Videos of Karens spitting at, pointing guns at or asking people of color to explain themselves are no longer just infuriating; they serve as a call to action for racial justice and accountability.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased awareness around race relations and police brutality, Karens have become something of a national pastime – it’s now known as “Karen-spotting.”
1. Karen Calls the Police on a Black Birder
One year ago, video of Amy Cooper (the “Central Park Karen”) calling police on a Black birdwatcher who was allegedly threatening her dog went viral. This encounter ignited a national dialogue about white women using their power and privilege to enforce law enforcement on Black people doing everyday things like taking walks in Central Park or buying water from sidewalk vendors.
After that, several other incidents involving White women claiming to have been threatened by Black people went viral, underscoring how hazardous it can be for Black people to experience harassment such as that which led to the “Karen” phenomenon. Even President Trump retweeted one of those videos despite its depiction of a gun-toting husband and wife threatening Black Lives Matter protesters.
Ultimately, Amy Cooper’s video clip garnered enough attention that she was forced to file a lawsuit against her former employer Franklin Templeton. In it, Cooper accused the company of discriminating against her based on race and gender.
She asserted that Franklin Templeton labeled her confrontation with Christian Cooper “a racial flashpoint,” making it the victim of discrimination for lacking diversity. Furthermore, Cooper maintains the company failed to conduct an adequate investigation before terminating her.
Cooper is suing Franklin Templeton, alleging they discriminated against her based on race and gender, leading to the loss of earnings and severe emotional distress. Furthermore, Cooper alleges defamation and retaliation from the company.
As such, this incident has become a symbol of how White women use their privilege to bully and intimidate Black people, reflecting the deep-seated racism that exists in America today.
On Tuesday, Bari Weiss, a podcaster and former reporter for the New York Times, recapped the incident on her Honestly podcast. It was particularly poignant because Cooper, who has since been fired from her job and now lives in hiding, told Weiss she felt no other option but to call police on the birdwatcher.
After the video went viral, Franklin Templeton responded swiftly and terminated her employment. But in a recent interview, Cooper revealed she wasn’t just angry with the company for terminating her; she also felt angry about all of the negative backlash she experienced over one year after her racially charged confrontation with Christian Cooper.
2. Karen Points a Gun at Black Lives Matter Protesters
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve witnessed an array of videos documenting outright racist behavior on camera. From a white woman calling 911 on a black man for asking her to put a leash on his dog to a black Yale University graduate student being reported by another white student napping in her common room at Yale University, these examples seem to be getting more and more publicized.
On April 9th, a white couple from St Louis’ upscale Central West End neighborhood appeared and began brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching to Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house. Mark and Patricia McCloskey, affectionately referred to by social media users as “Karen” and “Ken,” are personal injury attorneys residing there.
On Sunday afternoon, The Riverfront Times published a clip of two men brandishing weapons in an apparent act of self-preservation. They had apparently witnessed hundreds of protesters passing through their gated community on their way to the mayor’s residence when the video was taken.
The video has since been shared over 8 million times, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only did the couple display gun-toting behavior, but they also appeared to point their weapons at protesters.
This has caused an outrage online and President Donald Trump retweeted an ABC News video of the confrontation without commenting. While this incident was entirely unnecessary, it remains an issue that needs to be addressed.
It’s no secret that Black Lives Matter protesters have been vocal about their concerns with the city’s police force. The movement has now spread nationwide and racial tensions are running high in cities across America.
That’s why some people are having difficulty maintaining their cool during protests. An increasing number of entitled white individuals have been captured on camera threatening to take down armed black protesters and throwing angry fits for no apparent reason.
3. Karen Asks a Black Neighbor to Explain Herself
Viral Memes of Karens Behaving Badly
As if the internet weren’t already overrun with racist incidents, now there are an abundance of video memes featuring white women called “Karen.” These middle-aged, often closed-minded white females often express their ignorance in public. Some seem incredibly entitled and guided by their white privilege; which could explain why some act out in public.
They are more likely to call the police on people of color for something they find offensive or inappropriate. Sometimes they exaggerate or outright lie, but most often it is their own racism that drives them to act this way.
Contrary to popular belief, these women do not actually display more anger than their male counterparts. The only distinction is that those who choose to share them tend to observe and film them more than usual.
The Karen phenomenon, which has amassed millions of views on YouTube and Twitter, is said to be caused by a toxic combination of misogyny, entitlement, socio-economic disenfranchisement and mental health issues. White people’s desire for dominance over society and exclusive access to their own neighborhoods, workplaces and schools fuels these micro-aggressions.
Terence Fitzgerald, a black journalist and activist who has experienced Karen-esque incidents his entire life, believes they are caused not only by racism but white people’s desire to hold on to their privileged positions. Additionally, these aren’t isolated incidents; they can occur when people of color are feeling unwell or experiencing other mental health problems.
Some of these incidents are more violent than others, but they all stem from white people’s attempts to protect themselves from either an antagonistic society or their own prejudices. It is common for black people to be harassed and even killed by white neighbors simply for being black.
These incidents are not isolated to the United States, yet they have become especially visible on social media as several cities have been placed under lockdown for unknown reasons. New York City in particular has been put under state-mandated lockdown following its investigation into a fatal attack against a Black woman in Manhattan back in July 2020.
4. Karen Refuses to Wear a Mask
Karen, a woman from the United States, recently entered no contest to criminal trespass charges after refusing to wear a mask inside a grocery store. 19 News obtained video footage of her arrest and published it online.
Recent years, the popular meme “Kens Behaving Badly” has gained widespread acceptance as an insulting catch-all for behaviors associated with white privilege. One particularly popular rendition involves a middle-aged white woman named Karen who is known for demanding to speak to managers in order to diminish service industry workers, being anti-vaccination, and engaging in racist microaggressions against Black people.
These behaviors are largely retaliatory in nature, yet also stem from a sense of entitlement and the power to determine where Black and brown bodies may or may not exist. The Karen is often depicted as an upper middle class white woman who believes she is entitled to her privileges yet refuses to acknowledge them.
Recently, several videos have surfaced on social media that depict Karens having fits and breaking down when asked to wear a face mask. These ‘Maskless Karens’ have become viral sensations with millions of views on YouTube.
It is believed that this meme has been around for years, though its exact origin remains uncertain. According to social security data from the 1960s, Karen was the fourth most popular girl’s name at that time.
However, this name is not a given; rather, it’s a nickname given by another individual within a group. Many Karens are middle aged and married with children, though some do not have children of their own.
Twitter witnessed a meteoric rise in usage of this term, with it trending as a trending hashtag until July 2018. This was due to UK regulations requiring face masks for everyone entering shops from now on, creating an racially charged issue.
Social justice activists have debated the term, with some contending it is sexist and racist. On the other hand, others claim it to be neutral. Ultimately, who is correct depends on who uses the phrase and whether their actions can be linked to sex, racism, or ageist factors.
