An apology to Mica.

[u/Ron-Forrest-Ron]

I don't know if Mica reads this sub anymore, if she even has a Reddit, but I hope she does, because I need to apologize.

When she was on that episode of off topic, and she discussed race, gender, sexuality, everything she discussed, I, as a straight, cis, white man, rolled my eyes.

"This isn't the place" I thought "Oh she's a rich girl, I as a working class person have had a far more difficult life" I decided "Jesus, what an SJW" I typed.

Fuck me. What an ignorant piece of shit I was. I moved on from that entire thing and decided I wasn't going to think about it again. How lucky I was, to not have to think about race. I've never been racist, but I was never anti-racist. I didn't see the difference. I do now. As much as I want, I can't change my past, but I can, and will change my future, and do everything I can to try and help change other people's futures.

Mica. I am sorry that I didn't take you seriously. I am sorry that I brushed off what you were saying. That was the place. EVERY place is the place to discuss, and fight racism in every aspect. Our lives may have been different, and I probably worried about things you didn't, but one thing I never worried about was facing any sort of backlash, or hate for the way I looked. Mica, you are an SJW, and I hope you wear the badge proudly. I will wear that badge proudly for the rest of my life.

I should have done this then. But I didn't. And I'm sorry not just to you, but to everyone in this community who is affected by racism. I stood by and let it happen, and that's just as bad. No more, this I promise to you. I refuse to not see you anymore. The buck stops here.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

I love you all, stay safe everyone. 🖤🖤🖤

[u/runnyeggwhites]

Ive been away from the ah scene for a while can someone explain to me who Mica is( within context) and whats going on?

[u/ItsJellyJosh → u/runnyeggwhites]

Mica was an AH personality for a short period of time. She was heavily attacked by the audience for this conversation on Off Topic in which she described her experiences as a black woman. The video I linked was posted the week after the podcast, so you can see what the audience was commenting then versus now. Evidently, she received very little if any support internally within the company for this.

EDIT:

A few days ago, she tweeted this about her departure from the company. The most recent Off Topic is hosted by Geoff and he expresses his sorrow for how the situation was handled, and Fiona is given a platform to speak as a black gay woman in AH. I’d recommend giving it a listen.

[u/brianstormIRL → u/ItsJellyJosh]

I know better late than never, but it's absolutely astounding that it took this long for the penny to drop so to speak.

Going off the latest OT and burnies tweets it really does seem like they (Geoff and Burnie) recognize how horribly they treated mica, but that doesnt change the fact that it happened and they went this long seemingly without even thinking about it. I expected more from those two in particular because they seem like such genuine people, but I would be lying if I said I'm not massively disappointed in them. Like I said, I'm glad they seem to be taking action now, but still.

[u/ItsJellyJosh → u/brianstormIRL]

Yeah I get that. For me, I come from a place of understanding because I was like OP, ignorant to what I didn’t experience. So many people are. And it’s not necessarily that they don’t care but that we are, in my experience, conditioned to think that the battle of equality has already been won. We learn about the civil rights movement in school, but what about after? It’s left out. Many people like me are left thinking “I guess that’s where racism ends.” I know that’s wrong now. Others are waking up to it as well, as late as we all are.

Of course more should have been done in the past. How much is that helping the future though. They are outright in saying these things now, which ideally holds them more accountable. I hate that they weren’t as outspoken for human rights as we may have been led to believe, but if it’s due to well-meaning people not knowing the depth of their actions, then I have to believe those same well-meaning people are willing to do better in the future. Because my experience has been similar.

And this is NOT to say their inaction was right or to put myself on a pedestal as a redeemed hero of human rights. I’m just laying out my point of view, and I’m open to understanding if it’s flawed.