Getting back to a few posts I was wanting to respond to. Can't even find most of them now. Anyway.
No, he doesn't have to move. Why wouldn't he move? Is the simple politeness of making way too much to ask?
The same thing that gives Sandman the right to not move. Ask yourself why you are assuming Sandman has rights here that should not be questioned, and in the same post asking from where Phillips gets his rights.
Then, ask me again about what white privilege is.
This is interesting. Let's maybe flip the scenario a little bit:
Sandman is at this rally and he sees increased tension from the Black Hebrew Israelites and the Native Americans. Among some of the many vile things being tossed at the Native Americans from the Black Hebrew Israelites, he perhaps hears some of the following:
- A young Native American engages with the Black Hebrew Israelites and is told “You’re out of order. Where’s your husband? Where’s your husband? Let me speak to him.” Followed by another saying “You see this? This is the problem, Israel. It’s always our women coming up with their loud mouth, thinking they can run and bogart things, thinking they can come and distract things with their loud-*** mouth, because they’re not used to dealing with real men. You think we’re supposed to bow down to your damn emotions when you come around here and run your mouth and distract what we’re doing instead of coming here with order … She’s coming around here being wicked.”
- “You ain’t no child of God. You are the Indian. You are a blue-eyed demon. That’s the last Mohican.”
- “You’re still worshipping totem poles. You out of your mind! You have to repent. You worship the buffalo. You worship the eagle. You worship the phoenix. These are the idols you’ve been worshipping. A damn buffalo ain’t gonna save you. You worship the creations and not the creator … That’s why you’re drunkards in the casinos and the damn plantation.”
- “Dumb-*** [N word]s. Bunch of demons. You’re a bunch of Uncle Tomahawks.”
Now let's pretend Sandman feels this rising tension and decides he wants to intervene to bring some peace. He thinks back to his Christian songs that have historically helped him feel peace, and he starts to sing "I am a child of God," because, you know, he thinks everyone should just have the spirit fall upon them when they hear him singing this. So he starts doing this and then walks into a crowd of Native Americans and continues to sing. He walks right up to Phillips and continues singing, while Phillips stands there awkwardly. Sandman makes no effort to go left, right, or back, and continues singing in his face.
Why wouldn't Phillips be courteous and clear him a path?
I think had that scenario played out, we'd rightfully conclude that Sandman was totally in the wrong, and if he genuinely believed that his song was going to de-escalate tension, that he is naive and that part of this naivete is enabled by blindness to his privilege. Why would a 16 year old white kid feel that he can just walk into a group of Native Americans that have gathered and expect it be their responsibility to move the hell out of his way? Would we not again invoke white privilege?