When a video of a white woman calling the police on an African American bird-watcher in Central Park went viral, it thrust “Karen” into the spotlight.
As America grapples with 2020’s contentious social politics, “Karen” has taken an even more anti-science stance. It has become a symbol for white women who police their neighbors.
1. Angry White Women
Karen Public Freakouts are creating quite a stir on social media. Videos of white women scolding, cursing or even pointing guns at Black people have made headlines and stirred up outrage from many users on Facebook and Twitter alike.
These video clips typically have a caption that conveys how angry the white woman is. It could be something as minor as getting a parking ticket that gets her so worked up that she calls the police.
Karen public freakouts have become an alarming trend, endangering the rights of Black people and people of color. To combat this phenomenon, some activists are creating laws such as Oregon’s which ban racist calls to law enforcement.
These women are able to get away with their actions due to the power of social media, which amplifies what they do. They may make themselves appear like they’re doing something positive for Black people when, in reality, they are only showing off and doing nothing meaningful to improve their lives.
It’s essential to note that white women don’t just act out in public out of anger; they also have a history of racism and discrimination. Furthermore, some seem to harbor an intense fear of Black people as evidenced by Amy Cooper’s story, who was photographed standing with a gun on her shoulder during New York City’s Central Park during the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Due to this, many white women become increasingly agitated with any interactions they have with Black people. Their anger stems from their own fears and insecurities about their racial identity and its relation to that of others.
Sex-based anger often leads to irrational behaviors, such as calling the cops on Black people or making false accusations against them. This can be dangerous and even violent for Black people since it reinforces that they aren’t safe in public. Therefore, it is so important for individuals to educate themselves on different types of white woman aggression and what actions to take if someone you know is acting out in a racist or misogynistic manner.
2. Angry Black People
As news of Karen Public Freakouts spread on social media, many were quick to react. Some were infuriated while others simply weren’t sure what to make of them.
One of the primary reasons people were offended by Karen Public Freakouts was because it appeared she was exhibiting racist and xenophobic behavior in front of a camera. Usually, this would not be an issue but when done publicly it made things even worse.
Karen Public Freakouts began when a video of a white woman calling the police on a black birder because he refused to leash his dog went viral in May. This shocking video depicted an irrational and highly privileged white woman.
In many ways, this was similar to other incidents where white people have been shown displaying racially-motivated behavior that is not motivated by self-interest but instead is an act of vigilantism and demonstration of their inherent privilege.
Thankfully, most of these incidents were documented on camera. Unfortunately, some people took this footage and used it as evidence that Karen Public Freakouts were somehow racist or xenophobic in nature.
Karen Public Freakouts can take many different forms, from video of a white woman abusing a Black man in a grocery store to blocking out an African-American delivery driver from leaving his gated community and calling the police on him. There are even examples without any racial overtones to them such as this video showing white woman berate Black man at grocery store checkout with N-word insults or blocking delivery driver from leaving gated community by male Karen and calling police on him.
One example of Karen Public Freakout that caused anger among black people was the 2018 incident of a Black family having a barbecue at Lake Merritttt when Karen, wearing her phone, approached them and called the police on them.
Karen Public Freakouts often exhibit irrational behavior as a reflection of their underlying prejudices and insecurities about being seen with Black people. It could also be due to them feeling discriminated against or not treated with the same respect as other white people.
3. Angry White Men
In recent months, Karen has become a ubiquitous presence on the web. Her bizarre antics have become so commonplace that her images can be found across numerous websites, forums and comment sections alike. Her public meltdowns have gone viral – and people around the world are reacting to them.
One of the most common reactions to this is anger from white men. Whether they believe the Karen meme is inherently sexist or indicative of a racial divide between men and women, white men are unsatisfied with this development.
These men aren’t the only ones upset by this – some black people are too. Many black people believe they are constantly judged and mistreated by white people, fueling their frustration and anger towards them.
Anger can be a dangerous weapon used by white supremacists to gain control over others. It has the potential to be so strong that it could even help someone win the presidency.
Angry White Men are an integral part of America’s contemporary political scene. They’re the frustrated men in corporate diversity training sessions, office workers who believe a woman will replace them or gay people are taking over, and even some of America’s angrier teenage sons who frequent deserted suburban train stations at night in search of immigrants or other minority groups to beat up–or even kill.
Some of these angry white men can be violent, such as the man in Wisconsin who shot two men inside their car and wounded a third. Controlling such incidents, particularly if they take place in public, can be challenging.
But even angry white men can sometimes overcome their anger and recognize that their actions ultimately hurt others. This is an essential step when dealing with anger, and many need to learn how to channel their frustration into constructive action.
4. Angry Black Men and Women
If you’ve ever watched the internet, chances are you’ve encountered someone referred to as “Karen.” These rude and often racist middle-aged women usually demand to speak with a manager and can be quite annoying around others. Unfortunately, these individuals often get caught on camera and become an embarrassment to those around them.
Karen Public Freakouts are a frequent occurrence on social media. While they weren’t always this common, their frequency has grown in recent years. Most often filmed using either a cell phone or video camera, these videos lack context and often manipulate people to appear more unruly than they actually are.
These Public Freakouts have caused Black men and women to become very angry, especially when it comes to their own experiences. They worry that these women don’t understand the severity of their actions, while also wanting to protect themselves from being hurt by these “Karens.”
For instance, in 2020 an unnamed woman was allegedly asked to leave a Louisiana bar. When confronted, she became upset and threw herself against the window multiple times while screaming. Ultimately, she was arrested for her actions.
One black man was so incensed by this Karen Public Freakout that he took his feelings out on Twitter. He wrote: “As a black male, I strongly disagree with what this woman does. She’s an unbelievably disgusting individual who shows no respect for anyone else.”
A white woman, on the other hand, was delighted that this “Karen” meme went viral. She retweeted it and added: “I feel like a lot of white women are scared of this.”
The r/F—YouKaren subreddit was founded by a man seeking revenge against his ex-wife for making him the target of harassment. Over time, however, the name “Karen” became increasingly associated with incidents in which white women confronted, taunted and policed Black people.
Beek and Bell have since created the Twitter page “Explored the Misbehaving Karens,” where they search the internet for videos that demonstrate this issue. While they keep personal details blurred out when possible, their searches always yield disturbing content that should be shared.
