Knitting People Together
Recently, I attended the Women’s March on Washington last weekend. I also participated in the #pussyhatproject. I thought that both these things were a way to bring people — women especially but all people — together for a good cause.
In the days after the march, I’ve seen a lot of negative commentary. Obviously I expected people opposed to the ideals the March espoused to be negative about it. I didn’t expect the backlash from people who, I thought, stood only to benefit from it and what it could mean.
Well, I say that, but during the March itself I realized that almost everybody there was white. It’s not that there were no POCs but the overwhelming makeup was white women, and I was pretty sure that this meant that the needs of POCs were not met. I asked myself “how can we do better” even as I was very much enjoying the energy around me.
But in the days since I have seen a lot of bitterness thrown towards marchers, particularly those who were wearing “pussyhats”, as if the very act of doing so was somehow mocking activism. Given that my hands were still aching from the hats I knitted up into the wee hours of Saturday, yeah that stung a little. I wouldn’t have participated in the project if I’d known that it was seen as a “white woman thing”. I guess that it’s a sign of my privilege that this didn’t even occur to me beforehand. I’m not being sarcastic here. Every single day I find new evidence of my privilege, and the only good thing I have to say for myself on that front is that at least I’m actively seeking it out, and trying to do something about it.
Is knitting — pink hats or otherwise — a “white woman thing”? I didn’t think it was, but if it is, then I’d like to offer the opportunity to gather together and knit to everyone who might like to learn. I’ve signed up to organize a get-together on this site, or help if someone is already organizing here, and I would like to see as many people come together and do something that can benefit all of us. Knitting is very therapeutic, plus you can knit things for charity, or just to beautify the area around you. It’s brought me a lot of joy, and I want to bring that joy to others. And I want to make it an “every person thing”.
Please join me, and feel free to spread the word. I can’t change the fact that I’m white, or the history of whiteness. All I can do is try to help to make the future better for everybody.
