The Selective Nature of Outrage Culture
The outcry over Dave Chappelle’s ‘The Closer’ should be about more than just trans rights
There are certain things you’re not supposed to say in 2021. Or, more precisely, there are certain people you’re not supposed to offend.
Straight White men are fair game. There’s nothing you can’t say about people with this particular set of immutable traits. Heck, you can even get a T-shirt with “Straight White Men Are Cancelled” printed on it if you like!
White women are next. It’s fine to bash White women (as long as you’re not a White man, obviously). Especially if you call them Beckys or Karens or some other term that makes it easy to lump them together. White women can say whatever they like about White men and other White women, but pretty much everybody else is off-limits.
The rules get a little more complex from there.
For example, straight Black men can say whatever they like about White people in general but need to be a little more careful when talking about White women specifically. Gay black men — especially in drag — can say anything they want about absolutely anyone. And rich Black men, well, they need to watch their mouths.
