It started out innocuous enough – Jai Wolf asking for his white followers to get in touch with their minority friends, just ask them how they’re doing, in response to this past weekend’s domestic terror attack in Charlottesville.
if you're white, ask your minority friends how they're doing and how you can be an ally. listening goes a long way.
— Jai Wolf (@JaiWolfx) August 16, 2017
However, Ghastly responded, broadening the racial profile those who should ask how they can help, urging others to not generalize one race.
If you're white, black, asian, hispanic, Icelandic, or human in general – ask how you can help, not generalizing one race goes a long way https://t.co/5zp5gEqOEt
— Ghastly(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) August 16, 2017
(And for what it’s worth, Jai Wolf didn’t respond to any further tweets during the duration of this conversation.)
This is an argument that has reared its head many times before, not just from Ghastly, but from many others on social media and in real life. (And indeed, this is not the first time that Ghastly and Jai Wolf have butted heads on Twitter, either.) The idea of white generalization has been one of the things that white people have fought against in a more racially-charged society, especially since the election of Donald Trump, but realistically, even before that. Those that fight against the idea, though, miss one main point – if you’re not racist, they’re not talking about you.
That being said, Ghastly’s response did spark a litany of rebuttals from fans and other DJs, as well, including Hotel Garuda, Chet Porter, Jauz, and Shaun Frank.
This isnt a "woke" thing its me being genuine I want to help fully – but being called the enemy simultaneously.. put urself in my shoes
— Ghastly(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) August 16, 2017
your rights aren't and have never been in trouble
— chet porter (@chetporter) August 16, 2017
Im not the victim, but blaming an entire race for the actions of few for a crime is not how we're going to progress into multiculture utopia
— Ghastly(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) August 16, 2017
Bro. If you're going to quote me, at least quote me right – that's very manipulative to just add quotes like I said that.
— Ghastly(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) August 16, 2017
Exactly what I'm saying brother, we all want the same thing and all of us as American people – all race aside – should fight back together
— Ghastly(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) August 16, 2017
cuz you're not picking a side by saying "let's all get along"
— Hotel Garuda (@hotelgaruda) August 16, 2017
Oh you two 😙
— Rave Dad (@Shaun_Frank) August 16, 2017
Ultimately, nothing will be solved by bickering on Twitter. You can raise awareness, sure, but it will not affect real change. Reach out to your local representatives and tell them how you feel, urge them to do something about it and stand on the right side of history. When your children ask what you did to stand up for the rights of the disenfranchised, what will you tell them? You tweeted about it?