racist white people. Yet being criticized for doing so briefly, ineffectively, and in a self-serving way like Pompeo did seems more than fair. She should know better. Besides white people’s hurt feelings can be the point after Black people stop getting killed and silenced and humiliated for taking up space. Then we can do a ‘let’s all be nice to each other’ group hug.