Karen has become a widely used slang term, its origin unknown, to describe middle-class white women who are seen as entitled and annoying.
Karens are white women who call the police on black people out of pity or entitlement, or act in an obnoxious manner. Generally, these Karens arise in low-stakes scenarios like asking to speak to the manager at Applebee’s or shouting at a Lyft driver during traffic.
What are the steps being taken to get justice for people who have been victims of racist, entitled, and rude Karens?
Karens have a history of abusing their privilege against people of color. They make false accusations, intimidate people in various ways, and call the police without ever providing any evidence to back up their claims.
Many times, white women may not even realize they are abusing their privilege. Furthermore, they may not have thought about the negative repercussions their actions could have on those already affected by race and discrimination.
One example is a woman who was caught on video making false accusations about Black birdwatcher Christian Cooper asking her to leash her dog in New York City’s Central Park. The incident was highly embarrassing, but thankfully captured on video and posted online to demonstrate how quickly false accusations can be spread.
Another instance involves a white woman who berated a Black man for not helping her out at the grocery store. Her response was extremely rude and hurtful.
It’s essential to remember that these are just a few examples of the type of racist, entitled, and rude Karens out there right now. They do not deserve the freedom to call themselves something innocuous, and certainly shouldn’t be allowed to continue abusing their privilege against people of color.
That is why it’s so essential to call out these Karens and demand justice for those who have been victims of racism and violence at the hands of those in power. It is up to us to fight for a world free of discrimination and bigotry so everyone can live in harmony, love, and understanding within our communities.
Other cases that have gone to court demonstrate how privileged and entitled some people feel. The only way to prevent such tragedies from occurring is by holding those accountable for their actions.
Thankfully, many are taking action to make sure racist, entitled white women are held accountable for their actions. In fact, laws are being passed that shield people from such racial injustices; Oregon recently passed a law criminalizing racist police calls – an initiative which should help reduce racist incidents on our streets.
Karen Rapkin
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Karens — white women who have amplified their privilege by employing racism that has been at the core of Black Lives Matter movement — are making an unprecedented comeback. A wave of viral videos featuring them are circulating online and there’s no denying they’re making some major waves.
Recent “Karen” incidents include a California woman calling police on Black people exercising in an office gym, a white man blocking Black motorists from leaving a gated community in Seattle and an Illinois woman videotaped calling the cops on another Black woman for trying to take a picture of her car outside her house. While none of these cases will lead to legal action, the fact that these women feel they have the authority to make such calls over someone’s personal safety elicits outrage among those wanting to protect themselves and others from this dangerous racial harassment.
These individuals’ anti-Black racism is often due to their privileged middle-class upbringings and a lack of cultural awareness. While some Karens have admitted to such acts, many still feel no legal or social repercussions for their decisions.
One such person is Wisconsin woman Stephanie Rapkin, who was recently accused of spitting on a Black teenager during a protest in Milwaukee. Her neighbors were rightfully outraged by her racist rant and swiftly arrested for assault.
In her arrest affidavit, she expressed her prejudice towards Black people: “I don’t believe they deserve to be here. They’re taking away our property.”
Karen Rapkin is the attorney of record for a local law firm and she’s also affiliated with the national Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights.
Although this attorney makes a valid point, she doesn’t necessarily believe the police should have the freedom to do whatever they please with a victim’s case. She believes there are too many factors at play and not enough accountability for justice to be served when it comes to crimes against the public.
Lisa Alexander
Recently, a series of social media videos has gained widespread attention, exposing an often subtle but increasingly common form of racism. These videos often result in those filmed being fired or otherwise removed from their job.
One of the people filmed on video is Lisa Alexander. She is the CEO of LaFace Skincare in San Francisco and one of those people caught on camera.
She has issued an apology and stated her company will remove its social media pages. Additionally, she sent a statement to CBS San Francisco in regards to these events.
Alexander has apologized after facing the condemnation of many on social media who have labeled her as a “Karen.” This term has been used to label entitled white women who engage in racist behavior.
Though some of these cases may have seemed minor, Karens often call the police on Black and Person of Color (POP) individuals. In these instances, the woman is usually accompanied by either her spouse or boyfriend.
In this instance, the boyfriend of the woman was recorded standing in the background expressing his disapproval as Alexander berated her neighbor for writing Black Lives Matter on her property with chalk. The video went viral, sparking outrage and placing Alexander in the spotlight.
Robert Larkins, a finance executive with Raymond James wealth management, was also fired after the video surfaced. Her company informed a local news outlet that it had severed ties with Alexander due to her actions.
If you haven’t seen the video yet, it is worth watching several times. It is an intensely graphic video that has been widely shared online.
This is an example of how the progressive left has used woman-hating as a strategy to discredit Black and POP lives. This is an extremely dangerous trend.
Lisa Alexander has shown extraordinary strength and courage through her actions. She has championed for her son Neli throughout his life, while also advocating tirelessly for other BIPOCs with disabilities. Together with her family, Lisa Alexander is committed to advocating against abusive policing practices and discrimination within the criminal justice system.
Caitlin Davis
Caitlin Davis spent years as a foster child without hope or direction. However, her painful experience has spurred her to pursue a degree in social work; she believes the system is overburdened with resources for kids like her to prepare them for life after care. Caitlin hopes to one day work as a social worker herself to assist foster children and their families.
After watching the video of Karen threatening Christian Cooper at the mall, she wanted to learn more about this woman. So she reached out to Aaditya Chande – her friend and colleague – asking him for a copy of the video so she could review it.
She has long been an advocate for foster youth rights and has worked to provide more opportunities for them. Additionally, she founded Live Civil, a nonprofit that educates children in foster care about their rights.
Her campaign has raised an impressive $41k. Her work has garnered national attention, featuring numerous interviews with people who were hurt by both her actions and words.
Unfortunately, this kind of behavior is not exclusive to women and has long been common in this country. Indeed, there have been instances where men have found themselves in similar predicaments as women.
These women often take matters into their own hands to seek revenge for something that wasn’t illegal. They call the police or other law enforcement on Black people even when there is no proof of wrongdoing present.
They often harass and bully other people, particularly in retail settings where white people have been known to racially profile Black shoppers.
But what is most alarming about Karens’ behavior is their brazen use of their privilege to achieve what they desire at any cost. They have used this power to bully and intimidate their victims, fabricate lies to deceive them, and even threaten their careers.
This has been made worse by the coronavirus, giving some Karens license to harass and attack others in public spaces. They will yell at people wearing masks, throw tantrums on the side of the road when forced to wear them, and post inflammatory social media posts because their “rights” were infringed upon by other people’s choices.
