It’s time to have an honest conversation about the importance of not expecting marginalised people to educate others about social justice, perform emotional labor, or create content on social justice for free. This is a critical issue that cannot be ignored. Expecting free labor from marginalised individuals is not only linked with white supremacy, but it also perpetuates a privilege system that supports oppression and exploitation of marginalised people. In essence, it’s like asking people to work for free or even perform slave labor!
It’s essential to recognise the fact that marginalised individuals have been oppressed for centuries, and they continue to face systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing opportunities and resources that are available to others. As a result, marginalised people have to work harder than their privileged counterparts to gain the same recognition and opportunities.
Asking marginalised individuals to provide free emotional labor or create content for social justice is not only unfair, but it also reinforces the power dynamics that are inherent in our society.
The expectation of free labor is an insidious issue that needs to be addressed because it’s a form of exploitation. It implies that the person doing the work does not have the right to be compensated for their efforts. This idea is a direct product of the privilege system that we live in, which has historically favored privileged individuals over those who are marginalised. As a result, people who belong to marginalised groups have been exploited for centuries, whether it be through slavery, colonisation, or other forms of systemic oppression.
Expecting marginalised individuals to educate others about social justice or perform emotional labor for free is a direct consequence of this privilege system. When we ask someone to perform emotional labor or educate us about social justice without compensation, we are essentially saying that their work is not valuable. This devalues their work and perpetuates the power dynamics that exist in our society.
It’s essential to recognise that social justice work is hard, and it requires a lot of time and effort. Marginalised individuals have to navigate systemic barriers that make it harder for them to access resources, and they often face pushback when they speak out against oppression. Asking them to perform this work for free is not only unfair, but it also ignores the fact that their work is valuable and essential.
In conclusion, it’s critical to acknowledge that expecting marginalised individuals to perform emotional labor, create content, or educate others about social justice for free is a form of exploitation. It’s a direct consequence of the privilege system that exists in our society, and it reinforces power dynamics that are inherent in our culture. Instead, we should value the work that marginalised individuals do and compensate them fairly for their efforts. This is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also essential for creating a more equitable and just society for everyone.
With that said, I encourage you to support your favorite marginalised content creators and send them a donation as a thank you for the education, knowledge and entertainment they provide.
If you would like to donate to me, you can show me your support by buying me a coffee here.
Much love and see you in the next blog!
